My Inner Sins

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//My Inner Sins is an interactive fiction game for players 16 and older that focuses mostly on NPC interactions and character growth. It will feature violent scenes, sexual themes, mental illness, and strong language and is meant for older audiences.// ''In this game, there may be one or two ROs that are "related" to you through your demonic parent; those relationships are not considered incest. In the series, it is explained that since gods and demons don't have DNA, as long as you are not dating someone with the same demonic parent, it is not considered incest. This story is wildly based on Israelite and Hittite civilization folklore, or legends, through their version of the Bible. Celestials and demons had what we consider incestuous relationships. In summary, gods or natural demons don't have DNA, so cambion with different immortal parents can date. If this makes you uneasy, then please do not feel the need to read this book. I completely understand.'' <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Prologue]]</div>

Not every character is on this list; however, if there is a character you want me to add, please let me know via Tumblr. [FAMILY:] Grandmother (Mother's Side) : [[Sharon]] Grandfather (Mother's Side) : [[Basil]] Step-Father: [[Sheldon]] [TOWN MEMBERS: ] NOT COMPLETED [[Related ROS]]

<div style="text-align: center">//''PROLOGUE''//</div> <<set $Stepdad to "Stepdad">> ''Friday, 1/2 Buffum St.'' There was no moonlight shining down on Lockwood, Massachusetts, and that didn't disqualify 1/2 Buffum St., which had the old paved roads and flickering lamp posts of a haunted aesthetic. If anyone was present, they might have noticed a change in the air or how the shadows felt heavy, oppressive, and almost supernatural. There was only one person present. A man that emerged from an alleyway, where the darkness was most prevalent. The man was average height, dressed in a black turtleneck and dark jeans; his skin was deathly pale, and his hair was platinum and slicked back as if he had just time-traveled back from the 1980s. The stranger couldn't have been more than twenty-five, even though his stormy eyes looked much older. "Come, pet." The man said it through clenched teeth. "We have no time to waste." The sound of faint hissing filled the air, sending shivers through anyone who was considered prey. "Tut tut, Uvrodon, nobody likes an angry python." The hissing became louder as the four-foot-long snake slipped up the man's leg. "I told you not to eat all those souls before we left the seven hells." The man said it in a tone that sounded more like he was speaking to a child than a predator. "We are here on a mission." The hissing stopped, and the python went limp on the man's shoulder. "Oh, don't pout, my little princess; once we destabilize the royal bloodline, I'll make sure you have plenty of souls to feast on after I take the throne." The python's head popped up, the hunger in her solid white eyes already there. "Good, now let's go get my prey." The man walked into the night, the shadows seeming to be drawn to him. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter One]]</div>

Your grandmother. You hardly know anything about her—less than you know about your grandfather. Apparently, she and your aunt were not very close after your aunt dropped out of high school. From what you heard, it seemed your grandmother always favored your mother over your aunt, or maybe it was just that your aunt was a "troubled" child while your mom was soft-spoken. While Aunt Zinnia didn't get her no fool around policy from your grandmother Sharon, it seems baking runs in the family as your grandmother owned a bakery as well before her death. (she died two years before you were born.) <div style="text-align: right">[[Return|Side Characters Information]]</div>

Your grandfather, your mother, and your aunt's father You have the same eye color as he does. From what you understand, Basil and your Aunt Zinnia were very close; you always seemed to remind her of him. If you were named after him, she wouldn't have been able to say your name for the first couple of months after you were born. She was very close to him, and she always tells you that she got her love for snark and pranking from your grandfather, the master. Basil died from a heart attack about five years before you were born, or so everyone says. <div style="text-align: right">[[Return|Side Characters Information]]</div>

The man who raised you You never met your real father, but with Sheldon around, You hardly thought of your father through the years (or that is what you tell yourself). In middle school, you figured out that he was not your father. Doing the math, it was obvious that your mom was already pregnant before she even met your stepfather. It was also a little weird that you looked nothing like the man or that your own mother didn't let you call him "dad." <div style="text-align: right">[[Return|Side Characters Information]]</div>

ZANE <div style="text-align: right">[[Return|Side Characters Information]]</div>

<div style="text-align: center">//''CHAPTER ONE:''//</div> ''Saturday, Your Bedroom In The Apartment Complex Above //Morning Dew//'' "Beep...Beep...Beep!" You slammed your hand down on your alarm clock, which silenced the annoying beeping and stopped you from tossing the noisy item out the window. Sunlight streamed through the second-story window; you squinted your eyes, cursing under your breath. Your eyes watered a little at the sunlight, but you blinked away the sting and rose out of your bed. Your legs were tangled in your blankets and sheets, which you kicked away and stood on the hardwood floor. Your brain stopped working as you could smell roasted chestnuts combined with a slightly sweet, yeasty aroma. You knew this smell well as you lived in a two-bedroom loft above //Morning Dew//, your Aunt Zinnia's tea and pastry shop. Something clicked in your mind. //Oh no. // You mentally hit yourself as your memory finally made it through your sleep-deprived self as you promised to help your aunt Zinnia with that morning's customers. You quickly went to your closet and put on your worker uniform, which was just a plain button-down shirt with black pants. You saw an attractive... //What is your gender? // * [[Woman]] * [[Man]] * [[Person]]

<<set $She to "she">> <<set $Her to "her">> <<set $Niece to "niece">> <<set $Daughter to "daughter">><<set $Lass to "lass">> <<set$Gender to "female">> <<set $Hers to "her">><<set $Miss to "Miss">><<set $Dollface to "Dollface">> <<set $Princess to "princess">><<set $looks to "looks">><<set $is to "is">><<set $Lady to "person">><<set $Lady to "lady">> You looked in the mirror to make sure you looked presentable and noticed your...... //What color is your hair? // * [[...black hair]] * [[...blonde hair]] * [[...red hair]] * [[...brown hair]]

<<set $She to "he">><<set $Her to "his">><<set $Niece to "nephew">><<set $Daughter to "son">><<set $Lass to "lad">> <<set $Gender to "male">> <<set $Hers to "him">><<set $Miss to "Mr.">><<set $Dollface to "Handsome">> <<set $Princess to "prince">><<set $looks to "looks">><<set $is to "is">><<set $Lady to "gentleman">> You looked in the mirror to make sure you looked presentable and noticed your...... //What color is your hair? // * [[...black hair]] * [[...blonde hair]] * [[...red hair]] * [[...brown hair]]

<<set $She to "they">> <<set $Her to "their">> <<set $Niece to "nibling">> <<set $Daughter to "child">><<set $Lass to "duck">> <<set $Gender to "person">> <<set $Hers to "them">><<set $Miss to "Mx.">><<set $Dollface to "Angelface">><<set $Princess to "monarch">><<set $looks to "look">><<set $is to "are">> You looked in the mirror to make sure you looked presentable and noticed your...... //What color is your hair? // * [[...black hair]] * [[...blonde hair]] * [[...red hair]] * [[...brown hair]]

<<set $HairColor to "black">> <<set $C71 to "Oi! You got a mouth on you, don't ya, love?">> You looked in the mirror to make sure you looked presentable and noticed your $HairColor hair, which is very similar to your aunts, looked like a bird made a nest out of it. You took up your brush and begin to detangle your.... //What length is your hair?// * [[long]] * [[shoulder-length]] * [[short]]

<<set $HairColor to "blonde">> <<set $C71 to "Oi! You got a mouth on you, don't ya, love?">> You look into the mirror to see if you look good and notice your blonde hair. It looks very much like your mother’s hair, although your hair is darker than hers. Either way, it looks like a bird has made a nest in your hair. You grab your brush and start to comb your..... //What length is your hair?// * [[long]] * [[shoulder-length]] * [[short]]

<<set $HairColor to "red">> <<set $C71 to "That doesn't really work if you have the same shade as me, love">> You looked in the mirror to make sure you looked presentable and noticed your $HairColor hair looked like a bird made a nest out of it. You took up your brush and begin to detangle your.... //What length is your hair?// * [[long]] * [[shoulder-length]] * [[short]]

<<set $HairColor to "brown">> <<set $C71 to "Oi! You got a mouth on you, don't ya, love?">> You looked in the mirror to make sure you looked presentable and noticed your $HairColor hair looked like a bird made a nest out of it. You took up your brush and begin to detangle your.... //What length is your hair?// * [[long]] * [[shoulder-length]] * [[short]]

<<set $HairLength to "long">><<set $Sincerity to 50>><<set $Snark to 50>><<set $Rash to 50>><<set $Cautious to 50>><<set $Friendly to 50>><<set $Stoic to 50>><<set $Optimist to 50>><<set $Pessimist to 50>> You took up your brush and begin to detangle your $HairLength hair which took a while and your gaze shifted to your... //What color are your eyes?// * [[green]] * [[blue]] * [[brown]] * [[hazel]] * [[black]] * [[grey]]

<<set $HairLength to "shoulder-length">><<set $Sincerity to 50>><<set $Snark to 50>><<set $Rash to 50>><<set $Cautious to 50>><<set $Friendly to 50>><<set $Stoic to 50>><<set $Optimist to 50>><<set $Pessimist to 50>> You took up your brush and begin to detangle your $HairLength hair which took a little while and your gaze shifted to your... //What color are your eyes?// * [[green]] * [[blue]] * [[brown]] * [[hazel]] * [[black]] * [[grey]]

<<set $HairLength to "short">><<set $Sincerity to 50>><<set $Snark to 50>><<set $Rash to 50>><<set $Cautious to 50>><<set $Friendly to 50>><<set $Stoic to 50>><<set $Optimist to 50>><<set $Pessimist to 50>> You took up your brush and begin to detangle your $HairLength hair which took no time at all and your gaze shifted to your... //What color are your eyes?// * [[green]] * [[blue]] * [[brown]] * [[hazel]] * [[black]] * [[grey]]

<<set $EyeColor to "green">> Your gaze shifted to your $EyeColor eyes, which was the only thing you had inherited from your mother, or at least you gussed from the pictures you have seen of her. With one more look in the mirror to make sure you didn’t forget anything, you left the bathroom and entered the hallway. The familiar small dark hallway with only three doors and a stairwell was reassuring; you knew these hardwood floors and every single brick wall crack like the back of your hand. Pictures were hung on the walls in an orderly fashion; you stopped and looked at them, perhaps trying to remember your mother's face. You were only five when your mother and stepfather died in a car accident. You were being babysat by your aunt while your parents were going hoilday shopping. The police told your aunt that they must have slid off the road in the snow storm and another car collided with them; there were no survivors. You didn't really understand what was happening; all you could remember was the somber mood of hoilday as you got extra presents and decorations for your new room at Aunt Zinnia's house. The first photo of your mother, Aster hanging on the wall, had to be when she was very young, with her arms wrapped around your aunt at your mother's high school graduation, as she was wearing a gown and there was confetti flying in the photo. In a faded red pen, there was a little note at the top of the picture that you could barely see if you squinted your eyes. //Congratulations Aster! I always knew you would barely graduate; well done!// You snorted; it was in your aunt Zinnia's handwriting, and it was definitely her humor. You looked at your aunt's and mother's large smiles; they looked nothing alike. Your mother was quite petite with flawless skin and platinum blonde hair that went all the way down to her waist, while your aunt was quite broad shouldered with a crooked nose peppered with freckles and midnight black hair that was styled in a pixie cut. The only thing that was really similar was the $EyeColor eyes, which had the same mischievous glint. You always knew that your aunt and mother were quite close; maybe it was good that you looked nothing like your mother except for her eyes. Your aunt didn't need another reminder of all that she lost. You stared at the picture longer, your gaze never leaving your mother’s face….. * [[You felt heartbroken about her death.]] * [[You felt heartbroken about her death but on the outside you made sure to smile for my Aunt Zinnia’s sake.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death but on the inside you felt a sting of sadness.]] * [[You felt angry at the world.]]

<<set $EyeColor to "blue">> Your gaze shifted to your $EyeColor eyes, which was the only thing you had inherited from your mother, or at least you gussed from the pictures you have seen of her. With one more look in the mirror to make sure you didn’t forget anything, you left the bathroom and entered the hallway. The familiar small dark hallway with only three doors and a stairwell was reassuring; you knew these hardwood floors and every single brick wall crack like the back of your hand. Pictures were hung on the walls in an orderly fashion; you stopped and looked at them, perhaps trying to remember your mother's face. You were only five when your mother and stepfather died in a car accident. You were being babysat by your aunt while your parents were going hoilday shopping. The police told your aunt that they must have slid off the road in the snow storm and another car collided with them; there were no survivors. You didn't really understand what was happening; all you could remember was the somber mood of hoilday as you got extra presents and decorations for your new room at Aunt Zinnia's house. The first photo of your mother, Aster hanging on the wall, had to be when she was very young, with her arms wrapped around your aunt at your mother's high school graduation, as she was wearing a gown and there was confetti flying in the photo. In a faded red pen, there was a little note at the top of the picture that you could barely see if you squinted your eyes. //Congratulations Aster! I always knew you would barely graduate; well done!// You snorted; it was in your aunt Zinnia's handwriting, and it was definitely her humor. You looked at your aunt's and mother's large smiles; they looked nothing alike. Your mother was quite petite with flawless skin and platinum blonde hair that went all the way down to her waist, while your aunt was quite broad shouldered with a crooked nose peppered with freckles and midnight black hair that was styled in a pixie cut. The only thing that was really similar was the $EyeColor eyes, which had the same mischievous glint. You always knew that your aunt and mother were quite close; maybe it was good that you looked nothing like your mother except for her eyes. Your aunt didn't need another reminder of all that she lost. You stared at the picture longer, your gaze never leaving your mother’s face….. * [[You felt heartbroken about her death.]] * [[You felt heartbroken about her death but on the outside you made sure to smile for my Aunt Zinnia’s sake.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death but on the inside you felt a sting of sadness.]] * [[You felt angry at the world.]]

<<set $EyeColor to "brown">> Your gaze shifted to your $EyeColor eyes, which was the only thing you had inherited from your mother, or at least you gussed from the pictures you have seen of her. With one more look in the mirror to make sure you didn’t forget anything, you left the bathroom and entered the hallway. The familiar small dark hallway with only three doors and a stairwell was reassuring; you knew these hardwood floors and every single brick wall crack like the back of your hand. Pictures were hung on the walls in an orderly fashion; you stopped and looked at them, perhaps trying to remember your mother's face. You were only five when your mother and stepfather died in a car accident. You were being babysat by your aunt while your parents were going hoilday shopping. The police told your aunt that they must have slid off the road in the snow storm and another car collided with them; there were no survivors. You didn't really understand what was happening; all you could remember was the somber mood of hoilday as you got extra presents and decorations for your new room at Aunt Zinnia's house. The first photo of your mother, Aster hanging on the wall, had to be when she was very young, with her arms wrapped around your aunt at your mother's high school graduation, as she was wearing a gown and there was confetti flying in the photo. In a faded red pen, there was a little note at the top of the picture that you could barely see if you squinted your eyes. //Congratulations Aster! I always knew you would barely graduate; well done!// You snorted; it was in your aunt Zinnia's handwriting, and it was definitely her humor. You looked at your aunt's and mother's large smiles; they looked nothing alike. Your mother was quite petite with flawless skin and platinum blonde hair that went all the way down to her waist, while your aunt was quite broad shouldered with a crooked nose peppered with freckles and midnight black hair that was styled in a pixie cut. The only thing that was really similar was the $EyeColor eyes, which had the same mischievous glint. You always knew that your aunt and mother were quite close; maybe it was good that you looked nothing like your mother except for her eyes. Your aunt didn't need another reminder of all that she lost. You stared at the picture longer, your gaze never leaving your mother’s face….. * [[You felt heartbroken about her death.]] * [[You felt heartbroken about her death but on the outside you made sure to smile for my Aunt Zinnia’s sake.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death but on the inside you felt a sting of sadness.]] * [[You felt angry at the world.]]

<<set $EyeColor to "hazel">> Your gaze shifted to your $EyeColor eyes, which was the only thing you had inherited from your mother, or at least you gussed from the pictures you have seen of her. With one more look in the mirror to make sure you didn’t forget anything, you left the bathroom and entered the hallway. The familiar small dark hallway with only three doors and a stairwell was reassuring; you knew these hardwood floors and every single brick wall crack like the back of your hand. Pictures were hung on the walls in an orderly fashion; you stopped and looked at them, perhaps trying to remember your mother's face. You were only five when your mother and stepfather died in a car accident. You were being babysat by your aunt while your parents were going hoilday shopping. The police told your aunt that they must have slid off the road in the snow storm and another car collided with them; there were no survivors. You didn't really understand what was happening; all you could remember was the somber mood of hoilday as you got extra presents and decorations for your new room at Aunt Zinnia's house. The first photo of your mother, Aster hanging on the wall, had to be when she was very young, with her arms wrapped around your aunt at your mother's high school graduation, as she was wearing a gown and there was confetti flying in the photo. In a faded red pen, there was a little note at the top of the picture that you could barely see if you squinted your eyes. (text-colour:red)[//Congratulations Aster! I always knew you would barely graduate; well done!//] You snorted; it was in your aunt Zinnia's handwriting, and it was definitely her humor. You looked at your aunt's and mother's large smiles; they looked nothing alike. Your mother was quite petite with flawless skin and platinum blonde hair that went all the way down to her waist, while your aunt was quite broad shouldered with a crooked nose peppered with freckles and midnight black hair that was styled in a pixie cut. The only thing that was really similar was the $EyeColor eyes, which had the same mischievous glint. You always knew that your aunt and mother were quite close; maybe it was good that you looked nothing like your mother except for her eyes. Your aunt didn't need another reminder of all that she lost. You stared at the picture longer, your gaze never leaving your mother’s face….. * [[You felt heartbroken about her death.]] * [[You felt heartbroken about her death but on the outside you made sure to smile for my Aunt Zinnia’s sake.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death but on the inside you felt a sting of sadness.]] * [[You felt angry at the world.]]

<<set $EyeColor to "black">> Your gaze shifted to your $EyeColor eyes, which was the only thing you had inherited from your mother, or at least you gussed from the pictures you have seen of her. With one more look in the mirror to make sure you didn’t forget anything, you left the bathroom and entered the hallway. The familiar small dark hallway with only three doors and a stairwell was reassuring; you knew these hardwood floors and every single brick wall crack like the back of your hand. Pictures were hung on the walls in an orderly fashion; you stopped and looked at them, perhaps trying to remember your mother's face. You were only five when your mother and stepfather died in a car accident. You were being babysat by your aunt while your parents were going hoilday shopping. The police told your aunt that they must have slid off the road in the snow storm and another car collided with them; there were no survivors. You didn't really understand what was happening; all you could remember was the somber mood of hoilday as you got extra presents and decorations for your new room at Aunt Zinnia's house. The first photo of your mother, Aster hanging on the wall, had to be when she was very young, with her arms wrapped around your aunt at your mother's high school graduation, as she was wearing a gown and there was confetti flying in the photo. In a faded red pen, there was a little note at the top of the picture that you could barely see if you squinted your eyes. //Congratulations Aster! I always knew you would barely graduate; well done!// You snorted; it was in your aunt Zinnia's handwriting, and it was definitely her humor. You looked at your aunt's and mother's large smiles; they looked nothing alike. Your mother was quite petite with flawless skin and platinum blonde hair that went all the way down to her waist, while your aunt was quite broad shouldered with a crooked nose peppered with freckles and midnight black hair that was styled in a pixie cut. The only thing that was really similar was the $EyeColor eyes, which had the same mischievous glint. You always knew that your aunt and mother were quite close; maybe it was good that you looked nothing like your mother except for her eyes. Your aunt didn't need another reminder of all that she lost. You stared at the picture longer, your gaze never leaving your mother’s face….. * [[You felt heartbroken about her death.]] * [[You felt heartbroken about her death but on the outside you made sure to smile for my Aunt Zinnia’s sake.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death but on the inside you felt a sting of sadness.]] * [[You felt angry at the world.]]

<<set $EyeColor to "grey">> Your gaze shifted to your $EyeColor eyes, which was the only thing you had inherited from your mother, or at least you gussed from the pictures you have seen of her. With one more look in the mirror to make sure you didn’t forget anything, you left the bathroom and entered the hallway. The familiar small dark hallway with only three doors and a stairwell was reassuring; you knew these hardwood floors and every single brick wall crack like the back of your hand. Pictures were hung on the walls in an orderly fashion; you stopped and looked at them, perhaps trying to remember your mother's face. You were only five when your mother and stepfather died in a car accident. You were being babysat by your aunt while your parents were going hoilday shopping. The police told your aunt that they must have slid off the road in the snow storm and another car collided with them; there were no survivors. You didn't really understand what was happening; all you could remember was the somber mood of hoilday as you got extra presents and decorations for your new room at Aunt Zinnia's house. The first photo of your mother, Aster hanging on the wall, had to be when she was very young, with her arms wrapped around your aunt at your mother's high school graduation, as she was wearing a gown and there was confetti flying in the photo. In a faded red pen, there was a little note at the top of the picture that you could barely see if you squinted your eyes. //Congratulations Aster! I always knew you would barely graduate; well done!// You snorted; it was in your aunt Zinnia's handwriting, and it was definitely her humor. You looked at your aunt's and mother's large smiles; they looked nothing alike. Your mother was quite petite with flawless skin and platinum blonde hair that went all the way down to her waist, while your aunt was quite broad shouldered with a crooked nose peppered with freckles and midnight black hair that was styled in a pixie cut. The only thing that was really similar was the $EyeColor eyes, which had the same mischievous glint. You always knew that your aunt and mother were quite close; maybe it was good that you looked nothing like your mother except for her eyes. Your aunt didn't need another reminder of all that she lost. You stared at the picture longer, your gaze never leaving your mother’s face….. * [[You felt heartbroken about her death.]] * [[You felt heartbroken about her death but on the outside you made sure to smile for my Aunt Zinnia’s sake.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death.]] * [[You felt indifferent about her death but on the inside you felt a sting of sadness.]] * [[You felt angry at the world.]]

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> How could you not feel heartbroken about your mother's death? You don't know anything about her; however, that doesn't stop the feeling of numbness creeping into your heart when you think about all the memories you missed out on. The only thing that made you think of your mother was the similarity in your $EyeColor eyes and the fact that your aunt Zinnia used to tell you stories about her when you were a kid and you needed a pick-me-up. While you miss your mother, you are grateful for your aunt, who read you bedtime stories or tucked you into bed. You shifted your gaze to the next image of your mother and stepfather, Sheldon's wedding. While you never formally addressed it with your aunt, you knew that Sheldon wasn't your biological father; you looked nothing like him, and when you only inherited your mother's $EyeColor eyes, it was clear once you got older that you had to get your traits from somewhere. Whenever you would try to ask your aunt about him, she would tell you that there was "nothing to tell" and that "Sheldon is your father, he raised you." Besides your aunt's unwillingness to tell you about your biological father, she was your rock. How did she do it? Being dumped by a five-year-old as a single woman and business owner couldn't have been easy, but she always made it to your...... * [[Little League Field Hockey Games]] * [[Holiday Pageants]] * [[Try-Math-A-Lon Competitions]] * [[Paintball Tournaments]]

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> How could you not feel heartbroken about your mother's death? You don't know anything about her; however, that doesn't stop the feeling of numbness creeping into your heart when you think about all the memories you missed out on. The only thing that made you think of your mother was the similarity in your $EyeColor eyes and the fact that your aunt Zinnia used to tell you stories about her when you were a kid and you needed a pick-me-up. However, you quickly shoved the sadness away; your aunt didn't need to be put through more pain by reliving those memories just because you were feeling a little down. While you miss your mother, you are grateful for your aunt, who read you bedtime stories or tucked you into bed. You shifted your gaze to the next image of your mother and stepfather, Sheldon's wedding. While you never formally addressed it with your aunt, you knew that Sheldon wasn't your biological father; you looked nothing like him, and when you only inherited your mother's $EyeColor eyes, it was clear once you got older that you had to get your traits from somewhere. Whenever you would try to ask your aunt about him, she would tell you that there was "nothing to tell" and that "Sheldon is your father, he raised you." Besides your aunt's unwillingness to tell you about your biological father, she was your rock. How did she do it? Being dumped by a five-year-old as a single woman and business owner couldn't have been easy, but she always made it to your...... * [[Little League Field Hockey Games]] * [[Holiday Pageants]] * [[Try-Math-A-Lon Competitions]] * [[Paintball Tournaments]]

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> How could you not feel indifferent about your mother's death? You didn't know her due to the fact that you were only five when she died. Your only connection was your $EyeColor eyes and the fact that your aunt Zinnia used to tell you stories about her when you were a kid when you were in a somber mood. You didn't know your mother; she didn't tuck you into bed or read you bedtime stories like Aunt Zinnia did. You shifted your gaze to the next image of your mother and stepfather, Sheldon's wedding. While you never formally addressed it with your aunt, you knew that Sheldon wasn't your biological father; you looked nothing like him, and when you only inherited your mother's $EyeColor eyes, it was clear once you got older that you had to get your traits from somewhere. Whenever you would try to ask your aunt about him, she would tell you that there was "nothing to tell" and that "Sheldon is your father, he raised you." Besides your aunt's unwillingness to tell you about your biological father, she was your rock. How did she do it? Being dumped by a five-year-old as a single woman and business owner couldn't have been easy, but she always made it to your...... * [[Little League Field Hockey Games]] * [[Holiday Pageants]] * [[Try-Math-A-Lon Competitions]] * [[Paintball Tournaments]]

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> How could you not feel indifferent about your mother's death? You didn't know her due to the fact that you were only five when she died. Your only connection was your $EyeColor eyes and the fact that your aunt Zinnia used to tell you stories about her when you were a kid when you were in a somber mood. Although you can't deny the fact that each time you look into the mirror and stare into the eyes that you share with your mother, you feel a pang of numbness creep in. You didn't know your mother; she didn't tuck you into bed or read you bedtime stories like Aunt Zinnia did. You shifted your gaze to the next image of your mother and stepfather, Sheldon's wedding. While you never formally addressed it with your aunt, you knew that Sheldon wasn't your biological father; you looked nothing like him, and when you only inherited your mother's $EyeColor eyes, it was clear once you got older that you had to get your traits from somewhere. Whenever you would try to ask your aunt about him, she would tell you that there was "nothing to tell" and that "Sheldon is your father, he raised you." Besides your aunt's unwillingness to tell you about your biological father, she was your rock. How did she do it? Being dumped by a five-year-old as a single woman and business owner couldn't have been easy, but she always made it to your...... * [[Little League Field Hockey Games]] * [[Holiday Pageants]] * [[Try-Math-A-Lon Competitions]] * [[Paintball Tournaments]]

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> How could you not feel angry about your mother's death? You don't know anything about her. Perhaps your parents would still be alive today if you had reminded them of how icy the roads were, or if you hadn't been such a spoiled brat and asked for more gifts. Despite Aunt Zinnia's constant reminders that it wasn't your fault, you couldn't help but feel bitter towards the world. The only thing that made you think of your mother was the similarity in your $EyeColor eyes and the fact that your aunt Zinnia used to tell you stories about her when you were a kid and you needed a distraction from cursing at the world. Your aunt always made it a point to show you that you were loved and valued. You are forever grateful for your aunt, who read you bedtime stories or tucked you into bed. You shifted your gaze to the next image of your mother and stepfather, Sheldon's wedding. While you never formally addressed it with your aunt, you knew that Sheldon wasn't your biological father; you looked nothing like him, and when you only inherited your mother's $EyeColor eyes, it was clear once you got older that you had to get your traits from somewhere. Whenever you would try to ask your aunt about him, she would tell you that there was "nothing to tell" and that "Sheldon is your father, he raised you." Besides your aunt's unwillingness to tell you about your biological father, she was your rock. How did she do it? Being dumped by a five-year-old as a single woman and business owner couldn't have been easy, but she always made it to your...... * [[Little League Field Hockey Games]] * [[Holiday Pageants]] * [[Try-Math-A-Lon Competitions]] * [[Paintball Tournaments]]

<<set $Athletics to 5>><<set $Charisma to 1>><<set $Knowledge to 1>><<set $Stealth to 1>><<set $C76 to "Don't worry about it, Sugar Cube; you are as strong as an ox, so you will be fine.">><<set $C102 to "field hockey">> Your aunt wanted you to have some friends your own age since it was difficult because you were homeschooled. Aunt Zinnia decided to sign you up for Little League Field Hockey, which was put on by the PTA members of the town's school and had a game every other week, which you actually grew to love; however, thinking back, it could have been because your aunt made you her famous lemon-blueberry cheesecake bars after every tournament. You couldn't help but wince at remembering the aches in your muscles when you woke up the next morning, especially after a pretty long game. Although you laughed when you remembered the year when you were able to steal another kid's ball right from under them, thanks to your strength and flexibility. The sound of cutlery and chatter from below jolted you out of your reverie. You were an hour late, according to the clock hanging at the end of the hallway in black letters that seemed to taunt you: 7:32. With one thing out of place on your uniform, you pull out your name tag.... [[What is your name?]]

<<set $Athletics to 1>><<set $Charisma to 5>><<set $Knowledge to 1>><<set $Stealth to 1>><<set $C76 to "Don't worry about it, Sugar Cube; with your charming smile, you will have them putty in your hands.">><<set $C102 to "acting">> Your aunt wanted you to have some friends your own age since it was difficult because you were homeschooled. Aunt Zinnia decided that whenever there was a show to be put on by the community, you would participate, which you actually grew to love; however, thinking back, it could have been because your aunt made you her famous lemon-blueberry cheesecake bars after every performance. You couldn't help but wince at remembering the frilly robes and outfits you had to wear, especially during the winter session. Although you laughed when you remembered your year as a Bethlehem star and the line snapped that was lifting you up in the air, a wise man broke your fall. Without your charisma on stage, you doubt the show would have continued even after the ambulance arrived. The sound of cutlery and chatter from below jolted you out of your reverie. You were an hour late, according to the clock hanging at the end of the hallway in black letters that seemed to taunt you: 7:32. With one thing out of place on your uniform, you pull out your name tag.... [[What is your name?]]

<<set $Athletics to 1>><<set $Charisma to 1>><<set $Knowledge to 5>><<set $Stealth to 1>><<set $C76 to "Don't worry about it, Sugar Cube; you are a smart cookie, you will be fine.">><<set $C102 to "chess">> Your aunt wanted you to have some friends your own age since it was difficult because you were homeschooled. Aunt Zinnia decided to sign you up for Try-Math-A-Lon Competitions, which were put on by some of the high school students for extra credit and held small little competitions in the park, which you actually grew to love; however, thinking back, it could have been because your aunt made you her famous lemon-blueberry cheesecake bars after every tournament. You couldn't help but wince at remembering the slowness of the whole event, especially when so many other kids decided to join. Although you laughed when you remembered the year when you corrected an adult judge who told you your answer was wrong, thanks to your knowledge and your fast learning capabilities. The sound of cutlery and chatter from below jolted you out of your reverie. You were an hour late, according to the clock hanging at the end of the hallway in black letters that seemed to taunt you: 7:32. With one thing out of place on your uniform, you pull out your name tag.... [[What is your name?]]

<<set $Athletics to 1>><<set $Charisma to 1>><<set $Knowledge to 1>><<set $Stealth to 5>><<set $C76 to "Don't worry about it, Sugar Cube; you could easily slip away if their is trouble.">><<set $C102 to "the arcade">> Your aunt wanted you to have some friends your own age since it was difficult because you were homeschooled. Aunt Zinnia decided to sign you up for paintball in the neighboring town that had tournaments every other week, which you actually grew to love; however, thinking back, it could have been because your aunt made you her famous lemon-blueberry cheesecake bars after every tournament. You coudn't help but wince at remembering the paintball stains that would ruin your clothes, especially when the older kids decided to join. Although you laughed when you remembered the year they decided to incorporate capture the flag into the games, you won every single time due to your ability to be quiet and stealthy. The sound of cutlery and chatter from below jolted you out of your reverie. You were an hour late, according to the clock hanging at the end of the hallway in black letters that seemed to taunt you: 7:32. With one thing out of place on your uniform, you pull out your name tag.... [[What is your name?]]

<<set $RFrP to 0>><<set $RFlP to 0>><<set $OFrP to 0>><<set $OFlP to 0>><<set $MRFrP to 0>><<set $MRFlP to 0>><<set $MBFrP to 0>><<set $MBFlP to 0>><<set $ZFrP to 0>><<set $ZFlP to 0>><<set $TFrP to 0>><<set $TFlP to 0>> What is your name? * [[River|What is your name?Part3]] * [[Quinn|What is your name?Part4]] * [[Morgan|What is your name?Part5]] * <<textbox "$Name" "Robin""What is your name?Part2">>

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 3>> <<set $Snark to $Snark - 3>> A wave of guilt washed over you. "I am so sorry, Aunt Z! I don't know what happened; I must have slept through my alarm clock." You said it genuinely. Aunt Zinnia grabbed your shoulders as if you might have passed out and gave you a gentle smile. "I'm not upset; I was just teasing you $Name. I had everything covered, so don't worry. I might look old, but I sure don't feel it." Aunt Zinnia gave you a slight pat on the shoulder. "Now, let's get some food in you." Aunt Zinnia opened the pastry glass case and pulled out a homemade cinnamon roll with date filling, still warm; it had to be baked just that morning. You took a bite, and the buttery and flaky treat practically melted in your mouth. "Is that one of Zinnia's famous cinnamon rolls I smell?" Your aunts' head snapped up as you looked at Miss. Mendozo, a plump older lady with curly, graying chestnut hair covered by a sun hat and dressed in brown overalls and a green shirt. Aunt Zinnia almost jumped up and looked down at herself before quickly grabbing a rag and wiping the flour from her apron. Her cheeks flushed. "I thought you weren't coming by today, Triana." Miss. Mendozo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, which seemed to stick to her honey-toned skin. "Well, I was swamped at the store, but Camila and Luis wanted to get some of your famous apple pie." As if summoned by name, Luis Mendozo walked in, a fifteen-year-old boy who looked almost exactly like his mother except for the intense amount of black makeup, dyed black hair, and the gothic aesthetic. Miss. Mendozo looked at Luis, who was absorbed in his phone. "Hijo? Where is your sister?" "Here I am!" The shout came from the door where your best friend was standing, Camila Mendozo. Her bouncing curls of brown hair basically flew as she ran over to you, reaching over the counter and giving you a big hug. In the background, you could hear Luis complaining about Camila "killing his vibe" with her loud behavior. "$Name! I felt like I haven't seen you in forever!" She squeezed you tighter. You saw her yesterday. * [[You gave Camila an even bigger squeeze in the bear hug.]] * [[You did your best to give Camila a small side hug.]] * [[You let out a small laugh and pat her on the back. "We saw each other yesterday; tell me you didn't miss me that much."]] * [[You endured the hug with a little sigh. "We saw each other yesterday...?"]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 3>> <<set $Snark to $Snark + 3>> You teased your aunt with a sly smile. "You must have got me confused with you, Aunt Z; aren't you the one closer to death? You're not getting any younger." Aunt Zinnia let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, I swear you will be the death of me, child, but because I'm so kind, $Name, let me get you some breakfast." Aunt Zinnia opened the pastry glass case and pulled out a homemade cinnamon roll with date filling, still warm; it had to be baked just this morning. You take a bite, and the buttery and flaky treat practically melted in your mouth. "Is that one of Zinnia's famous cinnamon rolls I smell?" Your aunts' head snapped up as you looked at Miss. Mendozo, a plump older lady with curly, graying chestnut hair covered by a sun hat and dressed in brown overalls and a green shirt. Aunt Zinnia almost jumped up and looked down at herself before quickly grabbing a rag and wiping the flour from her apron. Her cheeks flushed. "I thought you weren't coming by today, Triana." Miss. Mendozo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, which seemed to stick to her honey-toned skin. "Well, I was swamped at the store, but Camila and Luis wanted to get some of your famous apple pie." As if summoned by name, Luis Mendozo walked in, a fifteen-year-old boy who looked almost exactly like his mother except for the intense amount of black makeup, dyed black hair, and the gothic aesthetic. Miss. Mendozo looked at Luis, who was absorbed in his phone. "Hijo? Where is your sister?" "Here I am!" The shout came from the door where your best friend was standing, Camila Mendozo. Her bouncing curls of brown hair basically flew as she ran over to you, reaching over the counter and giving you a big hug. In the background, you could hear Luis complaining about Camila "killing his vibe" with her loud behavior. "$Name! I felt like I haven't seen you in forever!" She squeezes you tighter. You saw her yesterday. * [[You gave Camila an even bigger squeeze in the bear hug.]] * [[You did your best to give Camila a small side hug.]] * [[You let out a small laugh and pat her on the back. "We saw each other yesterday; tell me you didn't miss me that much."]] * [[You endured the hug with a little sigh. "We saw each other yesterday...?"]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 3>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 3>> "I'm sure you had everything handled! I mean, you are like a superhero at multitasking." Aunt Zinnia grinned. "Your trying to butter me up $Name and it is working." Aunt Zinnia opened the pastry glass case and pulled out a homemade cinnamon roll with date filling, still warm; it had to be baked just that morning. You take a bite, and the buttery and flaky treat practically melted in your mouth. "Is that one of Zinnia's famous cinnamon rolls I smell?" Your aunts' head snapped up as you looked at Miss. Mendozo, a plump older lady with curly, graying chestnut hair covered by a sun hat and dressed in brown overalls and a green shirt. Aunt Zinnia almost jumped up and looked down at herself before quickly grabbing a rag and wiping the flour from her apron. Her cheeks flushed. "I thought you weren't coming by today, Triana." Miss. Mendozo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, which seemed to stick to her honey-toned skin. "Well, I was swamped at the store, but Camila and Luis wanted to get some of your famous apple pie." As if summoned by name, Luis Mendozo walked in, a fifteen-year-old boy who looked almost exactly like his mother except for the intense amount of black makeup, dyed black hair, and the gothic aesthetic. Miss. Mendozo looked at Luis, who was absorbed in his phone. "Hijo? Where is your sister?" "Here I am!" The shout came from the door where your best friend was standing, Camila Mendozo. Her bouncing curls of brown hair basically flew as she ran over to you, reaching over the counter and giving you a big hug. In the background, you could hear Luis complaining about Camila "killing his vibe" with her loud behavior. "$Name! I felt like I haven't seen you in forever!" She squeezes you tighter. You saw her yesterday. * [[You gave Camila an even bigger squeeze in the bear hug.]] * [[You did your best to give Camila a small side hug.]] * [[You let out a small laugh and pat her on the back. "We saw each other yesterday; tell me you didn't miss me that much."]] * [[You endured the hug with a little sigh. "We saw each other yesterday...?"]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 3>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 3>> You give Aunt Zinnia an indifferent shrug and start getting to work; the sooner you start, the more work you can get done. Aunt Zinnia grabbed your arm before you could even pick up a broom. "Oh no, you don't $Name, and no $Niece of mine will work on an empty stomach." Aunt Zinnia opened the pastry glass case and pulled out a homemade cinnamon roll with date filling, still warm; it had to be baked just this morning. You take a bite, and the buttery and flaky treat practically melted in your mouth. "Is that one of Zinnia's famous cinnamon rolls I smell?" Your aunts' head snapped up as you looked at Miss. Mendozo, a plump older lady with curly, graying chestnut hair covered by a sun hat and dressed in brown overalls and a green shirt. Aunt Zinnia almost jumped up and looked down at herself before quickly grabbing a rag and wiping the flour from her apron. Her cheeks flushed. "I thought you weren't coming by today, Triana." Miss. Mendozo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, which seemed to stick to her honey-toned skin. "Well, I was swamped at the store, but Camila and Luis wanted to get some of your famous apple pie." As if summoned by name, Luis Mendozo walked in, a fifteen-year-old boy who looked almost exactly like his mother except for the intense amount of black makeup, dyed black hair, and the gothic aesthetic. Miss. Mendozo looked at Luis, who was absorbed in his phone. "Hijo? Where is your sister?" "Here I am!" The shout came from the door where your best friend was standing, Camila Mendozo. Her bouncing curls of brown hair basically flew as she ran over to you, reaching over the counter and giving you a big hug. In the background, you could hear Luis complaining about Camila "killing his vibe" with her loud behavior. "$Name! I felt like I haven't seen you in forever!" She squeezes you tighter. You saw her yesterday. * [[You gave Camila an even bigger squeeze in the bear hug.]] * [[You did your best to give Camila a small side hug.]] * [[You let out a small laugh and pat her on the back. "We saw each other yesterday; tell me you didn't miss me that much."]] * [[You endured the hug with a little sigh. "We saw each other yesterday...?"]]

<<if $Name is "Sharon">>You shared the same name as your grandmother, which didn't surprise most who knew your mother, who seemed to put your Nana on a pedestal, much to your Aunt Zinnia's dismay. It was an unspoken fact that Aunt Zinnia and your grandmother didn't always get along.<</if>> <<if $Name is "Basil">>You shared the name with your grandfather, as well as his eye color. When you were young, you couldn't help but wonder if your aunt was comforted by the $EyeColor eyes that seemed to be everywhere she looked. In the mirror and in the iris of the young child that she now had to care for, or did it haunt her?<</if>> With your name tag pinned to your plain button-down shirt, you headed down the walnut hardwood stairs to start your day. While the upstairs of the two-story red brick building was rather dark and seemed not to have changed since 1626 except for the indoor plumbing and electricity, the downstairs of the Oleander residence was airy and bright, which almost seemed out of place. The stairs brought you to the kitchen and a private dining area that had dull, pastel yellow floral wallpaper on every inch of the downstairs, and while the stove and all the cookware were probably older than you, they were clean and worked perfectly fine. The sound of a familiar bark of laughter came from the other side of the white sliding shutter doors that separate the back room from the tea and pastry shop. That laugh could only come from one person: Aunt Zinnia. You saw your aunt as you walk through the shutter doors, a baseball cap covering her pixie-cut black hair. While you were dressed professionally in a plain button-down work uniform, your aunt Zinnia was dressed casually in dark jeans and an old band tee, with the only thing remotely professional about her "work uniform" being a plain black apron tied around her waist. The sound of the sliding doors creaking made your aunt's head pop up, and she looked away from the customer for just a second, a teasing smile on her face. "Well, look who it is; my $Niece seems to be back from the dead." * [["I am so sorry, Aunt Z! I don't know what happened; I must have slept through my alarm clock." you said genuinely]] * [[You let slip a sly smile. "You must have got me confused with you, Aunt Z; aren't you the one closer to death? You're not getting any younger." you said with a teasing tone.]] * [["I'm sure you had everything handled! I mean, you are like a superhero at multitasking."]] * [[You gave her an indifferent shrug and started getting to work to make it up to Aunt Z.]]

<<set $Name to "River">> With your name tag pinned to your plain button-down shirt, you headed down the walnut hardwood stairs to start your day. While the upstairs of the two-story red brick building was rather dark and seemed not to have changed since 1626 except for the indoor plumbing and electricity, the downstairs of the Oleander residence was airy and bright, which almost seemed out of place. The stairs brought you to the kitchen and a private dining area that had dull, pastel yellow floral wallpaper on every inch of the downstairs, and while the stove and all the cookware were probably older than you, they were clean and worked perfectly fine. The sound of a familiar bark of laughter came from the other side of the white sliding shutter doors that separate the back room from the tea and pastry shop. That laugh could only come from one person: Aunt Zinnia. You saw your aunt as you walk through the shutter doors, a baseball cap covering her pixie-cut black hair. While you were dressed professionally in a plain button-down work uniform, your aunt Zinnia was dressed casually in dark jeans and an old band tee, with the only thing remotely professional about her "work uniform" being a plain black apron tied around her waist. The sound of the sliding doors creaking made your aunt's head pop up, and she looked away from the customer for just a second, a teasing smile on her face. "Well, look who it is; my $Niece seems to be back from the dead." * [["I am so sorry, Aunt Z! I don't know what happened; I must have slept through my alarm clock." you said genuinely]] * [[You let slip a sly smile. "You must have got me confused with you, Aunt Z; aren't you the one closer to death? You're not getting any younger." you said with a teasing tone.]] * [["I'm sure you had everything handled! I mean, you are like a superhero at multitasking."]] * [[You gave her an indifferent shrug and started getting to work to make it up to Aunt Z.]]

<<set $Name to "Quinn">> With your name tag pinned to your plain button-down shirt, you headed down the walnut hardwood stairs to start your day. While the upstairs of the two-story red brick building was rather dark and seemed not to have changed since 1626 except for the indoor plumbing and electricity, the downstairs of the Oleander residence was airy and bright, which almost seemed out of place. The stairs brought you to the kitchen and a private dining area that had dull, pastel yellow floral wallpaper on every inch of the downstairs, and while the stove and all the cookware were probably older than you, they were clean and worked perfectly fine. The sound of a familiar bark of laughter came from the other side of the white sliding shutter doors that separate the back room from the tea and pastry shop. That laugh could only come from one person: Aunt Zinnia. You saw your aunt as you walk through the shutter doors, a baseball cap covering her pixie-cut black hair. While you were dressed professionally in a plain button-down work uniform, your aunt Zinnia was dressed casually in dark jeans and an old band tee, with the only thing remotely professional about her "work uniform" being a plain black apron tied around her waist. The sound of the sliding doors creaking made your aunt's head pop up, and she looked away from the customer for just a second, a teasing smile on her face. "Well, look who it is; my $Niece seems to be back from the dead." * [["I am so sorry, Aunt Z! I don't know what happened; I must have slept through my alarm clock." you said genuinely]] * [[You let slip a sly smile. "You must have got me confused with you, Aunt Z; aren't you the one closer to death? You're not getting any younger." you said with a teasing tone.]] * [["I'm sure you had everything handled! I mean, you are like a superhero at multitasking."]] * [[You gave her an indifferent shrug and started getting to work to make it up to Aunt Z.]]

<<set $Name to "Morgan">> With your name tag pinned to your plain button-down shirt, you headed down the walnut hardwood stairs to start your day. While the upstairs of the two-story red brick building was rather dark and seemed not to have changed since 1626 except for the indoor plumbing and electricity, the downstairs of the Oleander residence was airy and bright, which almost seemed out of place. The stairs brought you to the kitchen and a private dining area that had dull, pastel yellow floral wallpaper on every inch of the downstairs, and while the stove and all the cookware were probably older than you, they were clean and worked perfectly fine. The sound of a familiar bark of laughter came from the other side of the white sliding shutter doors that separate the back room from the tea and pastry shop. That laugh could only come from one person: Aunt Zinnia. You saw your aunt as you walk through the shutter doors, a baseball cap covering her pixie-cut black hair. While you were dressed professionally in a plain button-down work uniform, your aunt Zinnia was dressed casually in dark jeans and an old band tee, with the only thing remotely professional about her "work uniform" being a plain black apron tied around her waist. The sound of the sliding doors creaking made your aunt's head pop up, and she looked away from the customer for just a second, a teasing smile on her face. "Well, look who it is; my $Niece seems to be back from the dead." * [["I am so sorry, Aunt Z! I don't know what happened; I must have slept through my alarm clock." you said genuinely]] * [[You let slip a sly smile. "You must have got me confused with you, Aunt Z; aren't you the one closer to death? You're not getting any younger." you said with a teasing tone.]] * [["I'm sure you had everything handled! I mean, you are like a superhero at multitasking."]] * [[You gave her an indifferent shrug and started getting to work to make it up to Aunt Z.]]

You had your arms wrapped around Camila almost immediately, and you soaked up the Puerto Rican girl's warmth with no problem; it almost came as natural as breathing. "It is good to see you too, Camilia—oh, and you too, Luis." You looked over Camilia's shoulder to see Luis rolling his eyes. "Oh, thanks for noting that I am here too." The fifteen-year-old boy's voice was full of sarcasm and dry. "Please, dear sister, take those claws you call nails out of $Name; while $She might be cool with your annoying displays of affection, your sunny behavior is giving me a headache." Camila rolled her bright green eyes, grinned, and looked over to you, letting you out of the hug. "Sorry, I might have gotten a little excited to see you, but look at what I have!" Camila pulled a book from her purse and places it in front of you, the cover art depicting a shirtless man sitting on a throne."It's the final instalment of //The Moonlit Woods// by Ev R. Lasting! Can you believe the author ended it on such a cliffhanger in the last book, like a literal cliff...the prince's carriage was hanging off a cliff!" Luis groaned. "$Name, please kill me; she hasn't stopped talking about this damn book series all week; it is driving me up the wall." * [[You felt bad for Luis. Even though you love her, Camila can be a bit much when it comes to her passions.]] * [[You grinned; Camila was very passionate, and it helps you get to watch Luis suffer.]] * [[You let out a small laugh. Yeah, Camila could be a bit much when she's hyper-focused on a fandom, but you wouldn’t have her any other way.]] * [[You outwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]] * [[Why would you feel bad? You're just as big a fan as Camila!]] * [[You inwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]]

You had your arms wrapped awkwardly around Camila, not totally comfortable with the physical touch but not wanting to make the cheery Puerto Rican girl upset for no reason. "Hi, Camila—oh, and you too, Luis." You looked over Camilia's shoulder to see Luis rolling his eyes. "Oh, thanks for noting that I am here too." The fifteen-year-old boy's voice was full of sarcasm and dry. "Please, dear sister, take those claws you call nails out of $Name; your behavior can be a bit much and its giving me a headache." Camila quickly let you out of the hug with a gentle smile, showing you she meant no harm in the hug and that she completely respects your boundaries. "Sorry, I might have gotten a little excited to see you, but look at what I have!" Camila pulled a book from her purse and places it in front of you, the cover art depicting a shirtless man sitting on a throne."It's the final instalment of //The Moonlit Woods// by Ev R. Lasting! Can you believe the author ended it on such a cliffhanger in the last book, like a literal cliff...the prince's carriage was hanging off a cliff!" Luis groaned. "$Name, please kill me; she hasn't stopped talking about this damn book series all week; it is driving me up the wall." * [[You felt bad for Luis. Even though you love her, Camila can be a bit much when it comes to her passions.]] * [[You grinned; Camila was very passionate, and it helps you get to watch Luis suffer.]] * [[You let out a small laugh. Yeah, Camila could be a bit much when she's hyper-focused on a fandom, but you wouldn’t have her any other way.]] * [[You outwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]] * [[Why would you feel bad? You're just as big a fan as Camila!]] * [[You inwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]]

You smiled and patted her on the back."We saw each other yesterday; tell me you didn't miss me that much." You heard a familiar scoff from the Puerto Rican girl and grinned even wider. "I know that Luis missed me." You looked over Camilia's shoulder to see Luis rolling his eyes. "Oh, thanks for noting that I am here too." The fifteen-year-old boy's voice was full of sarcasm and dry. "Please, dear sister, take those claws you call nails out of $Name; your encouraging $Hers, I can already feel a headache coming on." Camila snorted. "Shh, you know you like $Name and I's shenanegans." You could already feel Luis getting ready to retort, but Camila cut him off with a big grin. "Look what I have!" Camila pulled a book from her purse and places it in front of you, the cover art depicting a shirtless man sitting on a throne."It's the final instalment of //The Moonlit Woods// by Ev R. Lasting! Can you believe the author ended it on such a cliffhanger in the last book, like a literal cliff...the prince's carriage was hanging off a cliff!" Luis groaned. "$Name, please kill me; she hasn't stopped talking about this damn book series all week; it is driving me up the wall." * [[You felt bad for Luis. Even though you love her, Camila can be a bit much when it comes to her passions.]] * [[You grinned; Camila was very passionate, and it helps you get to watch Luis suffer.]] * [[You let out a small laugh. Yeah, Camila could be a bit much when she's hyper-focused on a fandom, but you wouldn’t have her any other way.]] * [[You outwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]] * [[Why would you feel bad? You're just as big a fan as Camila!]] * [[You inwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]]

"We saw each other yesterday..." you sighed as you endured the hug, not a fan of hugging. You heard a familiar giggle from the Puerto Rican girl. "Can't a girl miss her best friend in the whole wide world?" You looked over Camilia's shoulder to see Luis rolling his eyes. "Hey, Luis." "Oh, thanks for noting that I am here too." The fifteen-year-old boy's voice was full of sarcasm and dry. "Please, dear sister, take those claws you call nails out of $Name; you know not everyone is as big on hugging as you." Camila immediately let go, gave you an apologetic smile. "....sorry." Luis sighed; however, Camila's embarrassment didn't last long as she looked at you with big green eyes. "Look what I have!" Camila pulled a book from her purse and places it in front of you, the cover art depicting a shirtless man sitting on a throne."It's the final instalment of //The Moonlit Woods// by Ev R. Lasting! Can you believe the author ended it on such a cliffhanger in the last book, like a literal cliff...the prince's carriage was hanging off a cliff!" Luis groaned. "$Name, please kill me; she hasn't stopped talking about this damn book series all week; it is driving me up the wall." * [[You felt bad for Luis. Even though you love her, Camila can be a bit much when it comes to her passions.]] * [[You grinned; Camila was very passionate, and it helps you get to watch Luis suffer.]] * [[You let out a small laugh. Yeah, Camila could be a bit much when she's hyper-focused on a fandom, but you wouldn’t have her any other way.]] * [[You outwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]] * [[Why would you feel bad? You're just as big a fan as Camila!]] * [[You inwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters was about to begin.]]

You felt bad for Luis. Even though you love her, Camila could be a bit much when it comes to her passions. "Uh, I don't know what you are talking about, Luis." You gave Luis a look, which he returned with another eyeroll. "Yeah, sure, you don't." Camila looked at her brother. "Oh, come on, Luis, //Moonlit Woods// is such a good story—the romance, the adventure. "Why don't you just give it a try?" She pointed the book at Luis. "Who doesn't like a romantic story of a hot, brooding prince finding romance?" "Every aspect of Western society is infused with romantic love in an attempt to deceive people into seeing what they want to see, what they imagine and perfect the other person to be like in their heads, erasing all flaws." Luis said, sighing indifferently. "Such a romantic, I pray that whoever gets with you doesn't mind your "love is a social construct" mindset." Camila turned back around to look at you. "I tried. At least I persuaded you to read the books." More liked Camila nagged you every second on your lunchbreak until you finally give in. Were they good books? That wasn't the point. You smiled. "Uh..right yeah." You heard Luis groan and see him looking behind you. Camila also turned in that direction, looking over your shoulder. "Oh, speaking of romance!" You turned around and watched as Aunt Zinnia and Miss Mendozo talked, very close together; it seemed that your aunt was rambling with a deep blush and Miss Mendozo was listening with a gentle smile. "Ugh, they are like in their sixties; people older than thirty shouldn't be allowed to flirt. It's weird." Luis said, with a wince. "Luis! Mom and Miss Oleander are in their forties, and I think it's sweet that they are so in love with each other." Camila flicked her brother on the back of the head. "I find it more annoying than anything else; I mean, they have known each other for how long, and still no one has taken it further?" * [[You wished they would just ask each other out already]] * [[You felt Indifferent about the whole thing]] * [[You felt….weird about it?]]

You grinned. Camila was very passionate, and it helped you got to watch Luis suffer. "I don't know, Luis, maybe you need to lighten up." You gave Luis a mischievous grin, which he returned with another eyeroll. "Thanks for the help, $Name." Camila looked at her brother. "Oh, come on, Luis, //Moonlit Woods// is such a good story—the romance, the adventure. "Why don't you just give it a try?" She pointed the book at Luis. "Who doesn't like a romantic story of a hot, brooding prince finding romance?" "Every aspect of Western society is infused with romantic love in an attempt to deceive people into seeing what they want to see, what they imagine and perfect the other person to be like in their heads, erasing all flaws." Luis said, sighing indifferently. "Such a romantic, I pray that whoever gets with you doesn't mind your "love is a social construct" mindset." Camila turned back around to look at you. "I tried. At least I persuaded you to read the books." More liked Camila nagged you every second on your lunchbreak until you finally give in. Were they good books? That wasn't the point. You smiled. "Uh..right yeah." You heard Luis groan and see him looking behind you. Camila also turned in that direction, looking over your shoulder. "Oh, speaking of romance!" You turned around and watched as Aunt Zinnia and Miss Mendozo talked, very close together; it seemed that your aunt was rambling with a deep blush and Miss Mendozo was listening with a gentle smile. "Ugh, they are like in their sixties; people older than thirty shouldn't be allowed to flirt. It's weird." Luis said, with a wince. "Luis! Mom and Miss Oleander are in their forties, and I think it's sweet that they are so in love with each other." Camila flicked her brother on the back of the head. "I find it more annoying than anything else; I mean, they have known each other for how long, and still no one has taken it further?" * [[You wished they would just ask each other out already]] * [[You felt Indifferent about the whole thing]] * [[You felt….weird about it?]]

You let out a small laugh. Yeah, Camila can be a bit much when she's hyper-focused on a fandom, but you wouldn’t have her any other way. "Oh come on, Luis, we all have our hobbies." You gave Luis a small smile, which he returned with another eyeroll. "Thanks for the help, $Name." Camila looked at her brother. "Oh, come on, Luis, //Moonlit Woods// is such a good story—the romance, the adventure. "Why don't you just give it a try?" She pointed the book at Luis. "Who doesn't like a romantic story of a hot, brooding prince finding romance?" "Every aspect of Western society is infused with romantic love in an attempt to deceive people into seeing what they want to see, what they imagine and perfect the other person to be like in their heads, erasing all flaws." Luis said, sighing indifferently. "Such a romantic, I pray that whoever gets with you doesn't mind your "love is a social construct" mindset." Camila turned back around to look at you. "I tried. At least I persuaded you to read the books." More liked Camila nagged you every second on your lunchbreak until you finally give in. Were they good books? That wasn't the point. You smiled. "Uh..right yeah." You heard Luis groan and see him looking behind you. Camila also turned in that direction, looking over your shoulder. "Oh, speaking of romance!" You turned around and watched as Aunt Zinnia and Miss Mendozo talked, very close together; it seemed that your aunt was rambling with a deep blush and Miss Mendozo was listening with a gentle smile. "Ugh, they are like in their sixties; people older than thirty shouldn't be allowed to flirt. It's weird." Luis said, with a wince. "Luis! Mom and Miss Oleander are in their forties, and I think it's sweet that they are so in love with each other." Camila flicked her brother on the back of the head. "I find it more annoying than anything else; I mean, they have known each other for how long, and still no one has taken it further?" * [[You wished they would just ask each other out already]] * [[You felt Indifferent about the whole thing]] * [[You felt….weird about it?]]

You inwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters is about to begin. "I uh....yay?" You gave Luis a look, who returned it with a look of dread and fear. Camila shifted her gaze between you and Luis."Oh, come on, guys, //Moonlit Woods// is such a good story—the romance, the adventure. "Why don't you just give it a try?" She pointed the book at Luis. "Who doesn't like a romantic story of a hot, brooding prince finding romance?" "Every aspect of Western society is infused with romantic love in an attempt to deceive people into seeing what they want to see, what they imagine and perfect the other person to be like in their heads, erasing all flaws." Luis said, sighing indifferently. "Such a romantic, I pray that whoever gets with you doesn't mind your "love is a social construct" mindset." Camila turned back around to look at you. "I tried. At least I persuaded you to read the books." More liked Camila nagged you every second on your lunchbreak until you finally give in. Were they good books? That wasn't the point. You smiled. "Uh..right yeah." You heard Luis groan and see him looking behind you. Camila also turned in that direction, looking over your shoulder. "Oh, speaking of romance!" You turned around and watched as Aunt Zinnia and Miss Mendozo talked, very close together; it seemed that your aunt was rambling with a deep blush and Miss Mendozo was listening with a gentle smile. "Ugh, they are like in their sixties; people older than thirty shouldn't be allowed to flirt. It's weird." Luis said, with a wince. "Luis! Mom and Miss Oleander are in their forties, and I think it's sweet that they are so in love with each other." Camila flicked her brother on the back of the head. "I find it more annoying than anything else; I mean, they have known each other for how long, and still no one has taken it further?" * [[You wished they would just ask each other out already]] * [[You felt Indifferent about the whole thing]] * [[You felt….weird about it?]]

You outwardly groaned, knowing the tornado of rambling and shipping of characters is about to begin. Luis nodded his head in return, agreeing with you. Camila shifted her gaze between you and Luis."Oh, come on, guys, //Moonlit Woods// is such a good story—the romance, the adventure. "Why don't you just give it a try?" She pointed the book at Luis. "Who doesn't like a romantic story of a hot, brooding prince finding romance?" "Every aspect of Western society is infused with romantic love in an attempt to deceive people into seeing what they want to see, what they imagine and perfect the other person to be like in their heads, erasing all flaws." Luis said, sighing indifferently. "Such a romantic, I pray that whoever gets with you doesn't mind your "love is a social construct" mindset." Camila turned back around to look at you. "I tried. At least I persuaded you to read the books." More liked Camila nagged you every second on your lunchbreak until you finally give in. Were they good books? That wasn't the point. You grimced. "Well...." You heard Luis groan and see him looking behind you. Camila also turned in that direction, looking over your shoulder. "Oh, speaking of romance!" You turned around and watched as Aunt Zinnia and Miss Mendozo talked, very close together; it seemed that your aunt was rambling with a deep blush and Miss Mendozo was listening with a gentle smile. "Ugh, they are like in their sixties; people older than thirty shouldn't be allowed to flirt. It's weird." Luis said, with a wince. "Luis! Mom and Miss Oleander are in their forties, and I think it's sweet that they are so in love with each other." Camila flicked her brother on the back of the head. "I find it more annoying than anything else; I mean, they have known each other for how long, and still no one has taken it further?" * [[You wished they would just ask each other out already]] * [[You felt Indifferent about the whole thing]] * [[You felt….weird about it?]]

Why would you feel bad? You're just as big a fan as Camila! You practically snatched the book out of Camila's hands. "I can't believe that it is finally here!" Luis groaned. "Come on, $Name, you're supposed to be the reasonable one!" You grinned. "Says who?" You gave the book back to Camila. Camila shifted her gaze from the book to Luis. "Oh, come on, Luis, //Moonlit Woods// is such a good story—the romance, the adventure. "Why don't you just give it a try?" She pointed the book at Luis. "Who doesn't like a romantic story of a hot, brooding prince finding romance?" "Every aspect of Western society is infused with romantic love in an attempt to deceive people into seeing what they want to see, what they imagine and perfect the other person to be like in their heads, erasing all flaws." Luis said, sighing indifferently. "Such a romantic, I pray that whoever gets with you doesn't mind your "love is a social construct" mindset." Camila turned back around to look at you. "I tried. At least I persuaded you to read the books." More liked Camila nagged you every second on your lunchbreak until you finally give in. Were they good books? Yes, they were the best. You grinned. "The plot and the chemistry between Prince Alexander and the Bandit Queen is amazing." You heard Luis groan and see him looking behind you. Camila also turned in that direction, looking over your shoulder. "Oh, speaking of romance!" You turned around and watched as Aunt Zinnia and Miss Mendozo talked, very close together; it seemed that your aunt was rambling with a deep blush and Miss Mendozo was listening with a gentle smile. "Ugh, they are like in their sixties; people older than thirty shouldn't be allowed to flirt. It's weird." Luis said, with a wince. "Luis! Mom and Miss Oleander are in their forties, and I think it's sweet that they are so in love with each other." Camila flicked her brother on the back of the head. "I find it more annoying than anything else; I mean, they have known each other for how long, and still no one has taken it further?" * [[You wished they would just ask each other out already]] * [[You felt Indifferent about the whole thing]] * [[You felt….weird about it?]]

<<set $TrinniaShipper to "Happy">> <<set $Optimist to $Optimist + 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist - 1>> You feel a swarm of giddiness in your stomach at the tension going on between your aunt and Miss Mendoza. Miss Mendoza was a very important figure in your life. The older lady took care of you when you were sick and knitted you hoilday sweaters. As long as you can remember, your aunt has always had a crush on Miss Mendoza, who seemed too sweet to interrupt your aunt's constant rambling. You simply wanted to see your aunt happy; she had experienced so much loss that she deserved something special in her life. You looked over at the siblings. "Do you think if we lock them in a closet they might confess to ea-" You were cut off by the teenager. "Shit! God! $Name! Control your freaking cat!" Luis shrieked and pushed said cat away from him, which had obviously just scratched his pant's leg. [[You looked down to see...]]

<<set $TrinniaShipper to "Indifferent">> You gave Camila and Luis an indifferent shrug. Anyone could see that your aunt had a massive crush on the honey-skinned older lady, but she never seemed to make a move, except if you count your Aunt Zinnia's ramblings and weird mating call. However, it was none of your business what they did; they were both responsible adults that could make their own choices, and they didn't need the help of their children or $Niece trying to interfere with their lives. You looked over at the siblings. "They are going to notice that we are staring; you guys kno-" You were cut off by the teenager. "Shit! God! $Name! Control your freaking cat!" Luis sherked and pushed the said cat away from him, which had obviously just scratched his pant's leg. [[You looked down to see...]]

<<set $TrinniaShipper to "Weird">> <<set $Optimist to $Optimist - 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist + 1>> Why did you feel a pit form in your stomach? You liked Miss Mendozo; she was another important figure in your life who helped you with homework and made you sweaters every hoilday; hell, she was Luis and Camila's mother, for God's sake. However, you still can't help but have a little fear creep into your body. What if your aunt leaves you alone and goes riding in the sunset with Miss Mendoza? What if Miss Mendoza breaks your aunt's heart? What if they break up? Your throat tightened with anxiety; however, you were quickly brought out of your trance by the sound of cursing. "Shit! God! $Name! Control your freaking cat!" Luis shrieked and pushed said cat away from him, which had obviously just scratched his pant's leg. [[You looked down to see...]]

You looked down to see a..... * [[Siamese Cat]] * [[Bengal Cat]] * [[Orange Tabby Cat]] * [[Sphynx Cat]] * [[Persian Cat]]

<<set $B11 to "The sixteen-year-old took a step away from your feline pet, who was lying on the counter in a cat bed that was closer to the wall, while the girl still didn't look up from her phone, her thumbs typing quickly.">> <<set $Siamese to "siamese">> <<set $fur to "fur">> <<set $A20 to "Your feline rubbed his head on your leg, you were going to have a lot of cat hair.">> Siamese cats always have something to say, whether it is purring on someone's lap or meowing loudly to get your attention. With their outgoing personalities, they have a mission to get on everyone's good side. * [[This little troublemaker, you lovably named...]] * [[Back |You looked down to see...]]

<<set $B11 to "The sixteen-year-old took a step away from your feline pet, who was lying on the counter in a cat bed that was closer to the wall, while the girl still didn't look up from her phone, her thumbs typing quickly.">> <<set $Siamese to "bengal">> <<set $fur to "fur">> <<set $A20 to "Your feline rubbed his head on your leg, you were going to have a lot of cat hair.">> While the Bengal cat breed is wild and might drive you crazy, they will warm your heart with their affectionate and cuddly personalities. * [[This little troublemaker, you lovably named...]] * [[Back |You looked down to see...]]

<<set $B11 to "The sixteen-year-old took a step away from your feline pet, who was lying on the counter in a cat bed that was closer to the wall, while the girl still didn't look up from her phone, her thumbs typing quickly.">> <<set $Siamese to "orange tabby">> <<set $fur to "fur">> <<set $A20 to "Your feline rubbed his head on your leg, you were going to have a lot of cat hair.">> Who doesn't love Garfield? This cat breed might always be napping, but they are as friendly as can be. * [[This little troublemaker, you lovably named...]] * [[Back |You looked down to see...]]

<<set $B11 to "The sixteen-year-old pet your feline, who was lying on the counter in a cat bed that was closer to the wall, while the girl still didn't look up from her phone, her thumbs typing quickly.">> <<set $Siamese to "sphynx">> <<set $fur to "skin">> <<set $A20 to "Your feline rubbed against your leg, which you just shrugged off.">> Not everything is about looks. The sphynx breed is all about showing off their acrobatic skills, and while they might not always want you touching them, they are loyal as canines. * [[This little troublemaker, you lovably named...]] * [[Back |You looked down to see...]]

<<set $B11 to "The sixteen-year-old took a step away from your feline pet, who was lying on the counter in a cat bed that was closer to the wall, while the girl still didn't look up from her phone, her thumbs typing quickly.">> <<set $Siamese to "persian">> <<set $fur to "fur">> <<set $A20 to "Your feline rubbed his head on your leg, you were going to have a lot of cat hair.">> You won't even know if they are in the room; they are as quiet as a mouse, and while new people can make them a little skittish, with enough treats, you will be able to win them over. * [[This little troublemaker, you lovably named...]] * [[Back |You looked down to see...]]

This little troublemaker, you lovably named... * [[Sushi|What is your cat name?Part4]] * [[Bam Bam|What is your cat name?Part5]] * <<textbox "$CatName" "Whiskers""What is your cat name?Part2">>

You remember the first time you met little $CatName; it was your sixteenth birthday, you were working late, and your aunt had promised to take you out for whatever you wanted to do the next night. It was almost 12:00 when you took out the trash, and the sound of a can hitting the ground made you jump. When you turned around, you saw a small $Siamese kitten with its head stuck in an empty pineapple can. "Oh god, buddy, are you okay?" You gently picked up the kitten and helped get the pineapple can off its head. "What are you doing out here?" The kitten let out a soft meow and cuddled closer to your chest. "Okay, let's get you inside. Let's keep this between you and me, at least for now. I'll tell Aunt Zinnia when she is in a good mood." Your plan to hide the kitten didn't work at all, your aunt almost immediately knew something was up when she got home from grocery shopping, and after a little interrogating, you showed her the kitten. While she was not going to let you keep it at first, after a lot of begging and persuading, she finally let you keep it and took you to get a collar, which you inscribed $CatName on the name tag. To no surprise at all, your aunt fell in love with $CatName in a few days of having him. He was spoiled with a vast amount of treats and cuddles, and your aunt even built him a little kitty door so he could go in and out of the house. Some stores on your block even had little treat jars in case $CatName would come by to say hello. While everyone seemed to love $CatName, he did have one enemy who wore black jeans and makeup. Luis started eyeing daggers at the pointy-eared cat, who had harmlessly rubbed against your leg. "Oh, look at $CatName; he wouldn't harm a fly." Camila said, getting on her knees to pet the five-year-old feline. Luis scowled. "My pants would beg to differ." * [[You protectively picked up your baby and held him to your chest.]] * [[You shrugged, "What do you want me to do?"]] * [[You scolded your little gremlin, which you call a cat.]] * [[You playfully scolded your little baby.]]

<<set $CatName to "Sushi">> You remember the first time you met little $CatName; it was your sixteenth birthday, you were working late, and your aunt had promised to take you out for whatever you wanted to do the next night. It was almost 12:00 when you took out the trash, and the sound of a can hitting the ground made you jump. When you turned around, you saw a small $Siamese kitten with its head stuck in an empty pineapple can. "Oh god, buddy, are you okay?" You gently picked up the kitten and helped get the pineapple can off its head. "What are you doing out here?" The kitten let out a soft meow and cuddled closer to your chest. "Okay, let's get you inside. Let's keep this between you and me, at least for now. I'll tell Aunt Zinnia when she is in a good mood." Your plan to hide the kitten didn't work at all, your aunt almost immediately knew something was up when she got home from grocery shopping, and after a little interrogating, you showed her the kitten. While she was not going to let you keep it at first, after a lot of begging and persuading, she finally let you keep it and took you to get a collar, which you inscribed $CatName on the name tag. To no surprise at all, your aunt fell in love with $CatName in a few days of having him. He was spoiled with a vast amount of treats and cuddles, and your aunt even built him a little kitty door so he could go in and out of the house. Some stores on your block even had little treat jars in case $CatName would come by to say hello. While everyone seemed to love $CatName, he did have one enemy who wore black jeans and makeup. Luis started eyeing daggers at the pointy-eared cat, who had harmlessly rubbed against your leg. "Oh, look at $CatName; he wouldn't harm a fly." Camila said, getting on her knees to pet the five-year-old feline. Luis scowled. "My pants would beg to differ." * [[You protectively picked up your baby and held him to your chest.]] * [[You shrugged, "What do you want me to do?"]] * [[You scolded your little gremlin, which you call a cat.]] * [[You playfully scolded your little baby.]]

<<set $CatName to "Bam Bam">> You remember the first time you met little $CatName; it was your sixteenth birthday, you were working late, and your aunt had promised to take you out for whatever you wanted to do the next night. It was almost 12:00 when you took out the trash, and the sound of a can hitting the ground made you jump. When you turned around, you saw a small $Siamese kitten with its head stuck in an empty pineapple can. "Oh god, buddy, are you okay?" You gently picked up the kitten and helped get the pineapple can off its head. "What are you doing out here?" The kitten let out a soft meow and cuddled closer to your chest. "Okay, let's get you inside. Let's keep this between you and me, at least for now. I'll tell Aunt Zinnia when she is in a good mood." Your plan to hide the kitten didn't work at all, your aunt almost immediately knew something was up when she got home from grocery shopping, and after a little interrogating, you showed her the kitten. While she was not going to let you keep it at first, after a lot of begging and persuading, she finally let you keep it and took you to get a collar, which you inscribed $CatName on the name tag. To no surprise at all, your aunt fell in love with $CatName in a few days of having him. He was spoiled with a vast amount of treats and cuddles, and your aunt even built him a little kitty door so he could go in and out of the house. Some stores on your block even had little treat jars in case $CatName would come by to say hello. While everyone seemed to love $CatName, he did have one enemy who wore black jeans and makeup. Luis started eyeing daggers at the pointy-eared cat, who had harmlessly rubbed against your leg. "Oh, look at $CatName; he wouldn't harm a fly." Camila said, getting on her knees to pet the five-year-old feline. Luis scowled. "My pants would beg to differ." * [[You protectively picked up your baby and held him to your chest.]] * [[You shrugged, "What do you want me to do?"]] * [[You scolded your little gremlin, which you call a cat.]] * [[You playfully scolded your little baby.]]

"Oh, he didn't mean it." You protectively picked up $CatName and hold him to your chest. $CatName started to purr in your arms, and you felt a wash of comfort come over you. Luis glared at the feline. "I swear he is out to get me." Camlia grinned. "Well, we are more dog people; maybe he can smell that on you." Luis's eyes widened a little, but he glared at his older sister. You snorted, ignoring the weird look on Luis's face. "Or maybe he isn't a fan of your style." Your eyes traveled over Luis's all-black clothing. Camila let out a giggle. "Good one, $Name." Luis snorted. "Oh, Cam, your neon pink nails are so bright that just looking at them can give someone a migraine." Luis then turned to you. "Your work uniform is a little bland, but I actually don't hate your normal clothes." You looked down at your work outfit while Camila let out an offended noise. "Hija! Hijo! Time to go back to the store, we have someone coming by today." Miss Mendozo yelled as she moved her gaze away from Aunt Zinnia and toward her children. "Ugh, the antique store is the most boring place on Earth." "I heard that, Hijo! Apresúrate! Hurry up!" Miss. Mendozo started to shoo her kids out of the store. "I- uh, are you sure you can't stay longer, Triana?" Your aunt said as she handed Camila their order of apple pie. Miss Mendozo nodded, her face flushed with embarrassment."Sorry to leave you mid-conversation, Zinnia, but the Smith family from the next town over is dropping off a silverware set, and I really need to be there." "Well- uh- bye." As you waved goodbye to the Mendozos, your aunt stuttered out a reply. * [["That went…..well?"]] * [["Aunt Z… You crashed, and then you burned."]] * [["We better get back to work."]] * [["......."]] * [["You did better than last time?"]]

You shrugged. "What do you want me to do?" $A20 "Are you serious? Scowl him or take him to a kitty military camp, I don't know." You raised an eyebrow. "A cat military camp?" Camila's head popped up. "Oh my god, can you imagine $CatName in a little captain's hat?" $CatName raises his head and looks up at you with an innocent look. Luis glared at the feline. "I swear he is out to get me." Camlia grinned. "Well, we are more dog people; maybe he can smell that on you." Luis's eyes widened a little, but he glared at his older sister. You snorted, ignoring the weird look on Luis's face. "Or maybe he isn't a fan of your style." Your eyes traveled over Luis's all-black clothing. Camila let out a giggle. "Good one, $Name." Luis snorted. "Oh, Cam, your neon pink nails are so bright that just looking at them can give someone a migraine." Luis then turned to you. "Your work uniform is a little bland, but I actually don't hate your normal clothes." You looked down at your work outfit while Camila let out an offended noise. "Hija! Hijo! Time to go back to the store, we have someone coming by today." Miss Mendozo yelled as she moved her gaze away from Aunt Zinnia and toward her children. "Ugh, the antique store is the most boring place on Earth." "I heard that, Hijo! Apresúrate! Hurry up!" Miss. Mendozo started to shoo her kids out of the store. "I- uh, are you sure you can't stay longer, Triana?" Your aunt said as she handed Camila their order of apple pie. Miss Mendozo nodded, her face flushed with embarrassment."Sorry to leave you mid-conversation, Zinnia, but the Smith family from the next town over is dropping off a silverware set, and I really need to be there." "Well- uh- bye." As you waved goodbye to the Mendozos, your aunt stuttered out a reply. * [["That went…..well?"]] * [["Aunt Z… You crashed, and then you burned."]] * [["We better get back to work."]] * [["......."]] * [["You did better than last time?"]]

You looked at $CatName and shook your finger, in a teasing tone. "You know better; Luis is not a scratching post, even though he might look like one." $CatName looked up from rubbing against your leg, then looked at Luis; you swore he winked at you and continued to rub against your leg. Luis rolled his eyes. "Thank you, $Name." Luis' tone was dry. You nodded your head at Luis, not bothered by the scarasm. "No problem, I wouldn't want your pants to be not avenged for this crime." Camila shook her head. "He is just a baby." $CatName raises his head and looks up at you with an innocent look. Luis glared at the feline. "I swear he is out to get me." Camlia grinned. "Well, we are more dog people; maybe he can smell that on you." Luis's eyes widened a little, but he glared at his older sister. You snorted, ignoring the weird look on Luis's face. "Or maybe he isn't a fan of your style." Your eyes traveled over Luis's all-black clothing. Camila let out a giggle. "Good one, $Name." Luis snorted. "Oh, Cam, your neon pink nails are so bright that just looking at them can give someone a migraine." Luis then turned to you. "Your work uniform is a little bland, but I actually don't hate your normal clothes." You looked down at your work outfit while Camila let out an offended noise. "Hija! Hijo! Time to go back to the store, we have someone coming by today." Miss Mendozo yelled as she moved her gaze away from Aunt Zinnia and toward her children. "Ugh, the antique store is the most boring place on Earth." "I heard that, Hijo! Apresúrate! Hurry up!" Miss. Mendozo started to shoo her kids out of the store. "I- uh, are you sure you can't stay longer, Triana?" Your aunt said as she handed Camila their order of apple pie. Miss Mendozo nodded, her face flushed with embarrassment."Sorry to leave you mid-conversation, Zinnia, but the Smith family from the next town over is dropping off a silverware set, and I really need to be there." "Well- uh- bye." As you waved goodbye to the Mendozos, your aunt stuttered out a reply. * [["That went…..well?"]] * [["Aunt Z… You crashed, and then you burned."]] * [["We better get back to work."]] * [["......."]] * [["You did better than last time?"]]

You looked at $CatName and shook your finger. "You know better; Luis is not a scratching post." $CatName looked up from rubbing against your leg, then looked at Luis; you knew he understood what you were saying and let out a strained meow. Luis sighed in relief, giving you a grateful smile. "Thank you, $Name." You nodded your head at Luis, accepting the smile. "No problem, $CatName knows better." Camila shook her head. "He is just a baby." $CatName raises his head and looks up at you with an innocent look. Luis glared at the feline. "I swear he is out to get me." Camlia grinned. "Well, we are more dog people; maybe he can smell that on you." Luis's eyes widened a little, but he glared at his older sister. You snorted, ignoring the weird look on Luis's face. "Or maybe he isn't a fan of your style." Your eyes traveled over Luis's all-black clothing. Camila let out a giggle. "Good one, $Name." Luis snorted. "Oh, Cam, your neon pink nails are so bright that just looking at them can give someone a migraine." Luis then turned to you. "Your work uniform is a little bland, but I actually don't hate your normal clothes." You looked down at your work outfit while Camila let out an offended noise. "Hija! Hijo! Time to go back to the store, we have someone coming by today." Miss Mendozo yelled as she moved her gaze away from Aunt Zinnia and toward her children. "Ugh, the antique store is the most boring place on Earth." "I heard that, Hijo! Apresúrate! Hurry up!" Miss. Mendozo started to shoo her kids out of the store. "I- uh, are you sure you can't stay longer, Triana?" Your aunt said as she handed Camila their order of apple pie. Miss Mendozo nodded, her face flushed with embarrassment."Sorry to leave you mid-conversation, Zinnia, but the Smith family from the next town over is dropping off a silverware set, and I really need to be there." "Well- uh- bye." As you waved goodbye to the Mendozos, your aunt stuttered out a reply. * [["That went…..well?"]] * [["Aunt Z… You crashed, and then you burned."]] * [["We better get back to work."]] * [["......."]] * [["You did better than last time?"]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> "That went....well?" You said it with a gentle smile. "Don't lie to me; I totally blew it." Aunt Zinnia laid her head down on the counter in shame. "Oh, I bet Miss Mendozo didn't even notice." You waved and patted your aunt on the back. "You think she didn't notice my red face and the fact that I couldn't stop talking?" "Well... that's normal for you, right? At least normal for when you talk to her." Aunt Zinnia sighed and took her baseball cap off, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead before putting the cap back on. "I suppose so." ''Ring. Ring! RING! '' The sound of the dull, pastel-purple rotary phone rang from inside the kitchen. Your aunt went toward the back of the café."I got it." It only took a minute, you only heard soft whisper from your aunt who was talking. Your aunt returned to the front counter."We've received an order for Doc's place." "Tai?" Your aunt raised an eyebrow. "You know another doctor in town that I don't know about?" Your eyes widened, and you almost blushed at your aunt's sly tone of voice. "No, it's just that Tai doesn't really order from here." You really didn't know Tai Huang. He was always cooped up in his office; the only time people really saw him was at his place of work or when he did house calls. From what you have seen and heard, he didn't really have any friends, probably due to his stoic and curt behavior. When Tai arrived in town a little more than a year ago to fill the position of the new doctor in Lockwood, most of the town folk were taken aback, for one thing because he was very young, couldn't be more than in his early twenties, but their concerns were quickly dispelled when Mayor Patterson assured the townspeople that Tai had all the certification and was simply very gifted. Lockwood hadn't seen a doctor since your father, or, should you say, stepfather, and that had been about fifteen years. Based on your observations, calculations, and what your aunt has told you, your stepdad and mom met when she went for a checkup at the town's clinic after she had just moved in with your aunt after living in Mexico. Sheldon had only been the town's doctor for a month when he met your mother, but according to your aunt, he was smitten the first time he laid eyes on Aster. You can still remember your aunt telling you that "Sheldon swept Aster right off her feet," and after only four months of dating, your stepdad proposed to your mom and moved to Colorado where you were born and raised until the car accident and your visit with Aunt Zinnia became permanent. Returning to your previous thoughts, you, like many of the town folk, are grateful to Tai. Not many people come to the middle of nowhere to be a doctor in such a small town. A big positive is that now people don't have to drive two hours to the next town to see a doctor about a broken foot or a weird rash. * [[You really have tried to get to know the young doctor.]] * [[You didn't go out of your way to see the young doctor, but you aren't opposed to saying hi in the streets.]] * [[You didn't really make an effort to talk to him; why would you when he clearly doesn't want to talk to you?]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> "Aunt Z… you crashed, and then you burned." "I'm so glad that I have such an honest $Niece" Aunt Zinnia laid her head down on the counter in shame, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I hope to god I didn't inherit your flirting skills," you teased. "You want to be grounded?" "I'm twenty-one!" You said it in mock outrage. Aunt Zinnia sighed and took her baseball cap off, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead before putting the cap back on. "That doesn't mean I can't still ground you." ''Ring. Ring! RING! '' The sound of the dull, pastel-purple rotary phone rang from inside the kitchen. Your aunt went toward the back of the café."I got it." It only took a minute, you only heard soft whisper from your aunt who was talking. Your aunt returned to the front counter."We've received an order for Doc's place." "Tai?" Your aunt raised an eyebrow. "You know another doctor in town that I don't know about?" You grinned like a cheshire cat at your aunt's sly tone. "Oh yeah, I'm just hanging out at medical conventions." You really didn't know Tai Huang. He was always cooped up in his office; the only time people really saw him was at his place of work or when he did house calls. From what you have seen and heard, he didn't really have any friends, probably due to his stoic and curt behavior. When Tai arrived in town a little more than a year ago to fill the position of the new doctor in Lockwood, most of the town folk were taken aback, for one thing because he was very young, couldn't be more than in his early twenties, but their concerns were quickly dispelled when Mayor Patterson assured the townspeople that Tai had all the certification and was simply very gifted. Lockwood hadn't seen a doctor since your father, or, should you say, stepfather, and that had been about fifteen years. Based on your observations, calculations, and what your aunt has told you, your stepdad and mom met when she went for a checkup at the town's clinic after she had just moved in with your aunt after living in Mexico. Sheldon had only been the town's doctor for a month when he met your mother, but according to your aunt, he was smitten the first time he laid eyes on Aster. You can still remember your aunt telling you that "Sheldon swept Aster right off her feet," and after only four months of dating, your stepdad proposed to your mom and moved to Colorado where you were born and raised until the car accident and your visit with Aunt Zinnia became permanent. Returning to your previous thoughts, you, like many of the town folk, are grateful to Tai. Not many people come to the middle of nowhere to be a doctor in such a small town. A big positive is that now people don't have to drive two hours to the next town to see a doctor about a broken foot or a weird rash. * [[You really have tried to get to know the young doctor.]] * [[You didn't go out of your way to see the young doctor, but you aren't opposed to saying hi in the streets.]] * [[You didn't really make an effort to talk to him; why would you when he clearly doesn't want to talk to you?]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> "We better get back to work." You said it apathetically. "Let me just die of self-pity for a minute." Aunt Zinnia laid her head down on the counter in shame. "For what it's worth, it wasn't as bad as last time," you said, starting to clean the counter. "How did I get such a cheery $Niece as you?" Your aunt said with a dry tone. "My emotions or people skills probably came from the environment that I grew up in or were influenced by my genetic inheritance; I suppose that is the whole nature versus nurture argument." Aunt Zinnia sighed and took her baseball cap off, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead before putting the cap back on. "Lord, give me strength." Aunt Zinnia looked at the ceiling. ''Ring. Ring! RING! '' The sound of the dull, pastel-purple rotary phone rang from inside the kitchen. Your aunt went toward the back of the café."I got it." It only took a minute, you only heard soft whisper from your aunt who was talking. Your aunt returned to the front counter."We've received an order for Doc's place." "Tai?" Your aunt raised an eyebrow. "You know another doctor in town that I don't know about?" You looked at your aunt, confused—why did she have such a sly tone when asking that question? "I was just wondering because he doesn't really order from us." You really didn't know Tai Huang. He was always cooped up in his office; the only time people really saw him was at his place of work or when he did house calls. From what you have seen and heard, he didn't really have any friends, probably due to his stoic and curt behavior. When Tai arrived in town a little more than a year ago to fill the position of the new doctor in Lockwood, most of the town folk were taken aback, for one thing because he was very young, couldn't be more than in his early twenties, but their concerns were quickly dispelled when Mayor Patterson assured the townspeople that Tai had all the certification and was simply very gifted. Lockwood hadn't seen a doctor since your father, or, should you say, stepfather, and that had been about fifteen years. Based on your observations, calculations, and what your aunt has told you, your stepdad and mom met when she went for a checkup at the town's clinic after she had just moved in with your aunt after living in Mexico. Sheldon had only been the town's doctor for a month when he met your mother, but according to your aunt, he was smitten the first time he laid eyes on Aster. You can still remember your aunt telling you that "Sheldon swept Aster right off her feet," and after only four months of dating, your stepdad proposed to your mom and moved to Colorado where you were born and raised until the car accident and your visit with Aunt Zinnia became permanent. Returning to your previous thoughts, you, like many of the town folk, are grateful to Tai. Not many people come to the middle of nowhere to be a doctor in such a small town. A big positive is that now people don't have to drive two hours to the next town to see a doctor about a broken foot or a weird rash. * [[You really have tried to get to know the young doctor.]] * [[You didn't go out of your way to see the young doctor, but you aren't opposed to saying hi in the streets.]] * [[You didn't really make an effort to talk to him; why would you when he clearly doesn't want to talk to you?]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> "......." You didn't say anything. "That bad, huh?" Aunt Zinnia laid her head down on the counter in shame. "........" "Okay, thank you for the words of encouragement." Your aunt said with a dry tone. "....I just didn't think you wanted me to comment on your disastrous flirtation." Aunt Zinnia sighed and took her baseball cap off, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead before putting the cap back on. "Well, thank you for that statement." Aunt Zinnia sighed again. ''Ring. Ring! RING! '' The sound of the dull, pastel-purple rotary phone rang from inside the kitchen. Your aunt went toward the back of the café."I got it." It only took a minute, you only heard soft whisper from your aunt who was talking. Your aunt returned to the front counter."We've received an order for Doc's place." "Tai?" Your aunt raised an eyebrow. "You know another doctor in town that I don't know about?" You sighed at your aunt's sly tone. "No, I was just wondering because he doesn't really order from here." You really didn't know Tai Huang. He was always cooped up in his office; the only time people really saw him was at his place of work or when he did house calls. From what you have seen and heard, he didn't really have any friends, probably due to his stoic and curt behavior. When Tai arrived in town a little more than a year ago to fill the position of the new doctor in Lockwood, most of the town folk were taken aback, for one thing because he was very young, couldn't be more than in his early twenties, but their concerns were quickly dispelled when Mayor Patterson assured the townspeople that Tai had all the certification and was simply very gifted. Lockwood hadn't seen a doctor since your father, or, should you say, stepfather, and that had been about fifteen years. Based on your observations, calculations, and what your aunt has told you, your stepdad and mom met when she went for a checkup at the town's clinic after she had just moved in with your aunt after living in Mexico. Sheldon had only been the town's doctor for a month when he met your mother, but according to your aunt, he was smitten the first time he laid eyes on Aster. You can still remember your aunt telling you that "Sheldon swept Aster right off her feet," and after only four months of dating, your stepdad proposed to your mom and moved to Colorado where you were born and raised until the car accident and your visit with Aunt Zinnia became permanent. Returning to your previous thoughts, you, like many of the town folk, are grateful to Tai. Not many people come to the middle of nowhere to be a doctor in such a small town. A big positive is that now people don't have to drive two hours to the next town to see a doctor about a broken foot or a weird rash. * [[You really have tried to get to know the young doctor.]] * [[You didn't go out of your way to see the young doctor, but you aren't opposed to saying hi in the streets.]] * [[You didn't really make an effort to talk to him; why would you when he clearly doesn't want to talk to you?]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> "You did better than last time?" You said this while shrugging your shoulders. "Don't bring it up again," Aunt Zinnia said, laying her head down on the counter in shame. You put your hands up in defeat. "Fine, fine, just saying." "We will never discuss last time again." Your aunt said it in a serious tone. "Got it, I will just be cleaning up this water spill over here and totally not thinking about how last time you tripped and fell on Miss Mendozo's lap." Aunt Zinnia sighed and took her baseball cap off, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead before putting the cap back on. "I am going to pretend you didn't say that." ''Ring. Ring! RING! '' The sound of the dull, pastel-purple rotary phone rang from inside the kitchen. Your aunt went toward the back of the café."I got it." It only took a minute, you only heard soft whisper from your aunt who was talking. Your aunt returned to the front counter."We've received an order for Doc's place." "Tai?" Your aunt raised an eyebrow. "You know another doctor in town that I don't know about?" You raised your own eyebrow. "I will bring up the incident again." You really didn't know Tai Huang. He was always cooped up in his office; the only time people really saw him was at his place of work or when he did house calls. From what you have seen and heard, he didn't really have any friends, probably due to his stoic and curt behavior. When Tai arrived in town a little more than a year ago to fill the position of the new doctor in Lockwood, most of the town folk were taken aback, for one thing because he was very young, couldn't be more than in his early twenties, but their concerns were quickly dispelled when Mayor Patterson assured the townspeople that Tai had all the certification and was simply very gifted. Lockwood hadn't seen a doctor since your father, or, should you say, stepfather, and that had been about fifteen years. Based on your observations, calculations, and what your aunt has told you, your stepdad and mom met when she went for a checkup at the town's clinic after she had just moved in with your aunt after living in Mexico. Sheldon had only been the town's doctor for a month when he met your mother, but according to your aunt, he was smitten the first time he laid eyes on Aster. You can still remember your aunt telling you that "Sheldon swept Aster right off her feet," and after only four months of dating, your stepdad proposed to your mom and moved to Colorado where you were born and raised until the car accident and your visit with Aunt Zinnia became permanent. Returning to your previous thoughts, you, like many of the town folk, are grateful to Tai. Not many people come to the middle of nowhere to be a doctor in such a small town. A big positive is that now people don't have to drive two hours to the next town to see a doctor about a broken foot or a weird rash. * [[You really have tried to get to know the young doctor.]] * [[You didn't go out of your way to see the young doctor, but you aren't opposed to saying hi in the streets.]] * [[You didn't really make an effort to talk to him; why would you when he clearly doesn't want to talk to you?]]

Maybe because you really didn't have anybody to hang out with besides Camila, but you tried your best to make him your friend or at least a pleasant acquaintance when he moved to Lockwood. You made him a whole batch of cupcakes ~~(Camila's idea)~~ and brought them to his place of work only to be presented with a blank stare and no invitation to come inside, but instead a disappointed tone. //"Cupcakes are one of the reasons that so many cases of diabetes exist in the United States. In all cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. I'll leave you to your... cupcakes; have a nice day." // Before shutting the door, you wouldn't be surprised if Tai locked the door, to be honest, although that might be a little too extreme even for a health nut like Tai Aunt Zinnia looked through the glass case. "The Doc just said bring a cookie over to his office; I'm sure he won't be opposed to a raspberry thumbprint cookie with my famous clear icing." Your aunt grinned, putting the cookie in a small box with the// Morning Dew// logo, a blooming lotus flower. "Okay, so you will bring this over to the clinic while I stay here and hold down the fort." * [[You sighed and agreed]] * [[You groaned but agreed]] * [[You ecstatically agreed, it would be good for you to stretch your legs]] * [[You ecstatically agreed, it would be nice to see Tai]]

You didn't go out of your way to see the young doctor, but you aren't opposed to saying hi in the streets when you see him, although you didn't really get a response back but a curt nod; once, when you took a pastry delivery out, he actually had something to say about that. //"Sweets are one of the reasons diabetes exists in the United States. In all cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. // You're surprised that Tai didn't slap the food delivery for Mr. Lewis out of your hand, although that might be a little too extreme even for a health nut like Tai. Aunt Zinnia looked through the glass case. "The Doc just said bring a cookie over to his office; I'm sure he won't be opposed to a raspberry thumbprint cookie with my famous clear icing." Your aunt grinned, putting the cookie in a small box with the// Morning Dew// logo, a blooming lotus flower. "Okay, so you will bring this over to the clinic while I stay here and hold down the fort." * [[You sighed and agreed]] * [[You groaned but agreed]] * [[You ecstatically agreed, it would be good for you to stretch your legs]] * [[You ecstatically agreed, it would be nice to see Tai]]

You didn't really make an effort to talk to him; why would you when he clearly didn't want to talk to you? He didn't seem to come out much anyway, and he never has came into the shop before, although you did overhear a customer say that Tai hated sweets, even telling the customer: //"Sweets are one of reasons diabetes exist in the United States. In all cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. // You're surprised that Tai wasn't trying to get your aunt's store closed down, although that might be a little too extreme even for a health nut like Tai. Aunt Zinnia looked through the glass case. "The Doc just said bring a cookie over to his office; I'm sure he won't be opposed to a raspberry thumbprint cookie with my famous clear icing." Your aunt grinned, putting the cookie in a small box with the// Morning Dew// logo, a blooming lotus flower. "Okay, so you will bring this over to the clinic while I stay here and hold down the fort." * [[You sighed and agreed]] * [[You groaned but agreed]] * [[You ecstatically agreed, it would be good for you to stretch your legs]] * [[You ecstatically agreed, it would be nice to see Tai]]

You sighed and nodded your head. "Sure, I guess I can go deliver this." Your aunt Zinnia gave you a gentle smile, and you can tell she was grateful that you didn't make a big fuss about the whole thing. "Take the car; you'll get there faster and be back in time to clean the espresso machine before we have a brunch rush." Before you made your way out the door, you heard your aunt yell. "Be careful with my baby, you hear?" <<if $Snark >= 53>>[[You let out a small snort.]]<<else>>[["Don't worry, Aunt Zinnia; I won't let anything happen to old Bertha."]] <</if>>

You groaned but nodded your head. "Sure, I guess I can go deliver this one cookie; why can't he come get it again?" Your aunt Zinnia gave you an eyeroll but patted your shoulder, showing you her gratitude for doing this for her. "Take the car; you'll get there faster and be back in time to clean the espresso machine before we have a brunch rush." Before you made your way out the door, you heard your aunt yell. "Be careful with my baby, you hear?" <<if $Snark >= 53>>[[You let out a small snort.]]<<else>>[["Don't worry, Aunt Zinnia; I won't let anything happen to old Bertha."]] <</if>>

You grinned. "Really? Sure, it would be nice to get away from the old ball and chain." Your aunt raised her eyebrows, but her $EyeColor eyes were gleaming with happiness. "I do hope you are talking about the building and not me." She said with a light tone, making it clear that she was in fact joking. "Take the car; you'll get there faster and be back in time to clean the espresso machine before we have a brunch rush." Before you made your way out the door, you heard your aunt yell. "Be careful with my baby, you hear?" <<if $Snark >= 53>>[[You let out a small snort.]]<<else>>[["Don't worry, Aunt Zinnia; I won't let anything happen to old Bertha."]] <</if>>

You grinned. "Really? Sure, it would be nice to see Tai." Your aunt raised her eyebrows, but her $EyeColor eyes were gleaming with mischiefness. "Am I getting a son-in-law anytime soon, my dear $Niece." Although you could hear something else—protection? Fear? Before you can even process, your aunt waves you off. "Take the car; you'll get there faster and be back in time to clean the espresso machine before we have a brunch rush." Before you made your way out the door, you heard your aunt yell. "Be careful with my baby, you hear?" <<if $Snark >= 53>>[[You let out a small snort.]]<<else>>[["Don't worry, Aunt Zinnia; I won't let anything happen to old Bertha."]] <</if>>

<<set $C69 to "You gave them a little nod.">> You let out a small snort and mumbled, "Why? Its not like the car can get any worse." Going out in the parked alleyway sat Old Bertha, and not a person but a ruby-red Volkswagen Beetle. Aunt Zinnia has had this car since you can remember, as any passerby can tell from the slightly cracked headlight, the jammed right back door, and the busted air conditioning system. However, your aunt refused to get a new car, saying, "Old Bertha has been in the family longer than you; we can't just throw her out." With a grunt, you opened the door; you smelled the scent of baked goods and pine air freshener, as this old lady is used to deliver food or drinks for the bakery to your customers. Usually their orders are bigger than just one single cookie, but your aunt wasn't known to turn anyone down. You squeezed yourself in the small car and turned the key in the ignition, the loud sputter letting you know that the engine is running, maybe not as smoothly as when you were younger, but still running. Turning onto your street, you were mindful of the people and pets who walked. While the town was small and close-knit, there seemed to be a lot of people out that Saturday, probably due to the nice weather and the lack of rain. The drive to //Lockwood Clinic// was about five minutes away from the //Morning Dew//; on the drive over, you begin to wonder why he couldn't have picked up a cookie himself, although maybe he was busy at the office and wanted to indulge in sugar. Finally, you made it to the clinic, a small, square, red brick building that had a small parking lot to the side. The clinic was one of the newer buildings, at least by the town's standards, although it was pretty small. You parked the car in the parking lot and walked to the building. The dark blue door had cracked paint, and from what you could tell from your walk, all the windows had blinds over them. * [[You knocked on the door]] * [[You went ahead and went inside the clinic]]

<<set $C69 to "You gave them a smile and waved.">> "Don't worry, Aunt Zinnia; I won't let anything happen to old Bertha." Going out in the parked alleyway sat Old Bertha, and not a person but a ruby-red Volkswagen Beetle. Aunt Zinnia has had this car since you can remember, as any passerby can tell from the slightly cracked headlight, the jammed right back door, and the busted air conditioning system. However, your aunt refused to get a new car, saying, "Old Bertha has been in the family longer than you; we can't just throw her out." With a grunt, you opened the door; you smelled the scent of baked goods and pine air freshener, as this old lady is used to deliver food or drinks for the bakery to your customers. Usually their orders are bigger than just one single cookie, but your aunt wasn't known to turn anyone down. You squeezed yourself in the small car and turned the key in the ignition, the loud sputter letting you know that the engine is running, maybe not as smoothly as when you were younger, but still running. Turning onto your street, you were mindful of the people and pets who walked. While the town was small and close-knit, there seemed to be a lot of people out that Saturday, probably due to the nice weather and the lack of rain. The drive to //Lockwood Clinic// was about five minutes away from the //Morning Dew//; on the drive over, you begin to wonder why he couldn't have picked up a cookie himself, although maybe he was busy at the office and wanted to indulge in sugar. Finally, you made it to the clinic, a small, square, red brick building that had a small parking lot to the side. The clinic was one of the newer buildings, at least by the town's standards, although it was pretty small. You parked the car in the parking lot and walked to the building. The dark blue door had cracked paint, and from what you could tell from your walk, all the windows had blinds over them. * [[You knocked on the door]] * [[You went ahead and went inside the clinic]]

<<set $Cautious to $Cautious + 1>> <<set $Rash to $Rash - 1>> You made a fist to knock on the door, but the action was quickly stopped as the door was opened at a rapid rate, and Tai was standing there dark circles under his eyes, wearing a lab coat over his unwrinkled sweater. "Finally, you are here; I thought you would never show up." A canadian accent showed through his curt tone. Tai seemed to have an annoyed frown and his arms crossed, and while he was only 5'6 and quite lanky, the glare that he gave you was enough to make you wince. "I expected someone to be here three minutes ago, Oleander, what took you so long? I thought you were able to at least drive here with my order without lollygagging." * [["Uh, nice to see you too?"]] * [["I'm not late; you called in only a few minutes ago."]] * [["Sorry, Tai, I didn't know this was an emergency." You said it with a sarcastic tone.]] * [["Sorry, Tai, I didn't know this was an emergency." You said it with a genuine tone.]] * [["...."]] * [["Sorry, Doctor Huang, I'll try to be better next time." You said, with a fake smile.]]

<<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> <<set $Rash to $Rash + 1>> You just went ahead and opened the door. This was public property; it wasn't like you were barging into his house or something. Tai came down the hall, dark circles under his eyes, wearing a lab coat over his unwrinkled sweater. "Finally, you are here; I thought you would never show up." A canadian accent showed through his curt tone. Tai seemed to have an annoyed frown and his arms crossed, and while he was only 5'6 and quite lanky, the glare that he gave you was enough to make you wince. "I expected someone to be here three minutes ago, Oleander, what took you so long? I thought you were able to at least drive here with my order without lollygagging." * [["Uh, nice to see you too?"]] * [["I'm not late; you called in only a few minutes ago."]] * [["Sorry, Tai, I didn't know this was an emergency." You said it with a sarcastic tone.]] * [["Sorry, Tai, I didn't know this was an emergency." You said it with a genuine tone.]] * [["...."]] * [["Sorry, Doctor Huang, I'll try to be better next time." You said, with a fake smile.]]

"Uh, nice to see you too?" Tai sighed, "Ah yes, niceties; politeness can be seen as maintaining social norms and as showing respect; however, I do not follow such social conventions." "Well, nice to see you anyway?" You said, although your tone was more of a question. You looked around the clinic; you have only been in here a few times in the last year for checkups. Nothing has changed from your last visit; there was a small cream-colored couch to the left, a box TV sitting on a coffee table, and a pile of western VHS tapes neatly stacked. To the right, you see a standing desk with a pile of papers; the only thing that seemed a little out of place was a little potted cactus. Tai ignored you, turning around and going down the hallway. "Follow, Oleander, I don't have all day." The command in his voice made you follow the man down the white hallway, and although you mentally slapped yourself, you still have his order in your hand. "Tai, what are you-?" Tai opened the door that was almost at the end of the hallway to reveal a man with dark hair and a little boy on his lap that shared the same traits as the older fellow. "Sorry about the wait, Mr. Norman and Johnny." Tai pointed toward you. "$She finally arrived." "I'm sorry, I really don't know what's happening." You said, the confusion relevant in your voice. Tai rolled his eyes but glanced at Johnny, and his gaze softened. "Johnny here is getting a shot for pertussis." Johnny looked at you, and you realized that his eyes were red from crying. "Doctor Huang and dad said I have to get the shot." Mr. Norman rubbed Johnny's head, which messed up his hair. "It's to keep you from getting sick, bud." Johnny let out a few sniffles. "I know." Tai nodded. "While I might not have a box full of toys like your dentist, I would like to offer you a cookie, Johnny." You opened the recycled paperboard box to show off the raspberry thumbprint cookie, and Johnny's eyes grew like saucers. Mr. Norman frowned. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Doctor Huang; I'm sure Johnny understands why he needs to get this shot." Tai gave the man a tight smile. "I thought this would help calm his nerves." Tai got on his knees and spoke to Johnny eye-to-eye. "You need to be strong and brave to get a cookie, Johnny; do you think you can do that for me?" You have never heard Tai speak so softly to another living thing before, or rather, talk that long before. It was almost...sweet? Johnny then physically relaxed, and determination was set in his eyes as he gazed longingly at the cookie in the box you were holding. You had a sneaking suspicion a sugary treat wins over a pointy needle, at least in Johnny's book. You were then asked to step out of the room, which you quickly agreed to, and you waited outside until you heard the soft voice of Tai say. "All done" It was only a moment later that Johnny swung the door open, his eyes having little tears on their cheeks, but he seemed less stressed than before with a plain bandage on his arm. "Can I have the cookie now, $Miss Oleander?" The five-year-old reached out his chubby hands to have the cookie. "Yes, of course you can, Johnny; you did get the shot after all." You handed the box over to Johnny, who took a bite out of the pastry, not minding the raspberry jam that dribbled from his chin. Mr. Norman and Johnny left after talking to Tai for a few minutes and signing out. Johnny's messy, jam-covered hand was waving goodbye at you from the window. It wasn't long before Tai came back from the front office, money in hand. * <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Sincerity:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]]<<else>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Snark:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]] <</if>> * [[You just took the money and didn't say a word]] * [[You tried to make small talk]]

"I'm not late; you called in only a few minutes ago." You said it in an annoyed tone. Tai huffed. "Your aunt said you would be here in no time at all, but it seems like a lot of time has passed since that phone call." "I am still not late! It has to be over thirty minutes or your delivery is free, I was here in about five, seven minutes tops." You looked around the clinic; you have only been in here a few times in the last year for checkups. Nothing has changed from your last visit; there was a small cream-colored couch to the left, a box TV sitting on a coffee table, and a pile of western VHS tapes neatly stacked. To the right, you see a standing desk with a pile of papers; the only thing that seemed a little out of place was a little potted cactus. Tai ignored you, turning around and going down the hallway. "Follow, Oleander, I don't have all day." The command in his voice made you follow the man down the white hallway, and although you mentally slapped yourself, you still have his order in your hand. "Tai, what are you-?" Tai opened the door that was almost at the end of the hallway to reveal a man with dark hair and a little boy on his lap that shared the same traits as the older fellow. "Sorry about the wait, Mr. Norman and Johnny." Tai pointed toward you. "$She finally arrived." "I'm sorry, I didn't know their was a time frame." You expressed the confusion in your voice. Tai rolled his eyes but glanced at Johnny, and his gaze softened. "Johnny here is getting a shot for pertussis." Johnny looked at you, and you realized that his eyes were red from crying. "Doctor Huang and dad said I have to get the shot." Mr. Norman rubbed Johnny's head, which messed up his hair. "It's to keep you from getting sick, bud." Johnny let out a few sniffles. "I know." Tai nodded. "While I might not have a box full of toys like your dentist, I would like to offer you a cookie, Johnny." You opened the recycled paperboard box to show off the raspberry thumbprint cookie, and Johnny's eyes grew like saucers. Mr. Norman frowned. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Doctor Huang; I'm sure Johnny understands why he needs to get this shot." Tai gave the man a tight smile. "I thought this would help calm his nerves." Tai got on his knees and spoke to Johnny eye-to-eye. "You need to be strong and brave to get a cookie, Johnny; do you think you can do that for me?" You have never heard Tai speak so softly to another living thing before, or rather, talk that long before. It was almost...sweet? Johnny then physically relaxed, and determination was set in his eyes as he gazed longingly at the cookie in the box you were holding. You had a sneaking suspicion a sugary treat wins over a pointy needle, at least in Johnny's book. You were then asked to step out of the room, which you quickly agreed to, and you waited outside until you heard the soft voice of Tai say. "All done" It was only a moment later that Johnny swung the door open, his eyes having little tears on their cheeks, but he seemed less stressed than before with a plain bandage on his arm. "Can I have the cookie now, $Miss Oleander?" The five-year-old reached out his chubby hands to have the cookie. "Yes, of course you can, Johnny; you did get the shot after all." You handed the box over to Johnny, who took a bite out of the pastry, not minding the raspberry jam that dribbled from his chin. Mr. Norman and Johnny left after talking to Tai for a few minutes and signing out. Johnny's messy, jam-covered hand was waving goodbye at you from the window. It wasn't long before Tai came back from the front office, money in hand. * <<if $Sincerity >= 53>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Sincerity:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]]<<else>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Snark:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]] <</if>> * [[You just took the money and didn't say a word]] * [[You tried to make small talk]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> "Sorry, Tai, I didn't know this was an emergency." You said it with a sarcastic tone. The dry tone didn't even faze him, or maybe he didn't notice it. "It is not an "emergency" in the traditional sense, but people are counting on you, I suppose." You raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know that you craved sugar like this; do you have some sort of withdrawal if you don't get your munch on?" You looked around the clinic; you have only been in here a few times in the last year for checkups. Nothing has changed from your last visit; there was a small cream-colored couch to the left, a box TV sitting on a coffee table, and a pile of western VHS tapes neatly stacked. To the right, you see a standing desk with a pile of papers; the only thing that seemed a little out of place was a little potted cactus. Tai ignored you, turning around and going down the hallway. "Follow, Oleander, I don't have all day." The command in his voice made you follow the man down the white hallway, and although you mentally slapped yourself, you still have his order in your hand. "Tai, what are you-?" Tai opened the door that was almost at the end of the hallway to reveal a man with dark hair and a little boy on his lap that shared the same traits as the older fellow. "Sorry about the wait, Mr. Norman and Johnny." Tai pointed toward you. "$She finally arrived." "Which I have apologized for; however, I am a little confused." You expressed the confusion in your voice. Tai rolled his eyes but glanced at Johnny, and his gaze softened. "Johnny here is getting a shot for pertussis." Johnny looked at you, and you realized that his eyes were red from crying. "Doctor Huang and dad said I have to get the shot." Mr. Norman rubbed Johnny's head, which messed up his hair. "It's to keep you from getting sick, bud." Johnny let out a few sniffles. "I know." Tai nodded. "While I might not have a box full of toys like your dentist, I would like to offer you a cookie, Johnny." You opened the recycled paperboard box to show off the raspberry thumbprint cookie, and Johnny's eyes grew like saucers. Mr. Norman frowned. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Doctor Huang; I'm sure Johnny understands why he needs to get this shot." Tai gave the man a tight smile. "I thought this would help calm his nerves." Tai got on his knees and spoke to Johnny eye-to-eye. "You need to be strong and brave to get a cookie, Johnny; do you think you can do that for me?" You have never heard Tai speak so softly to another living thing before, or rather, talk that long before. It was almost...sweet? Johnny then physically relaxed, and determination was set in his eyes as he gazed longingly at the cookie in the box you were holding. You had a sneaking suspicion a sugary treat wins over a pointy needle, at least in Johnny's book. You were then asked to step out of the room, which you quickly agreed to, and you waited outside until you heard the soft voice of Tai say. "All done" It was only a moment later that Johnny swung the door open, his eyes having little tears on their cheeks, but he seemed less stressed than before with a plain bandage on his arm. "Can I have the cookie now, $Miss Oleander?" The five-year-old reached out his chubby hands to have the cookie. You gave Johnny a crooked smile. "Yes, of course you can, kid; the cookie practically has your name on it." You handed the box over to Johnny, who took a bite out of the pastry, not minding the raspberry jam that dribbled from his chin. Mr. Norman and Johnny left after talking to Tai for a few minutes and signing out. Johnny's messy, jam-covered hand was waving goodbye at you from the window. It wasn't long before Tai came back from the front office, money in hand. * <<if $Sincerity >= 53>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Sincerity:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]]<<else>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Snark:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]] <</if>> * [[You just took the money and didn't say a word]] * [[You tried to make small talk]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> <<set $TFrP to $TFrP+ 1>> "Sorry, Tai, I didn't know this was an emergency." You said with a genuine tone. He stopped for a moment, so quick that you thought you imagined it. "It is not an "emergency" in the traditional sense, but people are counting on you, I suppose." You bit your lip in concern. "I didn't know, but what exactly is this "emergency" that seems to be troubling you?" You looked around the clinic; you have only been in here a few times in the last year for checkups. Nothing has changed from your last visit; there was a small cream-colored couch to the left, a box TV sitting on a coffee table, and a pile of western VHS tapes neatly stacked. To the right, you see a standing desk with a pile of papers; the only thing that seemed a little out of place was a little potted cactus. Tai ignored you, turning around and going down the hallway. "Follow, Oleander, I don't have all day." The command in his voice made you follow the man down the white hallway, and although you mentally slapped yourself, you still have his order in your hand. "Tai, what are you-?" Tai opened the door that was almost at the end of the hallway to reveal a man with dark hair and a little boy on his lap that shared the same traits as the older fellow. "Sorry about the wait, Mr. Norman and Johnny." Tai pointed toward you. "$She finally arrived." "Which I have apologized for; however, I am a little confused." You expressed the confusion in your voice. Tai rolled his eyes but glanced at Johnny, and his gaze softened. "Johnny here is getting a shot for pertussis." Johnny looked at you, and you realized that his eyes were red from crying. "Doctor Huang and dad said I have to get the shot." Mr. Norman rubbed Johnny's head, which messed up his hair. "It's to keep you from getting sick, bud." Johnny let out a few sniffles. "I know." Tai nodded. "While I might not have a box full of toys like your dentist, I would like to offer you a cookie, Johnny." You opened the recycled paperboard box to show off the raspberry thumbprint cookie, and Johnny's eyes grew like saucers. Mr. Norman frowned. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Doctor Huang; I'm sure Johnny understands why he needs to get this shot." Tai gave the man a tight smile. "I thought this would help calm his nerves." Tai got on his knees and spoke to Johnny eye-to-eye. "You need to be strong and brave to get a cookie, Johnny; do you think you can do that for me?" You have never heard Tai speak so softly to another living thing before, or rather, talk that long before. It was almost...sweet? Johnny then physically relaxed, and determination was set in his eyes as he gazed longingly at the cookie in the box you were holding. You had a sneaking suspicion a sugary treat wins over a pointy needle, at least in Johnny's book. You were then asked to step out of the room, which you quickly agreed to, and you waited outside until you heard the soft voice of Tai say. "All done" It was only a moment later that Johnny swung the door open, his eyes having little tears on their cheeks, but he seemed less stressed than before with a plain bandage on his arm. "Can I have the cookie now, $Miss Oleander?" The five-year-old reached out his chubby hands to have the cookie. You gave Johnny a gentle smile. "Yes, of course you can, Johnny; you were so brave today." You handed the box over to Johnny, who took a bite out of the pastry, not minding the raspberry jam that dribbled from his chin. Mr. Norman and Johnny left after talking to Tai for a few minutes and signing out. Johnny's messy, jam-covered hand was waving goodbye at you from the window. It wasn't long before Tai came back from the front office, money in hand. * <<if $Sincerity >= 53>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Sincerity:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]]<<else>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Snark:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]] <</if>> * [[You just took the money and didn't say a word]] * [[You tried to make small talk]]

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> "....." The room was filled with silence. Tai raised an eyebrow. "You have nothing to say for yourself?" ".....I fulfilled my delivery." You looked around the clinic; you have only been in here a few times in the last year for checkups. Nothing has changed from your last visit; there was a small cream-colored couch to the left, a box TV sitting on a coffee table, and a pile of western VHS tapes neatly stacked. To the right, you see a standing desk with a pile of papers; the only thing that seemed a little out of place was a little potted cactus. Tai ignored you, turning around and going down the hallway. "Follow, Oleander, I don't have all day." The command in his voice made you follow the man down the white hallway, and although you mentally slapped yourself, you still have his order in your hand. You didn't comment as you followed him. Tai opened the door that was almost at the end of the hallway to reveal a man with dark hair and a little boy on his lap that shared the same traits as the older fellow. "Sorry about the wait, Mr. Norman and Johnny." Tai pointed toward you. "$She finally arrived." "......" Tai rolled his eyes but glanced at Johnny, and his gaze softened. "Johnny here is getting a shot for pertussis." Johnny looked at you, and you realized that his eyes were red from crying. "Doctor Huang and dad said I have to get the shot." Mr. Norman rubbed Johnny's head, which messed up his hair. "It's to keep you from getting sick, bud." Johnny let out a few sniffles. "I know." Tai nodded. "While I might not have a box full of toys like your dentist, I would like to offer you a cookie, Johnny." You opened the recycled paperboard box to show off the raspberry thumbprint cookie, and Johnny's eyes grew like saucers. Mr. Norman frowned. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Doctor Huang; I'm sure Johnny understands why he needs to get this shot." Tai gave the man a tight smile. "I thought this would help calm his nerves." Tai got on his knees and spoke to Johnny eye-to-eye. "You need to be strong and brave to get a cookie, Johnny; do you think you can do that for me?" You have never heard Tai speak so softly to another living thing before, or rather, talk that long before. It was almost...sweet? Johnny then physically relaxed, and determination was set in his eyes as he gazed longingly at the cookie in the box you were holding. You had a sneaking suspicion a sugary treat wins over a pointy needle, at least in Johnny's book. You were then asked to step out of the room, which you quickly agreed to, and you waited outside until you heard the soft voice of Tai say. "All done" It was only a moment later that Johnny swung the door open, his eyes having little tears on their cheeks, but he seemed less stressed than before with a plain bandage on his arm. "Can I have the cookie now, $Miss Oleander?" The five-year-old reached out his chubby hands to have the cookie. You nodded and gave Johnny the box. You handed the box over to Johnny, who took a bite out of the pastry, not minding the raspberry jam that dribbled from his chin. Mr. Norman and Johnny left after talking to Tai for a few minutes and signing out. Johnny's messy, jam-covered hand was waving goodbye at you from the window. It wasn't long before Tai came back from the front office, money in hand. * <<if $Sincerity >= 53>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Sincerity:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]]<<else>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Snark:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]] <</if>> * [[You just took the money and didn't say a word]] * [[You tried to make small talk]]

"I thought you didn't approve of sugar." Your voice had no ill intent but just geunine curiosities. Tai handed over the four dollors and six cents for the delivery, and you swear you saw a faint blush on his cheeks. "I don't; however, I suppose that sweets serve as a perfect distraction for children who suffer from some form of trypanophobia or anxiety that mostly stems from fear of the unknown." "So you wanted him to feel safe?" A small smile showed on your face. "I suppose....yes? Why would I want my patient to feel uncomfortable in my office?" Tai asked with a raised eyebrow. "I just think it's sweet." You said. Tai stared, not blinking, before finally, after a few seconds, he coughed. "What-I mean, I didn't intend for it to be sweet, however, uh, thank you." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|"Well....I should really get going..."]]</div>

"I thought you didn't approve of sugar." You said, your tone having a hint of snark. Tai handed over the four dollors and six cents for the delivery, and you would swear Tai's eyes were going to roll out of his head. "I don't; however, I suppose that sweets serve as a perfect distraction for children who suffer from some form of trypanophobia or anxiety that mostly stems from fear of the unknown." "So you wanted him to feel safe? So kind... very unlike you." A small smile showed on your face. "Even if I am not the most pleasant person to have a conversation with, I am still a doctor. Why would I want my patient to feel uncomfortable in my office?" Tai asked with a raised eyebrow. "Aw, the doctor has a heart." You said. Tai rolled his eyes again. "Why people put up with you, I have no idea." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|"Well....I should really get going..."]]</div>

Silence filled the air as you took the money. Tai handed over the four dollors and six cents for the delivery. Tai looked at you and seemed to dread what you were going to say, if you were going to say anything. "....." "......" You pocketed the money; you didn't feel the need to comment on what just happened or Tai's actions; they spoke for themselves. ".....thank you." You thought you almost imagined it, but you seemed to think otherwise as Tai gave you a serious look. Why did he say thank you? Was it because you didn't comment on his behavior towards Johnny, or was he just being nice to you because you delivered the tasty treat? "Your....welcome." You barely got that sentence out; tension filled the air, probably because Tai's tired look kind of wanted you to make him take a nap, or maybe it was the genuineness in his thanks. Tai nodded, looking off to the side as if to try and escape your gaze. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|"Well....I should really get going..."]]</div>

The room around you seemed to close in on you, and you felt the need to fill it with conversation. Tai handed over the four dollors and six cents for the delivery, seemly trying to get this over with as fast as possible, until looking at your facial expression. Tai sighed. "Go ahead, Oleander. I'm tired of watching you look like a balloon about to pop because you want to fill in the perfectly nice silence." "I was just going to ask you how you have been liking the weather lately." You pocketed the money. "It's warm," Tai said, monotonely. "Are we done here?" "Ugh, fine." Tai shook his head. "I don't understand how people enjoy "small talk." It is really unnecessary." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|"Well....I should really get going..."]]</div>

"Well....I should really get going..." Tai gave you a small goodbye, not seeming to be bothered by your sudden absence; however, as you walked towards the parking lot, you felt as if his eyes were on you—not in a way that was terrifying or sent shivers down your spine, but as some sort of guardian watching over you in a protective manner. You didn't feel the need to look behind you to check if Tai was still there when you finally drove near the window of the clinic; the windows always had blinds covering them and were always shut so as to keep people from looking in on the mysterious figure that was Doctor Tai Huang. You drove down the same way you came, wondering how your aunt Z was handling the customers, but knowing her, she was probably doing most of the talking and holding up the line rather than the other way around. You stopped at the red light, watching a small shop take down their Labor Day decorations and the red, blue, and white streamers that hung from the display window. It wasn't until you felt something cold wash over you, similar to a gust of wind but darker, Looking to your left, you noticed a man you had never seen before. His skin was pale, like he had never been in the sun. He was dressed in a simple black turtleneck and black jeans. The man was just sitting there, like he was looking for something, glancing from face to face. Of course, you didn't know everyone in Lockwood by name, but it wasn't often that you noticed a stranger in the midst of the close-knit community. The man sat on the bench; that wouldn't have been a problem if he wasn't looking right at you, or maybe it was through? His eyes bored into yours; no one seemed to notice the man, not even giving him a second glance, like he wasn't even there, like their own shadows didn't seem to be drawn to him as if he were their master. The hairs on your arms were on end, and you seemed not to be able to turn away even if you wished to stop the intense eye contact that seemed to swallow you up in the nothingness. //What is he staring at? Who is he? // The red light seemed to stay red for hours, at least that is what it felt like with the mans eyes trained on you. Why wasn't it green yet? Just stop looking at him $Name. Just stop. The light turned green, letting you leave the man on the bench behind you. The feeling of being watched lingered on you even as you made it down your street. You navigated through the streets, watching as more people seem to be taking down Labor Day decorations. The sight of the familiar faces of your neighbors calmed you until finally you relax from the stressful, or rather weird, situation that only occurred a few minutes ago. You looked a little to the side to see if you could see Camila or Luis in the store window of //The Lazy Dog//, the Mendozo family antique store that was only a few building down the block from your own; however, your eyes caught the sight of a little girl who started to run across and stopped in the middle of the road. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|STOP THE CAR! NOW!]]</div>

<div style="text-align: center">//''CHAPTER TWO:''//</div> ''Under Millions And Billions Of Rocks, The River Of נְשִׁיָה'' Billions of dark, wooded canoes floated along a black, liquid river, the sound of screams seeming to come from the depths, although they were unable to drown them out. There was no coast or shore from which to escape; only darkness, as if it would drown anyone who dared to take a dip in the oily river. Only two people sat in each canoe, one a person who sometimes had a bullet hole in their head, asking a rabid amount of questions, seeming to want to get out of their binds, while the other might be a pale, sullen-eyed person, too tired to test the fate of the cards that they had been dealt to get out of the chains that tied up their legs and arms so they couldn't move. The other person looked the same in each canoe; unlike their mortal companion tied up on the obsidian river, the cloaked person rowed the boat, never even looking at the individual tied up, no matter how hard they bribed, cried, or yelled for the release or for just some answers. The only response the cloaked figure would give was a rank and pungent smell mixed with a tinge of sickening sweetness, like a rotting piece of meat with a couple drops of cheap perfume. The only change in scenery that they got was when there was a fork in the river, six paths opened up, and the cloaked figure would go into one chosen path, like it knew which one was their destination; on one path there was a 25-foot-high black door with the word'' "גאווה"'' on it in dark purple writing, as if a warning for whoever opens the door. Through the doors was a city surrounded by water, and the sky had different shades of purple with three glowing dark crimson-red balls of fire in the sky. The cloaked figures in the boats that went through the door cut the binds of the people and, with unhuman strength, threw them into the black water about five feet away from the coast of the city. People swam towards the shoreline; some drowned in the black goo. Whatever happened, the cloaked figure rowed away, ready to get another passager to bring them to their fate. For those that didn't drown in the black substance, they were inducted into the city that people call "גאווה". The city had large amounts of concrete and steel that were used to create the towering, stable buildings that line the city. There are new and old vehicles that emit a grey accent smoke, and the rubber-scented tracks and dark marks left by their tires were noticeable. People with sullen and empty faces or a large amount of scars could be seen strolling aimlessly through the city's streets without giving the world around them much thought; some shoved the other person with no ounce of care or second thought; instead, they were preoccupied with issues like when they would receive their next paycheck or what to consume right now. While most of the buildings in the city were old and crumbling, with vines growing out of the slits of the windows, no matter that people were actively going through them, there was one building, the tallest, in the middle of the huge city, which resembled a subtle, elegant, and modern sculpture or a figure wrapped in a delicate veil of crystal in which the profile of the peninsula was reflected. The resulting shape provided transparency into the dark water, almost creating a somewhat beautiful form in the reflection. The windows were clean and looked as though they were built just yesterday, explaining that the purity of form, expressed by the simple operation of elimination, is timeless, as it gave a glimpse of whoever was the elegant owner. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|On the top floor of the skyscraper]]</div>

On the top floor of the skyscraper, a window sat on the far left, so large it was like a storefront, but so high up, only the people welcomed into the estate in the sky could look through it. Triple-glazed and so clear that the panorama was like a high-definition screen at the movie theater. The penthouse in the sky looked futuristic, as if the workers on the lower floors wouldn't be surprised if the individual who lived in such a building just beamed themselves right from the office. The few that have looked out the window at the city below were so far away that it was like another world; those ant-like people and all their problems were of no more consequence than temporary static on the intercom. While everything looked like a regular highborn's place of residence, there was a mini bar with a wide choice of alcohol; opposite was a dark purple wood cello; a sofa; and several metal frame armchairs. In the center was a coffee table, and not far away was a side table. There was also a shower, a dressing room, and a private office. On the left side of the loft was a gigantic library on two floors, where you could see a stained-glass window representing the self-righteous Saul. Finally, on the balcony overlooking the huge city, there were seats for sitting as well as a hot tub. Then on the right side was a staircase leading to the alcove, where a steel door led into a giant room with seven chairs. No, not chairs; thrones. They sat in a circle; none was more important than the other. On one of the thrones, covered in tangled illustrations and fixed to each of the front legs, was a gilded star, and with thick pillows that were dark lavender and adorned with gilded sigils, sat a man in waiting. The man was in his forties, or at least looked that way, and was a compact, smartly clothed businessman with precise features, a full head of $HairColor hair that was swept in a sidepart, and thoughtful violet eyes. The only thing that seemed out of place was the look of wariness; however, his smile lines gave away that he was usually relaxed. With a gentle tug of his lips, many could see a smile of amused friendliness and pleasure that aroused feelings of warmth and something more in many individuals. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|The ground shook violently]]</div>

The ground shook, however, and that wasn't the thing that was abnormal for the people below in the city streets. The darkness was oppressive. People were unable to clearly see anything around them due to the repulsive gloom. The man watched the ant-like people, whose limbs and thighs felt the pavement's roughness as they walked along the path. The man, on instinct, attempted to rise up, but his body wouldn't move; the darkness, even to him, was like choking on smog. Every effort he made to move was met with intense pain. The businessman lacked the fortitude to stand upright or even slowly cock his head to the left to face his city, which once was neatly occupied but now was covered in darkness that covered the three suns in the sky. The darkness cleared, and instead of him just sitting, there were six others who looked at him from their thrones. "Brother...you called?" Said a female voice in a purring, seductive tone with a hint of a French accent. An impressive throne of marble sat beneath a dark blue baldachin, covered in hundreds of elaborate etchings, and fixed on each of the broad ears was a gilded lantern. The soft pillows were pure black and have been adorned with gilded borders. There sat a female figure wearing no color other than black. She had a widow’s cap with a dark blue ribbon tied to the top, which featured a long black veil, hiding any hair that might be underneath. No skin showed; even her hands were covered by slick black gloves. The woman looked like a mourning Victorian woman, the only thing abnormal were the gleaming blue eyes coming from her veil that seemed to pull you in. "Sister." The man gave a curt nod. "Thank you for coming; I know you do not like to be away from your kingdom." A bellowing, gruff voice filled the room. "Opal is not the only one who feels out of place in your circle of hell, brother." Sitting on a stone throne, without a bit of decor, sat a man of about average height, his body marked with scars, his hair light blond, his features regular rather than attractive, his eyes a deep red and somewhat weak, his neck overly thick, his chest and legs muscly, and his body wearing the armor of a Roman gladiator. "Is that a little aggravation I hear from Wrath?" The sound of an encouraging, wheezy voice came from an older man, looking about in his seventies to eighties, but his yellow eyes betrayed his childlike wonder. The old man sat on a platinum-gold throne with a side table attached, which looked as if it were made out of pure crystal with stacks of money. There were no pillows or other decor other than the shiny material the throne was made out of, and from the back of the chair, you could see black goo dripping from the bottom in front of him that smelled of oil. "Do I smell a fight coming on? Maybe we can lighten the mood with a bet. Fist fight? Tug of war? Tumb war? Any war would do!" The old man sniffs the air, dramatically, as if smelling the money in the others pockets. The old man had very dark skin and a long white beard that went past his waist. He wore a yellow corduroy suit and a monocle and had an umbrella lying on the table beside him. He wore a watch fob on a chain. "Who wants to play?" The childlike wonder vanished, and a smile almost dared anyone to try to steal his money; they better be able to pay the price. "No one is fighting anyone; Lazuli called us here for a reason; he knows how dangerous it is for all of us to be in one place. He is our older brother; you should respect him." The voice came from a man in a slim-fitting dark green suit with a patch of white angel wings on the back who had left his throne and stood in front of the old man. "Understood, Citrine?" The man in the slim-fitting suit with stark white hair, although young, like in his twenties, grabbed a coin from the older man's desk and pocketed it. The older man, Citrine, looked outraged and started to speak up but was interrupted by the other man's piercing green eyes turning darker in shade. Citrine gritted his teeth. "As clear as crystal, Peridot." "Good." Peridot went back to his green-cushioned, silver-lined throne. The businessman, Lazuli, finally spoke up again. "Thank you all for being here. I know that we have not been in the same place in centuries, but this is important. I believe that I located //Pandemonium//." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Everyone in the room seemed to stop]]</div>

Everyone in the room seemed to stop. Opal's eyebrows raised; her voice, though distant, was smooth. "You are saying that you found...him?" Wrath looked at Lazuli, holding up his sword like it was his finger being pointed. "When? Father could not even find him; how did you?" Lazuli holds up his hand, not even fazed by the sword being pointed at him. "Agate, let me speak, please." His voice sounded hollow, almost as if he were scared, for whatever reason the individuals in the room didn't know or didn't want to know. Peridot's mouth becomes dry as he looks at his older brother. "You weren't watching $Hers were you?" A man in medieval clothes, wearing a golden crown on a simple throne, with broad shoulders and a prombitent belly, auburn hair and fair skin, and gleaming orange eyes, was eating a piece of pie. "Brother? How could you?" Shark-like teeth showed through a snarl. "How could I not, Topaz?" Lazuli asked, but it looked like he was speaking to the room. "They are my $Daughter, my own blood, that I have not seen in years; I do not even know what $She $looks like." Lazuli's eyes became wet as tears run down his cheeks. "Father said not to interfere with the human world, not to even speak to your child, no matter what." "He said that about Aster too, and look how that turned out? If I was not warned by Peridot, then my $Daughter would be dead right now because of our own father's mistake!" Agate groaned. "Yes, oh so terrible, but we are literal demons, children of Lucifer, and you and Envy were so selfish to throw yourselves into a mortal's life?" Peridot slammed his fist onto the table. "Do not talk down to mortals, Agate-" "Why? Scared they might hear? We rule over them, Peridot; we are the grandchildren of their maker, and some are too blindsided to even believe in us. Wasn't your own mortal floozy too scared to even look at you after she found out the truth?" The red-eyed man said it in a condescending voice. "Don't you dare talk about ''her''! Is it so wrong for some to believe in their own fate? To think that there are not monsters out there?" Peridot's hand was now a fist, as he now looked like his older brother. "Boys, boys, stop embarrassing yourselves; this is not about either of you." Opal said it through her teeth. "Can't you see our oldest brother is in pain?" She looked at Lazuli. "Please, go on, brother." Lazuli gave his sister a smile. "Thank you, Opal." Lazuil breathed deeply, as if trying to settle his nerves. "It was five years ago-" Topaz opened his mouth to say something. "The mortal five years, brother." Lazuli interrupted, knowing time moved very slowly in the underworld. "I could feel $Hers..." He touched his heart. "Like a part of me that finally found its way back." They watched their older brother on the throne; the soft look in his eyes was rare; most of them had not seen him look so... vulnerable since he met the mortal. "I found out that it was $Her power growing, to the point that my $Daughter is unaware that $She made a familiar." Agate frowned. "You mean-" Lazuli cut him off. "Yes, $Her power is growing; it is uncommon but not impossible." Opal nodded. "Especially with how ancient $Her mortal bloodline is, I mean, you do know how to pick them, brother." Lazuli ignored the comment and looked over at a Peridot, whose eyes became hollow and distant. "His powers came in early, and then-" Topaz put a hand on Peridot's arm. "You don't have to think about it, brother." Opal nodded along. "The more their powers grow, the more //Pandemonium// is able to find them." " $Her familiar reported back to me. I know I am not supposed to interfere, but $Her familiar is part of my kingdom of Pride, so I have the authority to check on my subjects. About a year ago, $CatName found-" "$CatName?" Lazuli smiled gently. " $Her familiar's name." He continued seriously. "$CatName sensed something ancient; they sensed //Pandemonium//. It found $Hers. I told father and mother to let them know, but they found nothing concerning. With a few words with mother, she convinced father to help put up a barrier around the town, Lockwood, in which my $Daughter lives." Agate let out an unattractive snort. "Oh, I am sure that mother had to do a lot of convincing for father to put up a barrier to protect mortals." Topaz rolled his eyes, almost as if tired of this conversation. "You know how Father feels about mortals, especially humans." The conversation between the two men made the rest of the room feel uncomfortable, especially Lazuli, who seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before snapping out of whatever trap his mind had set for him. "Yes, well, Mother was able to convince him and gave the responsibility to a few supernaturals in town due to the fact that this wasn't the first time //Pandemonium// went after my $Daughter." "Just some random supernaturals; how could Father put their trust in them?" Lazuli coughed. "They are being led by... The Huntress." The silence was deafening. Until the sound of a snarl breaks the void, that shatters it like glass. "You have got to be kidding me," Agate stood. "The HUNTRESS? The same person that has killed thousands, no, millions of my subjects, not even counting your own?" Lazuli winced, while the others looked shocked and confused until Opal spoke up, her voice filling the room like a soothing song. "You don't even care for your subjects, Agate." "Is your corset so tight that your brain isn't getting enough blood, dear sister? I don't like being upstaged by a puny, tiresome mortal that likes to play hunter." His eyes grew even more red, the venom in his voice dripping; however, the posture of the dark blue-eyed woman staring back at him didn't change, and it was hard to read the facial expression under the black veil. "Where did you think the child would go, Wrath? Of course the mortal you so love to hate would stay close to her bloodline to protect it, much like you to us." Agate's jaw went slack, and the woman, with a hint of satisfaction in her tone, said. "I guess you and The Huntress are really a lot alike." Agate's cheeks flushed, and his facial muscles became rigid; however, he didn't dare say another word. Lazuli continued. "Whether or not your feelings about the huntress are positive, brother, she is the safest bet. She has studied our ways and soul magic more than some of our own subjects. The Huntress was very capable for the last five years of being in charge of the barrier." "Was?" Something flashed in Lazuli's violet eyes. "Yes, //Pandemonium// came back, and this time it was stronger, but it still could not break through the barrier. However, I was not going to take that chance. I needed to give $Hers more protection, and Father was not going to give me a hand." He looked around the room. "I needed help." The room turned toward Peridot, whose jaw was shut. "It was not me, dear sibling; you all know Father banned me from magic on the mortal plane; I could not help even if I wanted to." Green met violet eyes as they both recognized the pain of losing something important to them, such as their own children. "I would have helped, brother." Lazuli nodded his head. "I know you would, Envy; however, I could not ask to pull you into my mess when you were already grieving." Gluttony looked up from his pie, his sharp teeth scraping the fork like nails on a blackboard. "So who helped you?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|ZzzzZZZZzzzz]]</div>

"ZzzzZZZZzzzz" Everyone in the room turned to look at the teenage girl sleeping on a throne, if you could even call it that. It was more like a love seat made out of wicker with the fluffiest cushions and blankets coating it. The young woman looked peaceful, wearing a pure silk sheath with broad shoulder straps and a light blue sleep mask. The only thing that seemed not to be blissful was the sound coming out of her, which sounded like somebody sawing logs with a chainsaw. "Nine Hells! Someone wake Beryl up!" "She does this every time." Opal elegantly walked over to the sleeping girl, her heels clicking on the stone floor as she gently took off the sleep mask. "Sister, we are in a meeting. Time to wake up." The girl in question's eyes pop open to reveal their abnormal teal color. Beryl looked up grogly. "Lust? What is happening?" Citrine looked at the young woman. "Did you sleep through the whole meeting?" Beryl sat up. "Pfff, I was totally listening—something about the taxes... or the underworld..." Agate growled. "Enough! Did you help Lazuli?" Beryl winced. "Oh, it's that meeting." She cracked her neck. "Yeah, so what? It really wasn't an issue." "Maker, I want to be there when you explain that to Father." "Oh, go suck on an egg, Agate." Beryl crossed her arms. "I didn't do anything I wasn't allowed to, I just moved one of my subjects to the town. Uh, what was it called again? Locktree or something like that." "What subject?" Opal asked as she sat back on her throne. "Oh, uh, what was his name? Terry or something that starts with a "T"; he was already on the mortal plane from his last mission; I just let him change locations." "What other missions? I didn't hear Father visited you for a mission recently—Oh, nine hells! Last mission?! That last mission was eighty-four years ago." Beryl huffed. "Well, I'm sorry, I just never got around to bringing him back, and he seemed happy enough, so no harm done, plus I got to help my big brother out." She winked at Lazuli. Lazuli smiled. "Yes, thank you, sloth; her subject's essence is covering up my child's blessed lineage, and my child's demonic smell is throwing //Pandemonium// off track and confusing it." "So what is the point of this meeting? Everything seems to be going fine." Opal asked, confused. Beryl piped up. "It was until Terry reported that there was a crack in the barrier, like an outside force was breaking it. The crack is not enough for the Nightmore to fit through, but... well, Terry does believe that something got through, but he hasn't figured it out yet. The town is full of supernaturals, so the smell is overpowering; he just caught a whiff of something...corrupted." Lazuli went into the middle of the room. "This is why I called the meeting; I cannot go to the mortal world or even send anymore there, much like Envy; however, you all have the power to send... guardians to watch over my $Daughter. To protect $Hers. I know we have all had our differences, and the Oleander blood line has irritated some of you; however, I ask, not as a ruler of pride or even as a demon, but as your brother, please help me." Everyone looked at each other; no one said anything. Some were weighing their opinions, while others already had their answer in mind, but it all made Lazuli's breath go unsteady as he waited through the deafening silence. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Monday,In the Kitchen Of Morning Dew]]</div>

''Monday, In The Kitchen Of Oleander Residence '' "Did you find the bandaids?" You called. You looked at yourself through the reflection of the microwave, looking at the small bruise on your face from hitting your chin on the steering wheel the other day. Your aunt's voice carried over from the cupboard under the stairs. "Yep, I hope you like smiley faces." Your aunt produced a half-full box of bandaids with little smiley faces on them. "Why do we even have to do this? The bruise will just go away; there's no need to make a big deal out of it." You looked over at your aunt as she started to peel the paper away, which was a little difficult as she held a small container in her hand. "I am not making a big deal out of it, kid." "What's that?" You point to the containers. "Vitamin K cream; your grandmother swore this was the secret to getting rid of all your blemishes." You smiled. "You and mom were getting into a lot of scrapes when you were kids?" Aunt Zinnia smiled, a little wistful. "Yeah...I guess we were; I was more than your mother; she was the one always having to pull me in." A look of sadness flashed across her face, almost like you imagined it but you know you didn't. "I'm sorry, Aunt Z; I didn't mean to make you upset or bring back bad memories." Aunt Zinnia held up a hand to stop you. "Now hold on; you stop apologizing, kid." She placed the vitamin cream on the q-tip and rubbed it on your bruise before putting the bandage over it. "You're allowed to ask about your mother, even if it makes me sad, you know that right?" ''Ring. Ring! RING! '' Aunt Zinnia huffed, "Hard work is never over." She picked up the ringing phone. "Hello." You heard a muffled voice from the other line, and Aunt Zinnia's expression turned from annoyance to surprise before she glanced back at you and turned her expression neutral. "Yeah....okay...okay, I'm on my way." "Who was it?" You asked, watching your aunt put the phone back into the receiver. Aunt Zinnia seemed to gather her things quickly. "Hm? Oh, just Anderson; he wants to have book club early, thats all." It was Monday afternoon; usually the book club meets on Thursday nights. "He can't just wait?" "Oh, you know him; he's always so impatient." "Well, why does he want to do it right now? We have work. Doesn't he have work? What about Miss Mendozo?" "He really wants to talk about the book." Aunt Zinnia grabbed the car keys and started walking through the door. * [["Aunt Zinnia, is everything all right?"]] * [["Is there something you are not telling me?"]] * [[You watched silently as she walked out the door.]]

"Aunt Z, is everything all right?" Aunt Zinnia stopped in the doorway, turning around to look at you. "It will be, Sugar Cube." She rushed out, keys in one hand and purse in the other. You stood, frozen. It wasn't the rushing out of the house or even that she didn't answer your question; it was the nicknames she used. "Sugar Cube" was what she used to call you as a kid, like when you would cry and she would comfort you with cookies and hot chocolate, telling you "Not to worry, Sugar Cube, it will be better tomorrow." It always sounded like she was trying to convince herself rather than you. The memories flooded back, overwhelming you with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. It made you realize that her choice of nickname wasn't just a term of endearment, but a way for her to cope with her own struggles. It was as if she was desperately clinging to the hope that things would improve, even when they never did. Your eyes glanced around, spotting "When Love Lasts," a hardcopy book that your aunt's book club was discussing, sitting by the register. The feeling of unease creeps into your stomach, making you feel the need to throw up. <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You hear the front door jingle. |You heard the front door jingle: Knows Oliver]]<<else>>[[You hear the front door jingle. |You heard the front door jingle]]<</if>>

"Is there something you are not telling me?" Aunt Zinnia stopped in the doorway, turning around to look at you. "Everything is fine, Sugar Cube." She rushed out, keys in one hand and purse in the other. You stood, frozen. It wasn't the rushing out of the house or even that she didn't answer your question; it was the nicknames she used. "Sugar Cube" was what she used to call you as a kid, like when you would cry and she would comfort you with cookies and hot chocolate, telling you "Not to worry, Sugar Cube, it will be better tomorrow." It always sounded like she was trying to convince herself rather than you. The memories flooded back, overwhelming you with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. It made you realize that her choice of nickname wasn't just a term of endearment, but a way for her to cope with her own struggles. It was as if she was desperately clinging to the hope that things would improve, even when they never did. Your eyes glanced around, spotting "When Love Lasts," a hardcopy book that your aunt's book club was discussing, sitting by the register. The feeling of unease creeps into your stomach, making you feel the need to throw up. <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You heard the front door jingle. |You heard the front door jingle: Knows Oliver]]<<else>>[[You heard the front door jingle. |You heard the front door jingle]]<</if>>

You watched silently as she walked out the door. Aunt Zinnia stopped in the doorway, turning around to look at you. "See you soon, Sugar Cube." She rushed out, keys in one hand and purse in the other. You stood, frozen. It wasn't the rushing out of the house or even that she didn't answer your question; it was the nicknames she used. "Sugar Cube" was what she used to call you as a kid, like when you would cry and she would comfort you with cookies and hot chocolate, telling you "Not to worry, Sugar Cube, it will be better tomorrow." It always sounded like she was trying to convince herself rather than you. The memories flooded back, overwhelming you with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. It made you realize that her choice of nickname wasn't just a term of endearment, but a way for her to cope with her own struggles. It was as if she was desperately clinging to the hope that things would improve, even when they never did. Your eyes glanced around, spotting "When Love Lasts," a hardcopy book that your aunt's book club was discussing, sitting by the register. The feeling of unease creeps into your stomach, making you feel the need to throw up. <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You hear the front door jingle. |You heard the front door jingle: Knows Oliver]]<<else>>[[You hear the front door jingle. |You heard the front door jingle]]<</if>>

You put on a plastered smile and say, "Sorry, Doctor Huang, I'll try to be better next time" Tai huffed. "It doesn't matter about next time, it matters now." Your eye twitched, trying to stay professional. "I am deeply sorry, on behalf of Morning Dew." You looked around the clinic; you have only been in here a few times in the last year for checkups. Nothing has changed from your last visit; there was a small cream-colored couch to the left, a box TV sitting on a coffee table, and a pile of western VHS tapes neatly stacked. To the right, you see a standing desk with a pile of papers; the only thing that seemed a little out of place was a little potted cactus. Tai ignored you, turning around and going down the hallway. "Follow, Oleander, I don't have all day." The command in his voice made you follow the man down the white hallway, and although you mentally slapped yourself, you still have his order in your hand. "Tai, what are you-?" Tai opened the door that was almost at the end of the hallway to reveal a man with dark hair and a little boy on his lap that shared the same traits as the older fellow. "Sorry about the wait, Mr. Norman and Johnny." Tai pointed toward you. "$She finally arrived." "Which I have apologized for; however, I am a little confused." You expressed the confusion in your voice. Tai rolled his eyes but glanced at Johnny, and his gaze softened. "Johnny here is getting a shot for pertussis." Johnny looked at you, and you realized that his eyes were red from crying. "Doctor Huang and dad said I have to get the shot." Mr. Norman rubbed Johnny's head, which messed up his hair. "It's to keep you from getting sick, bud." Johnny let out a few sniffles. "I know." Tai nodded. "While I might not have a box full of toys like your dentist, I would like to offer you a cookie, Johnny." You opened the recycled paperboard box to show off the raspberry thumbprint cookie, and Johnny's eyes grew like saucers. Mr. Norman frowned. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Doctor Huang; I'm sure Johnny understands why he needs to get this shot." Tai gave the man a tight smile. "I thought this would help calm his nerves." Tai got on his knees and spoke to Johnny eye-to-eye. "You need to be strong and brave to get a cookie, Johnny; do you think you can do that for me?" You have never heard Tai speak so softly to another living thing before, or rather, talk that long before. It was almost...sweet? Johnny then physically relaxed, and determination was set in his eyes as he gazed longingly at the cookie in the box you were holding. You had a sneaking suspicion a sugary treat wins over a pointy needle, at least in Johnny's book. You were then asked to step out of the room, which you quickly agreed to, and you waited outside until you heard the soft voice of Tai say. "All done" It was only a moment later that Johnny swung the door open, his eyes having little tears on their cheeks, but he seemed less stressed than before with a plain bandage on his arm. "Can I have the cookie now, $Miss Oleander?" The five-year-old reached out his chubby hands to have the cookie. You let your plastered smile fall. "Yes, of course you can, Johnny; you did get the shot after all." You handed the box over to Johnny, who took a bite out of the pastry, not minding the raspberry jam that dribbled from his chin. Mr. Norman and Johnny left after talking to Tai for a few minutes and signing out. Johnny's messy, jam-covered hand was waving goodbye at you from the window. It wasn't long before Tai came back from the front office, money in hand. * <<if $Sincerity >= 53>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Sincerity:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]]<<else>>[["I thought you didn't approve of sugar." |Snark:"I thought you didn't approve of sugar."]] <</if>> * [[You just took the money and didn't say a word]] * [[You tried to make small talk]]

''STOP. THE. CAR.'' Your pulse raced and ached at the same time at the terrifying idea of hurting her. You only cared that you didn't hurt her at this time and didn't mind why she was just standing in the center of the road. When you suddenly slammed on the brakes, your tight hold on the steering wheel helped you control the direction of the car's motion. You struck the tip of your jawline on the steering wheel as the vehicle came to a very abrupt and hard halt, and your body jerked forward violently until your seat belt stopped you. The little girl standed there stiffly, petrified, with a frozen facial expression on her small, chubby face. You would not be surprised if your own face resembled the small girl's. The girl was young—too young to be crossing the road by themselves, some would say—and couldn't be more than six or seven years old with midnight black hair in a braid, wearing a muddy pink dress that went to her knees. "Jezebel!" Matthew Anderson was shorter in stature, with a pot belly, and his swept-back white hair, hulihee beard, and broad shoulders made him look like some greedy king of ancient legend. In his aged face under great snowy brows, his eyes matched the small girls, or Jezebel, and were so velvety black that you could barely see the irises. While Mister Anderson, who was not as friendly or otherwise a joyful fellow and who owned //Mat's Mechanic Shop// just on the outskirts of town. You saw the older man often due to the fact he was part of your aunt Z's book club with Miss Mendozo. You couldn't imagine the stone-faced man before you sitting by the fire and enjoying a good book, but your aunt was very persistent that he was a member. As you got out of the car, you saw Mr. Anderson grab the young girl in a hug. "Girl, you almost scared me to death! What have I told you about straying away from me while in town?" The young girl pouted. "But, Grandpappy, they were going to hurt the frog." You looked a little over the girl's shoulder to see there was indeed a frog just sitting in the middle of the road, its eyes beadly looking around, not seeming to notice the commotion it had caused. Mr. Anderson looks up at you. "Ah, I'm sorry about my granddaughter; you know how kids can be. Are you alright?" You gave a small nod, still a little shaken up. "Yeah, I'm fine, just coming down from the adrenaline." Mr. Anderson looked back at the small girl. "Child, that frog would have been alright; the damn thing just would have gone under the car." Jezebel frowns as if wanting to speak up, looking up at you then back to her elder. "Grandpappy, I saw it." A small wave of confusion came over you. The frog was in the middle, but it wouldn't have likely bumped the top of its head on the bottom of your car and killed it. "I am sure the frog would have been fine, Jezebel." You stated. You were uncomfortably aware of the open feud between the two family members. Jezebel looked more and more upset. "You don't understand; I saw it." She points to her eyes as if they explain everything. Mr. Anderson's face seemed to flash in understanding, and you saw the fear come across his face until it became the rough grimace you are so used to seeing. "Go, wait in //Pop's Lollies// while I talk to $Miss Oleander." Jezebel started to pick up the frog. "Do not take the frog into the candy shop." Mr. Anderson said it gruffly, laced with amusement. Jezebel took the frog and ran off towards the bright and colorful shop. "I won't, Grandpappy!" Mr. Anderson looked back at you. "Like I said before, I am so sorry; I should have been watching her better." "Is she staying with you for a while?" Mr. Anderson was known throughout town as a lonely man; his wife passed away years ago, and his daughter left town when she was just a teenager. Their relationship seemed strained from the passing of her name in conversation. The only time you heard of Mr. Anderson visiting her was when he went out of town for her funeral; your aunt said she died from complications during birth. You didn't even know the woman was married or had a partner, much less that she was pregnant. "Yeah, she is staying away with me, her father, the son of a—." Seeming to realize that he was not alone, he coughed. "My son-in-law is on a "business trip" and won't be back for a while; at least that is what he told her." Pain struck your heart—you were about the same age as Jezebel when you were basically dropped off in this small town that changed your life forever, whether for better or worse. As you reminisced about your own past, you couldn't help but wonder if Jezebel would have a similar transformative experience in this town. The thought of her navigating the same challenges and opportunities that shaped you brought a mix of nostalgia and anticipation for what lay ahead. "Come by my garage whenever you need your car fixed. It is the least I can do." The thought of saying no crossed your mind, but knowing how stubborn the older man is, it would only be a waste of time. With a gruff goodbye from Mr. Anderson, you are on your way back home again. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Two]]</div>

You saw the familiar fair skin, deep blue eyes, and ashy blonde hair hanging over a young man's face. He opened the door for the girl behind him, who seemed to be texting on her phone, not even looking up, and wearing a cheerleader outfit with the phrase "GO OTTERS!" plastered on the front in big letters. He saw your face and gave you a lopsided smile. "Hey, $Name, how are you doing?" You stared at Oliver, nicknamed "Ollie," Oliver Patterson, the mayor's son and the golden star of the Lockwood High School field hockey team. "I am doing well, Oliver; how are you?" "Getting my butt handed to me out on the field, I wish you were in high school; I bet you could beat Springhill." You saw that there was indeed dirt all over his shoes, like he had been running laps in the school field for practice. You grinned; it was a nice praise, but you had been on the community field hockey team when you were younger, and you were known to be quite good, You were homeschooled and never actually part of a school district team with all the jerseys and cheerleaders. Although you did get to teach Oliver one summer when you were both younger—only fourteen at the time—teaching a happy-go-lucky nine-year-old Oliver some helpful tips that he swore gave him the success today as the "star" of field hockey. "I'm sorry to say that I graduated with a high school degree three years ago, but I will take it as a compliment that you think I look young enough to be a fifteen-year-old." Oliver laughed. "You're welcome for the free praise anyway." $B11 You looked behind his shoulder to see the clock; it was only two o'clock, and their high school didn't let out until three thirty. You were sure of it; Luis complained about it enough for you to know the time the buses leave. * <<if $Snark >= 50>>[[You asked what they were doing here and why they were not at school|Snark:Ask what they are doing here and why they are not at school]]<<else>> [[You asked what they were doing here and why they were not at school |Sincerity:Ask what they are doing here and why they are not at school]]<</if>> * [[You didn't comment on it; instead, asked what they want from the menu.]]

You saw the familiar fair skin, deep blue eyes, and ashy blonde hair hanging over a young man's face. He opened the door for the girl behind him, who seemed to be texting on her phone, not even looking up, and wearing a cheerleader outfit with the phrase "GO OTTERS!" plastered on the front in big letters. He saw your face and gave you a lopsided smile. "Hey, $Miss Oleander, how are you doing?" You stared at Oliver Patterson, the mayor's son, and, from what you have heard, a jock at Lockwood High School from Luis. "You can just call me $Name. I am doing well, Oliver; how are you?" "With my butt handed to me out on the field, I wouldn't feel bothered going to the game against Springfield." You saw that there was indeed dirt all over his shoes, like he had been running laps in the school field for practice. You nodded; you were never into field hockey, at least playing it, but you did community activities when you were younger. You were homeschooled and never actually part of a school club or team. "I wonder if I would be more athletic if I played field hockey when I was younger." You said out loud. Oliver laughed. "Maybe? Or maybe you'll just be sore, like me." $B11 You looked behind his shoulder to see the clock; it was only two o'clock, and their high school didn't let out until three thirty. You were sure of it; Luis complained about it enough for you to know the time the buses leave. * <<if $Snark >= 50>>[[You asked what they were doing here and why they were not at school|Snark:Ask what they are doing here and why they are not at school]]<<else>> [[You asked what they were doing here and why they were not at school |Sincerity:Ask what they are doing here and why they are not at school]]<</if>> * [[You didn't comment on it; instead, asked what they want from the menu.]]

<<set $C98 to "Is Mr. Anderson in some kind of kinky shit? I did not think it was that kind of book club.........okay but seriously what the fuck is this?">> "You guys playing some hooky?" You asked with a raised eyebrow and a clear, teasing smile. "Or will no teachers care that you are AWOL?" Oliver shook his head, eyes wide as if accused of murder. "God, no, can you imagine if I got in trouble, no colleges would take a school skipper." You were not sure that was correct, or at least not to the extent that Oliver thought; however, before you could remark, the dyed platinum blonde teenager next to Oliver looked up from her phone, popping a bubble from her gum. "We are juniors; we have study hall." She said it with a scoff. You clenched your jaw as you muttered. "If ignorance is bliss, then you must be the happiest person on the planet." You whispered a little to loudly before your mind could catch up with your mouth. "Wow. So sarcastic." She said with a dry tone that made annoyance fill up inside of you, which you swallowed down to the pit of your stomach. Oliver poked the girl in the ribs, gently with his elbow, as if to passively communicate to be on better behavior to the person who owned the business that you were standing in. "Ow, Ollie-bear, stop hitting me." She said it in a whiny voice that put your teeth on edge. Oliver coughed, probably sensing the awkward tension. "Brittany and I had no test this week, so we decided that we could probably help one of our classmates out, Sue Jackson, by hanging up flyers for her lost dog." Thats when you finally noticed that he did indeed have flyers in his hand with a picture of a basset hound and a phone number at the bottom. A shiver runs down your spine as you look at the front store window, where dozens of lost pet posters have been hanging up for the last few months, with newer ones tacked over the older ones, forgotten. Your aunt usually let anyone hang anything in the store window, even if it was sad, like losing a pet, or even promoting another shop. "Her dog was probably eaten by a brown bear or something like that." Brittany said, checking her nails. Oliver stared at her for a hard moment that made her go into a defensive stance. "What, I am just saying, we live around a woods." You looked over and corrected her. "The only bear species that makes its home in Massachusetts is the black bear, not the brown bear." Brittany shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever. I bet it is some kind of animal that got hold of Sue's dog." Oliver frowned. "I am sure that the dog will find its way back. It is hard to lose a pet." Brittiany huffed. "How would you know? You never had a pet! You are allergic to fur." The blonde rolled her eyes. "I have had fish!" You patted Oliver's shoulder in a comforting manner and looked down at $CatName, who was just stretched out and sleeping without a care in the world. "So can we put a missing poster in your store window?" If your Aunt Zinnia was here, she would let the teens put their poster up, no matter how annoying they may be. However, Aunt Zinnia is not here right now, she left you in charge of the store, so the choice is yours. * [[It is bad for business; you tell them no|It was bad for business; you told them no.]] * [[If it will help them find the lost dog, then yeah, they can put up the poster.]] * [[It is what Aunt Zinnia would do, and you respected her, so yes.]] * [[You told them no, but redirect them to The Lazy Dog.]]

<<set $C98 to "What the hell?">> "Aren't you guys supposed to be in school?" You asked with a very gentle smile, not wanting to come off as nosey. "You guys are not skipping, right?" Oliver shook his head, eyes wide as if accused of murder. "God, no, can you imagine if I got in trouble, no colleges would take a school skipper." You were not sure that was correct, or at least not to the extent that Oliver thought; however, before you could remark, the dyed platinum blonde teenager next to Oliver looked up from her phone, popping a bubble from her gum. "We are juniors; we have study hall." She said it with a scoff. "Oh, I didn't know-" "Yeah, I could tell." She said with an eyeroll that made annoyance fill up inside of you, which you swallowed down to the pit of your stomach. Oliver poked the girl in the ribs, gently with his elbow, as if to passively communicate to be on better behavior to the person who owned the business that you were standing in. "Ow, Ollie-bear, stop hitting me." She said it in a whiny voice that put your teeth on edge. Oliver coughed, probably sensing the awkward tension. "Brittany and I had no test this week, so we decided that we could probably help one of our classmates out, Sue Jackson, by hanging up flyers for her lost dog." Thats when you finally noticed that he did indeed have flyers in his hand with a picture of a basset hound and a phone number at the bottom. A shiver runs down your spine as you look at the front store window, where dozens of lost pet posters have been hanging up for the last few months, with newer ones tacked over the older ones, forgotten. Your aunt usually let anyone hang anything in the store window, even if it was sad, like losing a pet, or even promoting another shop. "Her dog was probably eaten by a brown bear or something like that." Brittany said, checking her nails. Oliver stared at her for a hard moment that made her go into a defensive stance. "What, I am just saying, we live around a woods." You looked over and corrected her. "The only bear species that makes its home in Massachusetts is the black bear, not the brown bear." Brittany shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever. I bet it is some kind of animal that got hold of Sue's dog." Oliver frowned. "I am sure that the dog will find its way back. It is hard to lose a pet." Brittiany huffed. "How would you know? You never had a pet! You are allergic to fur." The blonde rolled her eyes. "I have had fish!" You patted Oliver's shoulder in a comforting manner and looked down at $CatName, who was just stretched out and sleeping without a care in the world. "So can we put a missing poster in your store window?" If your Aunt Zinnia was here, she would let the teens put their poster up, no matter how annoying they may be. However, Aunt Zinnia is not here right now, she left you in charge of the store, so the choice is yours. * [[It is bad for business; you tell them no|It was bad for business; you told them no.]] * [[If it will help them find the lost dog, then yeah, they can put up the poster.]] * [[It is what Aunt Zinnia would do, and you respected her, so yes.]] * [[You told them no, but redirect them to The Lazy Dog.]]

<<set $C98 to "What the hell?">> You don't comment on it; it's not your business. "What can I get for you?" Oliver shook his head. "Oh no, we are actually here for-" The dyed platinum-blonde teenager next to Oliver looked up from her phone, popping a bubble from her gum. "Trenti iced coffee, 12 pumps vanilla, 12 pumps hazelnut, 4 pumps caramel, a splash of soy milk, coffee to the top, ice, double-blended." Your head spinned. "Can you repeat that?" "Can't you remember a customer's order?" She said with an eyeroll that you felt annoyance fill up inside of you, which you swallowed down to the pit of your stomach. Oliver poked the girl in the ribs, gently with his elbow, as if to passively communicate to be on better behavior to the person who owned the business that you were standing in. "Ow, Ollie-bear, stop hitting me." She said it in a whiny voice that put your teeth on edge before looking at you. "Nevermind, just forget it." Oliver coughed, probably sensing the awkward tension. "We aren't actually here for coffee, $Name. Brittany and I had no test this week, so we decided that we could probably help one of our classmates out, Sue Jackson, by hanging up flyers for her lost dog during study hall." Thats when you finally noticed that he did indeed have flyers in his hand with a picture of a basset hound and a phone number at the bottom. A shiver runs down your spine as you look at the front store window, where dozens of lost pet posters have been hanging up for the last few months, with newer ones tacked over the older ones, forgotten. Your aunt usually let anyone hang anything in the store window, even if it was sad, like losing a pet, or even promoting another shop. "Her dog was probably eaten by a brown bear or something like that." Brittany said, checking her nails. Oliver stared at her for a hard moment that made her go into a defensive stance. "What, I am just saying, we live around a woods." You looked over and corrected her. "The only bear species that makes its home in Massachusetts is the black bear, not the brown bear." Brittany shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever. I bet it is some kind of animal that got hold of Sue's dog." Oliver frowned. "I am sure that the dog will find its way back. It is hard to lose a pet." Brittiany huffed. "How would you know? You never had a pet! You are allergic to fur." The blonde rolled her eyes. "I have had fish!" You patted Oliver's shoulder in a comforting manner and looked down at $CatName, who was just stretched out and sleeping without a care in the world. "So can we put a missing poster in your store window?" If your Aunt Zinnia was here, she would let the teens put their poster up, no matter how annoying they may be. However, Aunt Zinnia is not here right now, she left you in charge of the store, so the choice is yours. * [[It is bad for business; you tell them no|It was bad for business; you told them no.]] * [[If it will help them find the lost dog, then yeah, they can put up the poster.]] * [[It is what Aunt Zinnia would do, and you respected her, so yes.]] * [[You told them no, but redirect them to The Lazy Dog.]]

The atmosphere of a restaurant's decor shapes that crucial initial impression. It creates the environment for the visitor experience, which has an impact on everything from how much they spend to the caliber of the reviews they leave. Nobody wants to spend the entire day sipping tea and eating pastries while staring at posters of missing animals. "I'm sorry, but no, I hope you guys understand, but I have to think about my business." Oliver's eyes casted down in disappointment, but he gave you a small smile. "We completely understand. I mean, you are running a business; that should come first." "Thank you, Oliver. " "Hah." Brittany scoffed and, under her breath, said. "You call this a business?" You narrowed your eyes at Brittany until Oliver spoke up. "Where is Miss Oleander? " Your thoughts went to Aunt Zinnia and what she could be doing right now. She said that she was going to her book club, but she didn't bring the book. Maybe they have extras? However, something told you that she was keeping something to herself. "Oh, she is at her book club." Oliver grinned. "Cool, maybe we should start our own club at our school." "What? Ew, no thank you, Ollie-bear; we read enough in school; I don't want to do that for fun as well." "It's not for everyone, but my Aunt Zinnia seems to really enjoy it." You said, crossing your arms. "Come on, Brittany, It can be fun, and maybe we can meet people outside of cheer and field hockey. I heard that participating in a book club is a fantastic method to foster critical thinking in both yourself and others who are club members." "Fine. Whatever. Let's go, Ollie Bear; we have to be back to school soon." Oliver nodded. "Right. See you later, $Name; I hope you have a good day!" "See you later, Oliver, and... Brittany." You said this as you watched the two teens walk out the door and go down the street, probably to the bike chain the next block over. You sighed, looking around the empty café, trying to ignore the boredom. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|In The Basement Of The Anderson Residence]]</div>

You looked into the eyes of the lost dog on the poster, and you couldn't help but feel guilty. If $CatName was lost, you would want as many people as possible to help find him. "Sure." You nodded. "Go ahead and put up the dog poster." Oliver's smiled brighter than the sun that you almost had to cover your eyes. "Thank you. Thank you so much $Name, this will a hundred percent help us find Sue's dog! " Oliver pratically skipped over to the store window, hanging up the poster, and giving you a thumbs up. "It is no problem, Oliver; I want to help anyway I can." You stood there awkwardly, looking at Brittany, until Oliver spoke up. "Where is Miss Oleander?" Your thoughts went to Aunt Zinnia and what she could be doing right now. She said that she was going to her book club, but she didn't bring the book. Maybe they have extras? However, something told you that she was keeping something to herself. "Oh, she is at her book club." Oliver grinned. "Cool, maybe we should start our own club at our school." "What? Ew, no thank you, Ollie-bear; we read enough in school; I don't want to do that for fun as well." "It's not for everyone, but my Aunt Zinnia seems to really enjoy it." You said, crossing your arms. "Come on, Brittany, It can be fun, and maybe we can meet people outside of cheer and field hockey. I heard that participating in a book club is a fantastic method to foster critical thinking in both yourself and others who are club members." "Fine. Whatever. Let's go, Ollie Bear; we have to be back to school soon." Oliver nodded. "Right. See you later, $Name; I hope you have a good day!" "See you later, Oliver, and... Brittany." You said this as you watched the two teens walk out the door and go down the street, probably to the bike chain the next block over. You sighed, looking around the empty café, trying to ignore the boredom. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|In The Basement Of The Anderson Residence]]</div>

Even though Aunt Zinnia was not there at that moment, it was still her store; this was still her business, and you knew that she would let them put up the poster. "Yeah." You nodded. "Go ahead and put up the dog poster." Oliver's smiled brighter than the sun that you almost had to cover your eyes. "Thank you. Thank you so much $Name, this will a hundred percent help us find Sue's dog! " Oliver pratically skipped over to the store window, hanging up the poster, and giving you a thumbs up. "It is no problem, Oliver. My aunt would want to help out anyway she could." You stood there awkwardly, looking at Brittany, until Oliver spoke up. "Where is Miss Oleander?" Your thoughts went to Aunt Zinnia and what she could be doing right now. She said that she was going to her book club, but she didn't bring the book. Maybe they have extras? However, something told you that she was keeping something to herself. "Oh, she is at her book club." Oliver grinned. "Cool, maybe we should start our own club at our school." "What? Ew, no thank you, Ollie-bear; we read enough in school; I don't want to do that for fun as well." "It's not for everyone, but my Aunt Zinnia seems to really enjoy it." You said, crossing your arms. "Come on, Brittany, It can be fun, and maybe we can meet people outside of cheer and field hockey. I heard that participating in a book club is a fantastic method to foster critical thinking in both yourself and others who are club members." "Fine. Whatever. Let's go, Ollie Bear; we have to be back to school soon." Oliver nodded. "Right. See you later, $Name; I hope you have a good day!" "See you later, Oliver, and... Brittany." You said this as you watched the two teens walk out the door and go down the street, probably to the bike chain the next block over. You sighed, looking around the empty café, trying to ignore the boredom. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|In The Basement Of The Anderson Residence]]</div>

The atmosphere of a restaurant's decor shapes that crucial initial impression. It creates the environment for the visitor experience, which has an impact on everything from how much they spend to the caliber of the reviews they leave. Nobody wants to spend the entire day sipping tea and eating pastries while staring at posters of missing animals. "I'm sorry, but no. I hope you guys understand, but I have to think about my business." Oliver's eyes casted down in disappointment, but he gave you a small smile. "We completely understand. I mean, you are running a business; that should come first." You felt guilty, these kids, or at least Oliver seemed to really want to help his classmate. "Why don't you go to //The Lazy Dog// if you aren't planning to go there anyway? They would for sure let you put the poster up." The thought of Camila across the counter saying no to puppy eyed Oliver was near to impossible. Brittany scoffed. "Isn't that where the weird goth kid lives?" You narrowed your eyes at Brittany until Oliver spoke up, his eyes bright again. "Thank you, $Name, we will be sure to head over there! Oh by the way where is Miss Oleander" Your thoughts went to Aunt Zinnia and what she could be doing right now. She said that she was going to her book club, but she didn't bring the book. Maybe they have extras? However, something told you that she was keeping something to herself. "Oh, she is at her book club." Oliver grinned. "Cool, maybe we should start our own club at our school." "What? Ew, no thank you, Ollie-bear; we read enough in school; I don't want to do that for fun as well." "It's not for everyone, but my Aunt Zinnia seems to really enjoy it." You said, crossing your arms. "Come on, Brittany, It can be fun, and maybe we can meet people outside of cheer and field hockey. I heard that participating in a book club is a fantastic method to foster critical thinking in both yourself and others who are club members." "Fine. Whatever. Let's go, Ollie Bear; we have to be back to school soon ." Oliver nodded. "Right but first we should head to //The Lazy Dog//. See you later, $Name; I hope you have a good day!" "See you later, Oliver, and... Brittany." You said this as you watched the two teens walk out the door and go down the street, probably to the bike chain the next block over. You sighed, looking around the empty café, trying to ignore the boredom. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|In The Basement Of The Anderson Residence]]</div>

''In The Basement Of The Anderson Residence'' <<set $TruthDad to "Does not know">> Going down McKinley Road, where people saw the back of the "Welcome to Lockwood" sign cutting through the trees, was a road that, the deeper individuals went, the more the actual road became dirt and trees closed in on them. Some would be worried about what they would find at the end of the dirt road; there seemed to be nothing at the end of it as there were no signs telling folks where they were headed, the sounds of crickets were non-existent as they wanted to warn the traveler off, and there was no way to turn around except to go in reverse to make it back to the dark brown welcome sign and the cracked painted dark green welcoming letters. However, when human beings' animal instinct begged them to turn back, they will finally saw a sign up ahead. //Mat's Mechanic Shop// It was hung on a tree under a lantern. Past the sign, people saw another side of the forest, where Christmas lights hanged from tree to tree, glowing a light blue, as if to guide them to their destination. The sound of chirping birds and crickets buzzes around them, welcoming the travelers to their safe haven from the outside world. Until finally, the individuals saw a huge garage with a side office where equipment was strolled everywhere, from vehicle lifts to battery chargers. Cobbled stones lead from the shop to the back, where people saw a one-story brick house. Inside the house was very plain, with beige walls and a drab dark brown couch; however, the basement was another story. Weapons line the walls, pinned up neatly behind bullet-proof glass, all in order; however, they all had a hint of dust on them as if they had not been used in a while. In the middle of the room was a long oak table where Jezebel was sitting, spinning around. "Are your friends coming, Grandpappy?" Matthew Anderson put some cheese and crackers on a plate and sat it on the table. "Yes, girl, Grandpappy's friends need to talk about something important." Jezebel nodded her little head in understanding, her eyebrows furrowed. "Is that why we are using the good cheese?" "Yeah, well, I am the host, so better pull out the good stuff." Jezebel took a cracker from the plate and nibbled on it. "When will you be done?" "I don't know, kid, but it shouldn't be that long." Matt patted the small girl on the head, who giggled. All of a sudden, Jezebel's eyes rolled back in her head, and Matt frowned. "Girl?" He kneeled down and shook her. "Kid, hey, you hear me?" He gently held her up so she would not fall forward. Every so often, she would shake, but Matt would just hold her tighter. After a few minutes, Jezebel blinked. "Grandpappy?" Matt let out a small chuckle and smiled softly at his granddaughter. "You okay, kid? That was a long one, huh?" The small girl nodded her head, her dry mouth preventing her from speaking. "Here's some water." Matt grabbed one of the water bottles he sat out for company on the table and gave it to his granddaughter, who grabbed it and chugged, coughing a little after she came up for air. Jezebel nodded. "People are here." Matt looked up at the basement ceiling, trying to strain his ears to listen, but heard nothing. "Okay, I better say hi to our guest. You going to be okay, kid?" His tone was neutral, but anyone who spent time around Mr. Anderson knew that he was worried. Jezebel smiled, which showed her missing front tooth. "Yep! I'm all better, and I am going to go play with Lollihops." Matt grimaced and followed the small girl up the stairs. "Fine, but don't let that damn thing lose. I bought you that cage for you to keep the frog in. It's burning a hole in my wallet if you never use it." "Okay, Grandpappy!" Matt nodded, knowing full well that she was not going to listen to him, and opened the door to find Bess and Murry Fawn. Murry, a thin man, going bald, but the little hair on his head was as dark as night, and Bess, a short, severe-looking woman, had her hair tied up in a loose bun. They both looked surprised, and Murry had his pointer finger on the doorbell as if he were just about to ring it. "Hello, you two; you're early." Bess smiled, her gentle features calming even Mr. Anderson. "Sorry about that, Matthew. We wanted to get here early; we just couldn't stand the waiting." Bess said, her eyes filled with worry. Murry coughed. "Can we come in?" Matthew nodded, stepped aside, and let them in. "Yeah, sorry." Murry waved a hand his way. "It's no problem; do you have an alarm system up? How did you know we were here?" The couple looked at Matthew, who sighed. "It's the kid; she....saw it." Murry's eyes were downcast, and Bless frowned in sympathy. "You know there is a chance that she will be alright, that she can control herself." "What about Agatha?" Matthew's voice cracked. Bess sighed. "Agatha...she...she tried to stop her visions; it's the worst thing you can do to a seer, and then Libby-" "Don't talk about my daughter." Matthew said, his face gone stone cold, and Murry put a arm around his wife. "I know Agatha and you wanted a normal life where you weren't a hunter and she wasn't a seer, but life doesn't happen that way. We can't change the way you are; I can't drain the magic out of me without killing something inside me." "Don't you think I know that? That's why I am trying to do better with Jezebel! But it's fucking hard! My wife and daughter both lost their minds to their visions, and look how that turned out—they became weak and unstable!" Matthew wiped his tears away. Bess gently reached for his arm. "Matt-" "No....just no..." "You can't try to stop the visions, she has to learn how to handle them, or they will take over her mind." Murry cut in. "She is your granddaughter, so we all know how stubborn you can be..if she is anything like you...I know Jezebel will be fine." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|There was a knock on the door.]]</div>

There was a knock. Matt straightened up, trying to put on a facade before he opened the door. Bess and Murry looked at each other, both clearly concerned about their friend, before they were welcomed by the faces of Zinnia and Triana. Triana smiled. "Good, I thought we were the only ones that arrived early." She said as she stepped into the house, the other woman following right behind her. Murry gave Triana a strained laugh, seeming to have other things on his mind. "Nope, Bess and I were only arrived a few minutes before you." Bess nodded. "Do you know when ''he'' is going to get here?" Zinnia shrugged and, although looking tense, gave a small smile. "He said he was on his way, we could go ahead and go to the meeting room." "Sure, I got some drinks and snacks for y'all." The group headed down the basement stairs, with Matthew leading the way. Matthew said. "The kid is in her room so she won't bother us." Zinnia walked next to him, putting an arm around Matthew in a friendly manner. "I remember when $Name was around her age; don't worry, Matty, you will be fine." Matthew rolled his eyes but didn't remove her arm. "Don't call me Matty." His expression softened after a moment. "You think I can do this?" Zinnia grinned. "If I can raise a kid then you sure as hell can and look at $Name....$She turned out great." Murry whispered to Triana. "So I can't help but notice that you and Zinnia carpooled together." Triana's eyes widened, and she glared at Murry. "What are you trying to say, Murry?" Bess cut in, hitting her husband on the shoulder. "I think what my, dear husband, is trying to say is that you two seem to be getting closer and closer." Triana waved her hand in front of her face, fanning her cheeks, maybe to hide her blush. "Oh please, we have been friends forever, she doesn't see me that way." "But-" "Murry, do not make me bite you." Murry put his hands up, practically behind Bess at this point. "Okay, okay, you win." When they all made it to the basement, they all sat down around the table. Triana looked around the room, and while she seemed familiar with the place, the vast number of weapons on the wall seemed to make her wary. Zinnia gave her an encouraging hand squeeze, looking over at Murry, who seemed not to be able to stop twitching. Matthew, who also seemed to notice the twitching, groaned. "Out with it, Fawn." Murry pressed his lips together. "You guys don't mind if I-" "Oh, for crying out loud, yes, Murry, you ask us every time; no one cares about your flippin' wings." Zinnia snorted. "Flippin'?" "What? I got a kid living with me now, got to start controlling my langauge." Murry stood up, and out of nowhere, something similar to leaves circled around him like he was in a small tornado. It only lasted a moment, but soon the leaves started to lose their vibrant, healthy green color and started to turn to a dry-looking brown until the sounds of them crumbling on the ground until there was a small pile of specks of brown leaves in a circle around Murry. Murry, who stood in the middle of the circle, had large butterfly wings with a single row of round red-orange spots on an iridescent blue hindwing patch. Instead of his normal brown eyes, they were golden, they seemed to be spiraling with different shades of yellow hiding his pupils. Coming up from behind his ears was a foot long blue stem that looked much like an antenna, with a speck of fluff or fur on the end. Bess kissed her husband's cheek. "You look amazing, sweetheart." Murry blushed. "Thank you, dear." Matthew grunted. "Oh yeah- so gosh damn adorable but I am going to have to clean all those freaking magic leaves up." Bess rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers. It seemed like nothing happened until tumbling down the stairs, came a dustpan and broom. They turned around as if confused, until Bess whistled, catching the cleaning supplies attention and pointing to the mess on the floor. The broom walked over on its bristles while the dustpan flopped on its handle, following the broom until it made it to the mess and started to sweep it up. With another snap of her fingers the broom and dustpan went slack, the broom fell against the wall. "Your welcome." Matthew grunted. "You couldn't have put the broom back upstairs?" Zinnia took a sip of one of the brewskis that Matthew laid on the table and laughed. "Matthew, I would say thank you before Bess cast some sort of curse on you." Bess snorted. "It's fine, Zinnia, I'm used to his attitude by now." "Attitude?! While I should-" Matthew started, but was cut off. <<if $TFrP >= 1>>[["Good, you're all here"|"Good, you're all here"-Tai has a good relationship with]]<<else>>[["Good, you're all here"|"Good, you're all here"-Tai is not so good]]<</if>>

"Good, you're all here." The darkness almost surrounded the individual, as if to keep them in the shadows until he finally sat down at the table. Tai looked at each face around the table before looking at the cheese platter. "....string cheese?" Matthew coughed, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "It is the expensive stuff from the market; my granddaughter seems to like it." Tai raised an eyebrow before nodding, and Triana spoke up. "We didn't think you would come; you don't usually come to these... our "book club" for anything, you just call." Tai shrugged. "Not every single supernatural in this town is part of your little club......but I suppose not every single supernatural is as powerful as your group." Tai's eyes wandered to Matthew and Zinnia. "Or maybe they are scared that hunters will turn on them." Zinnia's mouth went dry. "I haven't been a hunter in a long time; you know that." She looked at Matthew, who seemed to be looking down in shame. "We both haven't." Tai crossed his arms. "Of course, I know you are both retired, but that doesn't erase the past, you should know that more than anyone." Zinnia pressed her lips together, and her fist balled under the table. "I understand that you all have run Lockwood as a safehaven for supernaturals, it being somewhere hunters can't hunt them. However, you all made a pact a year ago to be the protectors of the barrier." Tai said, trying to talk through the tense atmosphere. Matthew grunted. "Of course we did, demon, we have all known $Name since $She still rode on training wheels and Zinnia even longer." Everyone nodded around the table in agreenment. Tai looked around. "Yes, even though this is a mission by my lady, I have found quite a fondness in $Name 's companionship." Zinnia narrowed her eyes at him. "I may like to joke, and some might think i'm a retired old lady, but I will pour a gallon of holy water on you." Tai raised an eyebrow. "Oh, please, that is not what I meant. I just can stand in your $Niece 's company more than some other mortal in this town." Murry frowned. "Although $Name isn't mortal-" Tai looked at his nails. "Was raised as one and that can be just as worse." Triana shuffled her feet under the table. "We, at least myself follows //The Mother// and we appreciate the barrier, while it not only protects $Name but also makes other citizens safe, you called us here to discuss it?" Matthew snorted, putting his feet on the table. "Lets stop beating around the bush, Haoss is trying to get into our town." Murry started to twitch again. "A few supernaturals that I have talked to have felt an aura, to me it felt...almost demonic not anicent but like it has been around....//Pandemonium//....at least what has been around town." Tai nodded. "Your fay senses would be correct, while I believe that Haoss has something to do with this so-called....aura. The longer that aura is inside the barrier, the more my king's angelic magic falls apart." Bess groaned. "I might be a powerful witch, but I can't match to an angel or a demon's ability while we might not know what got through the barrier but even knowing there's a speck of demonic is terrifying. Demonic magic is stronger then most supernaturals in this town." Matthew nodded. "Demons, from my experience are hard to hunt, but something this ancient...you can't just throw some holy water on it and call it a day." Triana sighed. "Most supernaturals don't even think //Pandemonium// exist, he is just some story you tell your kids to get them to behave." "That is why Prince Lazuli has instructed the seven hells champions to help find the crack in the barrier and find the disturbance in the town before sealing up the opened part in the barrier." Tai said. "Champions?" "Yes, like myself." He paused before continuing. "Each prince or princess of hell has a, I suppose, "favorite" demon who they have trained to someone who is right under them. These demons have stronger powers than regular demons. The champions of wrath, greed, gluttony, and lust will be here shortly to aid in our infestation." Zinnia's face paled, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "More demons are coming into Lockwood?" Tai's voice became lower, and he crossed his arms. "I thought this was a safehaven for ''all'' supernautals?" Triana stood up, putting a hand on Zinnia's shoulder. "Of course it is but demons have hurt the Oleander family for generations." "I suppose the Oleander bloodline and the damned souls have been at war with each other before even Adam and Eve's final breath." "However, if they are here to help my $Niece, I will do anything to aid them." Tai leaned forward. "Its good to hear that, Huntress." Zinnia, hearing the title, took a swig of her beer. "Meeting adjourned." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Monday Night,Behind The Counter of Morning Dew]]</div>

"Good, you're all here." The darkness almost surrounded the individual, as if to keep them in the shadows until he finally sat down at the table. Tai looked at each face around the table before looking at the cheese platter. "....string cheese?" Matthew coughed, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "It is the expensive stuff from the market; my granddaughter seems to like it." Tai raised an eyebrow before nodding, and Triana spoke up. "We didn't think you would come; you don't usually come to these... our "book club" for anything, you just call." Tai shrugged. "Not every single supernatural in this town is part of your little club......but I suppose not every single supernatural is as powerful as your group." Tai's eyes wandered to Matthew and Zinnia. "Or maybe they are scared that hunters will turn on them." Zinnia's mouth went dry. "I haven't been a hunter in a long time; you know that." She looked at Matthew, who seemed to be looking down in shame. "We both haven't." Tai crossed his arms. "Of course, I know you are both retired, but that doesn't erase the past, you should know that more than anyone." Zinnia pressed her lips together, and her fist balled under the table. "I understand that you all have run Lockwood as a safehaven for supernaturals, it being somewhere hunters can't hunt them. However, you all made a pact a year ago to be the protectors of the barrier." Tai said, trying to talk through the tense atmosphere. Matthew grunted. "Of course we did, demon, we have all known $Name since $She still rode on training wheels and Zinnia even longer." Everyone nodded around the table in agreenment. Tai looked around. "Yes....$Name. $She is quite a character." Zinnia narrowed her eyes at him. "What is that supposed to mean, doc?" Tai raised an eyebrow. "Just that your $Niece 's company is like most mortals in this town....tiring." Murry frowned. "Although $Name isn't mortal-" Tai looked at his nails. "Was raised as one and that can be just as worse." Triana shuffled her feet under the table. "We, at least myself follows //The Mother// and we appreciate the barrier, while it not only protects $Name but also makes other citizens safe, you called us here to discuss it?" Matthew snorted, putting his feet on the table. "Lets stop beating around the bush, Haoss is trying to get into our town." Murry started to twitch again. "A few supernaturals that I have talked to have felt an aura, to me it felt...almost demonic not anicent but like it has been around....//Pandemonium//....at least what has been around town." Tai nodded. "Your fay senses would be correct, while I believe that Haoss has something to do with this so-called....aura. The longer that aura is inside the barrier, the more my king's angelic magic falls apart." Bess groaned. "I might be a powerful witch, but I can't match to an angel or a demon's ability while we might not know what got through the barrier but even knowing there's a speck of demonic is terrifying. Demonic magic is stronger then most supernaturals in this town." Matthew nodded. "Demons, from my experience are hard to hunt, but something this ancient...you can't just throw some holy water on it and call it a day." Triana sighed. "Most supernaturals don't even think //Pandemonium// exist, he is just some story you tell your kids to get them to behave." "That is why Prince Lazuli has instructed the seven hells champions to help find the crack in the barrier and find the disturbance in the town before sealing up the opened part in the barrier." Tai said. "Champions?" "Yes, like myself." He paused before continuing. "Each prince or princess of hell has a, I suppose, "favorite" demon who they have trained to someone who is right under them. These demons have stronger powers than regular demons. The champions of wrath, greed, gluttony, and lust will be here shortly to aid in our infestation." Zinnia's face paled, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "More demons are coming into Lockwood?" Tai's voice became lower, and he crossed his arms. "I thought this was a safehaven for ''all ''supernautals?" Triana stood up, putting a hand on Zinnia's shoulder. "Of course it is but demons have hurt the Oleander family for generations." "I suppose the Oleander bloodline and the damned souls have been at war with each other before even Adam and Eve's final breath." "However, if they are here to help my $Niece, I will do anything to aid them." Tai leaned forward. "Its good to hear that, Huntress." Zinnia, hearing the title, took a swig of her beer. "Meeting adjourned." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Monday Night,Behind The Counter of Morning Dew]]</div>

''Monday Night, Behind The Counter of Morning Dew '' You wiped the counter for the second time, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall. 8:23. Aunt Zinnia had been gone for a few hours, which wasn't uncommon when they had book club; you always just imagined them sitting around drinking coffee and catching up with each other. They were older individuals just talking about their week. You snorted at the thought of calling Aunt Zinnia old to her face; you imagined she would make you clean out the oven. Eyes darted to the clock again: 8:24. Was the clock going to slower? No. You were just a little bored, which made a little flare of irritation catch in your stomach that Aunt Zinnia had just left you here with really no warning. The thoughts of Aunt Zinnia crossed your mind, and the weary look on her face made your legs twitch. The door jiggled as it opened, and you saw Police Chief Dickinson, although he went by Butch, his first name, for obvious reasons. Chief Butch strolled in, a big, beefy man looking somewhat like a pig ready to be slaughtered, with hardly any neck and a large egg-shaped head that only pointed out more of his receding hairline. "Chief Butch, what can I get you?" Butch seemed to ignore you, looking around the store with his blue beady eyes, his official blue wrinkled police shirt decorated with a name tag, badge, and two golden stars on his collar, along with a huge stain of mustard on his navy blue tie. He hawked loogie, spitting it in the bushes outside before coming in the store. "I want a coffee and..." Butch looked behind him to see Deputy Tallulah Chewey, a woman a little older than yourself. "-I want a strawberry smoothie, please." Chewey pushed her shiny, dark hair away from her face. You nodded and started fixing their orders. "Long night, you two?" "No, just how I like it." Butch cracked his neck while you turned away, frowning as you poured the coffee into a to-go cup. "Not even paperwork?" You asked as you handed the police chief his cup of coffee. Butch snorted. "Some kids came by the station asking if we would look out for a dog. We are police, not goddamn animal control." Chewey bit her lip. "Uh, I still made a report; you know you could never be to-" "You did what?" Butch's eyes shot over at Chewey, who backed away a little. "How the hell am I supposed to be taken seriously if we are making missing dog reports?! The mutt wasn't kidnapped!" "I mean, isn't the point of us being police officers that we help everyone?" Chewey stuttered out. "People! Not animals!?" * [[You stayed out of the fight]] * [[You sided with Chewey]] * [[You sided with Butch]] * [[You tried to help them resolve]]

<<set $Cautious to $Cautious + 1>> <<set $Rash to $Rash - 1>> You pretended to look under the counter. "I need to get some straws in the back." You go to the back, getting extra straws from the supply questions. Tallulah, who was known as naive and gullible throughout the community. Given that Deputy Chewey frequently says or does things that make her and Butch appear foolish, some could argue she was dimwitted. Others in the community, however, claimed that Butch was rude, lazy, and always looking for an excuse to avoid doing any police work. Many people have complained about how poorly he treats his lower officers, frequently yelling at them and giving them unimportant tasks. Your aunt is among the many who believe that the only reason he is still chief is because of his shared friendship with Mayor Patterson. You came back with a handful of straws in your hand that you really didn't need. Chief Butch looked at you and then back at a teary-eyed Tallulah. "We will talk about this when we get back to the station." Chief Butch took the drinks from your hands. "These are on you, Chewey; maybe less money in your pocket will make you think better about your actions." Tallulah tumbled to get her wallet out. "Yes, sir, of course, sir." Tallulah didn't look at you as she paid for the drinks. Chief Butch took a sip. "We should trash those reports when we get back; that dog probably got eaten by the wildlife." Tallulah looked at her cup like she wanted to disagree. * [[You disagreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud.]] * [[You disagreed with Butch and you said that out loud.]] * [[You agreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud]] * [[You agreed with Butch and you said that out loud]]

<<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> <<set $Rash to $Rash + 1>> You shifted closer to Tallulah, but the action was enough to have stopped Chief Butch from yelling. "I'm sure that Deputy Chewey was just trying to help." Tallulah gave you a bright smile. "Thank you, $Name." However, Chief Butch's beady eyes pierce through you with an ugly scowl. "It's upsetting to watch you become just like Zinnia." You needed a moment to gather your thoughts before responding since the nasty remark had made your head spin. You weren't really surprised; it wasn't the first time that Butch had something not so professional to say about your aunt. Aunt Zinnia did not hide her distaste for the head of the police station, not even a little bit, and although you never knew why they were so rude towards each other, you knew that your aunt once tried to get Butch demoted due to his behavior towards his coworkers. * [[You Ignored the remark with little thought.]] * [[You clenched your fists. "Excuse me?"]] * [["The people who tolerate you on a daily basis are the real heroes."]] * [[You felt anger rise up inside you, but gave him a plastered smile.]]

<<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> You shifted closer to Butch, only putting fuel on the fire. "Do you want me to fire you, Chewey?" Tallulah stepped back, looking like she might cry. "No, sir, sorry sir. I just thought..." However, Chief Butch's beady eyes pierce through her with an ugly scowl. "No, you didn't think. We will talk about this when we get back to the station." Chief Butch nodded at you, almost to thank you for the silent support, before looking at Tallulah. "These are on you, Chewey; maybe less money in your pocket will make you think better about your actions." Tallulah tumbled to get her wallet out. "Yes, sir, of course, sir." Tallulah didn't look at you as she paid for the drinks. Chief Butch took a sip. "We should trash those reports when we get back; that dog probably got eaten by the wildlife." Tallulah looked at her cup like she wanted to disagree. * [[You disagreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud.]] * [[You disagreed with Butch and you said that out loud.]] * [[You agreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud]] * [[You agreed with Butch and you said that out loud]]

"Please, both of you," You called to interrupt them. They both swung their heads to face you, and you shifted under their stares. "I'm confident that we can discuss any topic in a reasonable manner." Chewey took a deep breath, thankful that you interrupted her superior's rant. "Of course. You're right, $Name." It took a bit longer for Butch to ease, and his skin was still a flush of red after a few seconds. "Fine." He said it gruffly, giving Chewey the stink eye. You lean back a little. "So Oliver and Brittany came to the police office?" "I'm guessing that came here as well and told you about Miss Jackson's dog being missing," Tallulah guessed, rubbing her chin. Chief Butch looked down at his tie, wiping a napkin over the dry mustard stain. "I don't know why; that dog probably was some other animal's puppy chow." Tallulah frowned, like she wanted to say something but decided against it; she probably didn't want to get chewed out again. * [[You disagreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud.]] * [[You disagreed with Butch and you said that out loud.]] * [[You agreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud]] * [[You agreed with Butch and you said that out loud]]

<<set $Optimist to $Optimist + 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist - 1>> You disagree; you thought that Sue Jackson's dog was okay; maybe the pup would turn up. It seemed that Oliver and Brittany were going everywhere in town trying to help her out. However, you looked at Butch and didn't dare say anything, not after the smoke stopped coming out of his ears. "I respect Peter, but I keep telling him that Oliver needs to mature more or he is going to end up like most kids his age, lazy and entitled." Tallulah frowned, biting her lip. "I wouldn't call Oliver lazy, Chief." However, Cheif Butch looked at you. "$Name: You are a rare breed; all your generation wants to do is play on their little electronics and don't want to get their hands dirty." You and Tallulah looked at each other before you started to speak. "I don't think you can categorize someone based on when they were born." Butch snorted. "All the kids around here are talking about a gap year to "discover themselves." Let me tell you something: what kids need is a slap in the head to get their mind back on track." "Taking a gap year allows you to travel the world during a time in your life where responsibilities are minimal—no mortgage, no bills, no children. Kids get to have new experiences, and honestly, I am kind of sad I missed my chance." Tallulah said, however, that her smile wavered under Butch's gaze. Probably to distract herself from Butch's glare, she turned towards you. "How about you, $Name? Did you take a gap year before you went off to college?" * [[You wanted to go to college, but Aunt Zinnia suggested you save money.]] * [[You were still figuring it all out, so why not help Aunt Zinnia out while you were living here?]] * [[It was nice working here, and Aunt Zinnia paid you and put a roof over your head.]] * [[You hadn't found a better job in town yet.]] * [[Why would you want to leave? You love the café and planned to own it when Aunt Zinnia wanted to retire.]]

<<set $Optimist to $Optimist + 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist - 1>> You disagree; you thought that Sue Jackson's dog was okay; maybe the pup would turn up. It seemed that Oliver and Brittany were going everywhere in town trying to help her out. "Oliver seemed really determined," you said. "I'm sure that they will find her dog." Tallulah nodded along with you, happy to have someone agree with her. "Yeah, with all the missing dog photos, someone is bound to find him." "Oliver needs to understand that not everything is rainbows and butterflies." Butch said, shaking his head. "I respect Peter, but I keep telling him that Oliver needs to mature more or he is going to end up like most kids his age, lazy and entitled." Tallulah frowned, biting her lip. "I wouldn't call Oliver lazy, Chief." However, Cheif Butch looked at you. "All your generation wants to do is play on their little electronics; they don't want to get their hands dirty." You and Tallulah looked at each other before you started to speak. "I don't think you can categorize someone based on when they were born." Butch snorted. "All the kids around here are talking about a gap year to "discover themselves." Let me tell you something: what kids need is a slap in the head to get their mind back on track." "Taking a gap year allows you to travel the world during a time in your life where responsibilities are minimal—no mortgage, no bills, no children. Kids get to have new experiences, and honestly, I am kind of sad I missed my chance." Tallulah said, however, that her smile wavered under Butch's gaze. Probably to distract herself from Butch's glare, she turned towards you. "How about you, $Name? Did you take a gap year before you went off to college?" * [[You wanted to go to college, but Aunt Zinnia suggested you save money.]] * [[You were still figuring it all out, so why not help Aunt Zinnia out while you were living here?]] * [[It was nice working here, and Aunt Zinnia paid you and put a roof over your head.]] * [[You hadn't found a better job in town yet.]] * [[Why would you want to leave? You love the café and planned to own it when Aunt Zinnia wanted to retire.]]

<<set $Optimist to $Optimist - 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist + 1>> You agree; you thought that Sue Jackson's dog was probably never coming back. It was just realistic; Sue's dog was one of the many pets that have disappeared in the last few months, and those animals never came back. However, you didn't dare say anything; you didn't want to crush Tallulah's hope, or maybe it was more that you didn't want to admit that you agreed with Butch. "Tallulah, you and Oliver need to understand that not everything is rainbows and butterflies." Butch said, shaking his head. "I respect Peter, but I keep telling him that Oliver needs to mature more or he is going to end up like most kids his age, lazy and entitled." Tallulah frowned, biting her lip. "I wouldn't call Oliver lazy, Chief." However, Cheif Butch looked at you. "All your generation wants to do is play on their little electronics; they don't want to get their hands dirty." You and Tallulah looked at each other before you started to speak. "I don't think you can categorize someone based on when they were born." Butch snorted. "All the kids around here are talking about a gap year to "discover themselves." Let me tell you something: what kids need is a slap in the head to get their mind back on track." "Taking a gap year allows you to travel the world during a time in your life where responsibilities are minimal—no mortgage, no bills, no children. Kids get to have new experiences, and honestly, I am kind of sad I missed my chance." Tallulah said, however, that her smile wavered under Butch's gaze. Probably to distract herself from Butch's glare, she turned towards you. "How about you, $Name? Did you take a gap year before you went off to college?" * [[You wanted to go to college, but Aunt Zinnia suggested you save money.]] * [[You were still figuring it all out, so why not help Aunt Zinnia out while you were living here?]] * [[It was nice working here, and Aunt Zinnia paid you and put a roof over your head.]] * [[You hadn't found a better job in town yet.]] * [[Why would you want to leave? You love the café and planned to own it when Aunt Zinnia wanted to retire.]]

<<set $Optimist to $Optimist + 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist - 1>> You agree; you thought that Sue Jackson's dog was probably never coming back. It was just realistic; Sue's dog was one of the many pets that have disappeared in the last few months, and those animals never came back. "I mean, from what I understand, it has been a few days," you said. "I feel like the dog would have found its way back to her house by now." Tallulah frowned while Butch gave you a nod. "I mean, with more people looking for him, they are sure to find him, right?" "Tallulah, you and Oliver need to understand that not everything is rainbows and butterflies." Butch said, shaking his head. "I respect Peter, but I keep telling him that Oliver needs to mature more or he is going to end up like most kids his age, lazy and entitled." Tallulah frowned, biting her lip. "I wouldn't call Oliver lazy, Chief." However, Cheif Butch looked at you. "All your generation wants to do is play on their little electronics; they don't want to get their hands dirty." You and Tallulah looked at each other before you started to speak. "I don't think you can categorize someone based on when they were born." Butch snorted. "All the kids around here are talking about a gap year to "discover themselves." Let me tell you something: what kids need is a slap in the head to get their mind back on track." "Taking a gap year allows you to travel the world during a time in your life where responsibilities are minimal—no mortgage, no bills, no children. Kids get to have new experiences, and honestly, I am kind of sad I missed my chance." Tallulah said, however, that her smile wavered under Butch's gaze. Probably to distract herself from Butch's glare, she turned towards you. "How about you, $Name? Did you take a gap year before you went off to college?" * [[You wanted to go to college, but Aunt Zinnia suggested you save money.]] * [[You were still figuring it all out, so why not help Aunt Zinnia out while you were living here?]] * [[It was nice working here, and Aunt Zinnia paid you and put a roof over your head.]] * [[You hadn't found a better job in town yet.]] * [[Why would you want to leave? You love the café and planned to own it when Aunt Zinnia wanted to retire.]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> The comment rolled off you like water off a duck’s back. You lean back a little. "So Oliver and Brittany came to the police office?" "I'm guessing that came here as well and told you about Miss Jackson's dog being missing," Tallulah guessed, rubbing her chin. Chief Butch looked down at his tie, wiping a napkin over the dry mustard stain. "I don't know why; that dog probably was some other animal's puppy chow." Tallulah frowned, like she wanted to say something but decided against it; she probably didn't want to get chewed out. * [[You disagreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud.]] * [[You disagreed with Butch and you said that out loud.]] * [[You agreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud]] * [[You agreed with Butch and you said that out loud]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> You couldn't control your immediate bodily reaction to the remark. You nearly grasped him by the collar as anger trembled inside of you, but ended up with your fist clenched by your side. "Excuse me? You want to say that again, Dickinson?" Cheif Butch's eyes widen, but his scowl becomes deeper, taking in my expression. "You threatening me, kid?" Deputy Chewey, put a hand on your shoulder. "Thank you." She gave you a small smile, but she shook her head as if saying that getting into a fight with Butch wasn't worth it. "I think we all said things that we didn't mean." Tallulah said, giving Butch an almost pleading look. Butch appeared unaffected, simply glancing aside and growling subtly. You retreat. Tallulah's sunshiny presents calmed you from throttling her boss. You lean back a little. "So Oliver and Brittany came to the police office?" "I'm guessing that came here as well and told you about Miss Jackson's dog being missing," Tallulah guessed, rubbing her chin. Chief Butch looked down at his tie, wiping a napkin over the dry mustard stain. "I don't know why; that dog probably was some other animal's puppy chow." Tallulah frowned, like she wanted to say something but decided against it; she probably didn't want to get chewed out. * [[You disagreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud.]] * [[You disagreed with Butch and you said that out loud.]] * [[You agreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud]] * [[You agreed with Butch and you said that out loud]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> "The people who tolerate you on a daily basis are the real heroes." You retorted, smirking at Butch before looking at Tallulah. "You really should get paid more." His face turned so red, he looked like he was spitting out nails "What did you say?" "You heard me!" You snapped back, crossing your arms as if daring him to comment. "Oh no..." Tallulah sighed and held out her hands between you too. "Everyone calm down, please." You slide your glower from Butch over to look at Tallulah. "So Oliver and Brittany came to the police office?" "I'm guessing that came here as well and told you about Miss Jackson's dog being missing," Tallulah guessed, rubbing her chin. Chief Butch looked down at his tie, wiping a napkin over the dry mustard stain. "I don't know why; that dog probably was some other animal's puppy chow." Tallulah frowned, like she wanted to say something but decided against it; she probably didn't want to get chewed out. * [[You disagreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud.]] * [[You disagreed with Butch and you said that out loud.]] * [[You agreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud]] * [[You agreed with Butch and you said that out loud]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> You put on a plastered smile, although you knew you were shooting daggers with your eyes. "Let's calm down, yeah?" Tallulah said, looking between you both. Butch narrowed his eyes at you but turned away after a second. You leaned back. "So Oliver and Brittany came to the police office?" "I'm guessing that came here as well and told you about Miss Jackson's dog being missing," Tallulah guessed, rubbing her chin. Chief Butch looked down at his tie, wiping a napkin over the dry mustard stain. "I don't know why; that dog probably was some other animal's puppy chow." Tallulah frowned, like she wanted to say something but decided against it; she probably didn't want to get chewed out. * [[You disagreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud.]] * [[You disagreed with Butch and you said that out loud.]] * [[You agreed with Butch but you didn't say that out loud]] * [[You agreed with Butch and you said that out loud]]

College was always the goal when you graduated, but Aunt Zinnia told you that the funds were going to take awhile and that going into debt was not an option. You agreed to wait until you saved up enough or sold your vital organs on the black market. You shrugged. "Actually, I haven't gone to college yet, so I guess this is my gap year, although it is more like my working year." You said that, looking around at the shop. Tallulah smiled. "I wish I had saved enough money before I joined the police academy; maybe I would be able to afford more than a one room apartment." Butch took a sip of coffee. "No one cares about your living conditions, Deputy." Tallulah winced at being told off again but tried to smile through it. "Of course, Cheif." Butch, not caring enough to apologize, just took another sip of coffee, moving the conversation along. "You know whether Jackson's dog is alive or not; you have to admit that we might have some sort of dangerous wildlife on our hands." You pressed your lips together. "Brittiany mentioned a bear, but I would think they would be too scared to come closer to town." Butch shook his head. "Jackson's dog is not the first pet to be missing, which I assume you know with the piles of missing pet posters your aunt has posted up." When he mentioned your aunt, you saw his face turn sore. "I suspect it is some sort of coyote pack coming through town. When I used to go hunting, I would kill forty of those suckers in one day." Deputy Chewey started to chew on her nails. "You know where Miss Jackson's dog went missing? It's near Fisher Lake." Butch groaned while you frowned in confession. "What does Fisher Lake have to do with anything." "$Name, do not get her started on her conspiracy theories. " "Conspiracy theories?" You asked with a raised eyebrow. Tallulah blushed under your gaze. "My grandmother told me stories of Fisher Lake, saying that it is hunted by the people that have died in the forest that surrounds it." You looked back at Tallulah. "You think this, uh, curse is what's causing the pets to go missing? That these ghosts are...what? Kiddnapping? Murdering?" Tallulah scratched her neck. "I don't know, just a thought; I always didn't like that place." Butch snorted. "It is laughable; that's what it is. There is no such thing as ghosts." Tallulah frowned deeper. "I wouldn't be so sure, Cheif; there is too much of the unknown to rule it out,plus my grandmother said that she saw a ghost by Fisher Lake when she was younger. She swore on it." * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[[You believed in ghosts|You believe in ghost:Stoic]]<<else>>[[You believed in ghost|You believe in ghost:Freiendly]]<</if>> * <<if $Sincerity >=50>>[[You didn't believe in ghost]]<<else>>[[You didn't really believe in ghost]]<</if>>

Though you weren't sure what you wanted to do, you were surrounded by family and friends, plus, it wasn't the worst job in the world. Working at //Morning Dew// may not be the most thrilling profession, but it did provide you with some extra cash and free sweets while you were deciding what you wanted to do with your life. You shrugged. "Actually, I haven't really thought that far ahead yet, but i'll be working here meanwhile." You said that, looking around at the shop. Tallulah smiled. "I did the same thing before I joined the police force; I wanted to host an ASMR podcast." Butch took a sip of coffee. "No one cares, Deputy." Tallulah winced at being told off again but tried to smile through it. "Of course, Cheif." Butch, not caring enough to apologize, just took another sip of coffee, moving the conversation along. "You know whether Jackson's dog is alive or not; you have to admit that we might have some sort of dangerous wildlife on our hands." You pressed your lips together. "Brittiany mentioned a bear, but I would think they would be too scared to come closer to town." Butch shook his head. "Jackson's dog is not the first pet to be missing, which I assume you know with the piles of missing pet posters your aunt has posted up." When he mentioned your aunt, you saw his face turn sore. "I suspect it is some sort of coyote pack coming through town. When I used to go hunting, I would kill forty of those suckers in one day." Deputy Chewey started to chew on her nails. "You know where Miss Jackson's dog went missing? It's near Fisher Lake." Butch groaned while you frowned in confession. "What does Fisher Lake have to do with anything." "$Name, do not get her started on her conspiracy theories." "Conspiracy theories?" You asked with a raised eyebrow. Tallulah blushed under your gaze. "My grandmother told me stories of Fisher Lake, saying that it is hunted by the people that have died in the forest that surrounds it." You looked back at Tallulah. "You think this, uh, curse is what's causing the pets to go missing? That these ghosts are...what? Kiddnapping? Murdering?" Tallulah scratched her neck. "I don't know, just a thought; I always didn't like that place." Butch snorted. "It is laughable; that's what it is. There is no such thing as ghosts." Tallulah frowned deeper. "I wouldn't be so sure, Cheif; there is too much of the unknown to rule it out,plus my grandmother said that she saw a ghost by Fisher Lake when she was younger. She swore on it." * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[[You believed in ghosts|You believe in ghost:Stoic]]<<else>>[[You believed in ghost|You believe in ghost:Freiendly]]<</if>> * <<if $Sincerity >=50>>[[You didn't believe in ghost]]<<else>>[[You didn't really believe in ghost]]<</if>>

Working for Aunt Zinnia was pretty easy and gave you the chance to figure out what you really wanted to do. Standing behind a cash register may not be the most exciting job, but it's easy enough for you, and there are worse ways to make money. You shrugged. "Actually, right now I am working here until I figure out something else." You said that, looking around at the shop. Tallulah smiled. "That's amazing that your Aunt Zinnia supports you. I wish my parent would take some notes out of Miss Oleander's book." Butch took a sip of coffee. "No one cares about your family life, Deputy." Tallulah winced at being told off again but tried to smile through it. "Of course, Cheif." Butch, not caring enough to apologize, just took another sip of coffee, moving the conversation along. "You know whether Jackson's dog is alive or not; you have to admit that we might have some sort of dangerous wildlife on our hands." You pressed your lips together. "Brittiany mentioned a bear, but I would think they would be too scared to come closer to town." Butch shook his head. "Jackson's dog is not the first pet to be missing, which I assume you know with the piles of missing pet posters your aunt has posted up." When he mentioned your aunt, you saw his face turn sore. "I suspect it is some sort of coyote pack coming through town. When I used to go hunting, I would kill forty of those suckers in one day." Deputy Chewey started to chew on her nails. "You know where Miss Jackson's dog went missing? It's near Fisher Lake." Butch groaned while you frowned in confession. "What does Fisher Lake have to do with anything." "$Name, do not get her started on her conspiracy theories." "Conspiracy theories?" You asked with a raised eyebrow. Tallulah blushed under your gaze. "My grandmother told me stories of Fisher Lake, saying that it is hunted by the people that have died in the forest that surrounds it." You looked back at Tallulah. "You think this, uh, curse is what's causing the pets to go missing? That these ghosts are...what? Kiddnapping? Murdering?" Tallulah scratched her neck. "I don't know, just a thought; I always didn't like that place." Butch snorted. "It is laughable; that's what it is. There is no such thing as ghosts." Tallulah frowned deeper. "I wouldn't be so sure, Cheif; there is too much of the unknown to rule it out,plus my grandmother said that she saw a ghost by Fisher Lake when she was younger. She swore on it." * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[[You believed in ghosts|You believe in ghost:Stoic]]<<else>>[[ You believed in ghost|You believe in ghost:Freiendly]]<</if>> * <<if $Sincerity >=50>>[[You didn't believe in ghost]]<<else>>[[You didn't really believe in ghost]]<</if>>

You had no luck finding a job suited to you in town, which wasn't surprising considering how small Lockwood actually was. However, everyone knew that you were the first person to ask if they had a job opening. You shrugged. "Actually, no, but I am waiting on a call from some other job openings, but for right now I am staying put." You said that, looking around at the shop. Tallulah smiled. "That's amazing, hey, my older brother owns a water park, we don't talk much but if you want to give him a call-" Butch took a sip of coffee. "No one cares, Deputy." Tallulah winced at being told off again but tried to smile through it. "Of course, Cheif." Butch, not caring enough to apologize, just took another sip of coffee, moving the conversation along. "You know whether Jackson's dog is alive or not; you have to admit that we might have some sort of dangerous wildlife on our hands." You pressed your lips together. "Brittiany mentioned a bear, but I would think they would be too scared to come closer to town." Butch shook his head. "Jackson's dog is not the first pet to be missing, which I assume you know with the piles of missing pet posters your aunt has posted up." When he mentioned your aunt, you saw his face turn sore. "I suspect it is some sort of coyote pack coming through town. When I used to go hunting, I would kill forty of those suckers in one day." Deputy Chewey started to chew on her nails. "You know where Miss Jackson's dog went missing? It's near Fisher Lake." Butch groaned while you frowned in confession. "What does Fisher Lake have to do with anything." "$Name, do not get her started on her conspiracy theories." "Conspiracy theories?" You asked with a raised eyebrow. Tallulah blushed under your gaze. "My grandmother told me stories of Fisher Lake, saying that it is hunted by the people that have died in the forest that surrounds it." You looked back at Tallulah. "You think this, uh, curse is what's causing the pets to go missing? That these ghosts are...what? Kiddnapping? Murdering?" Tallulah scratched her neck. "I don't know, just a thought; I always didn't like that place." Butch snorted. "It is laughable; that's what it is. There is no such thing as ghosts." Tallulah frowned deeper. "I wouldn't be so sure, Cheif; there is too much of the unknown to rule it out,plus my grandmother said that she saw a ghost by Fisher Lake when she was younger. She swore on it." * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[[You believed in ghosts|You believe in ghost:Stoic]]<<else>>[[ You believed in ghost|You believe in ghost:Freiendly]]<</if>> * <<if $Sincerity >=50>>[[You didn't believe in ghost]]<<else>>[[You didn't really believe in ghost]]<</if>>

Why would you leave? You grew up in the place, and you felt this was as much your business as it was your Aunt Zinnia's. You knew that you wanted to carry the torch after your aunt retired and help // Morning Dew// thrive. You shrugged. "Actually, no, I am planning to take over this place whenever Aunt Z is ready to retire." You said that, looking around at the shop. Tallulah smiled. "You're taking over // Morning Dew//? I can see that. My parents wanted me to do the same thing, but instead I wanted to make an ASMR podcast." Butch took a sip of coffee. "No one cares, Deputy." Tallulah winced at being told off again but tried to smile through it. "Of course, Cheif." Butch, not caring enough to apologize, just took another sip of coffee, moving the conversation along. "You know whether Jackson's dog is alive or not; you have to admit that we might have some sort of dangerous wildlife on our hands." You pressed your lips together. "Brittiany mentioned a bear, but I would think they would be too scared to come closer to town." Butch shook his head. "Jackson's dog is not the first pet to be missing, which I assume you know with the piles of missing pet posters your aunt has posted up." When he mentioned your aunt, you saw his face turn sore. "I suspect it is some sort of coyote pack coming through town. When I used to go hunting, I would kill forty of those suckers in one day." Deputy Chewey started to chew on her nails. "You know where Miss Jackson's dog went missing? It's near Fisher Lake." Butch groaned while you frowned in confession. "What does Fisher Lake have to do with anything." "$Name, do not get her started on her conspiracy theories." "Conspiracy theories?" You asked with a raised eyebrow. Tallulah blushed under your gaze. "My grandmother told me stories of Fisher Lake, saying that it is hunted by the people that have died in the forest that surrounds it." You looked back at Tallulah. "You think this, uh, curse is what's causing the pets to go missing? That these ghosts are...what? Kiddnapping? Murdering?" Tallulah scratched her neck. "I don't know, just a thought; I always didn't like that place." Butch snorted. "It is laughable; that's what it is. There is no such thing as ghosts." Tallulah frowned deeper. "I wouldn't be so sure, Cheif; there is too much of the unknown to rule it out,plus my grandmother said that she saw a ghost by Fisher Lake when she was younger. She swore on it." * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[[You believed in ghosts|You believe in ghost:Stoic]]<<else>>[[ You believed in ghost|You believe in ghost:Freiendly]]<</if>> * <<if $Sincerity >=50>>[[You didn't believe in ghost]]<<else>>[[You didn't really believe in ghost]]<</if>>

"I don't think you are crazy, Tallulah, I actually agree with you that ghosts are real." You spoke with a flat voice. Deputy Chewey's smile grew bigger while Butch raised an eyebrow. "You can't be serious. This must be a joke; I honestly can't tell with how monotone your voice is." Keeping your stoic expression under control, you shrug. "Well, I am. We don't know what is beyond the door of death; it is the great unknown. Is it so crazy to think a piece of you is on Earth, like a soul or something else?" "I just don't believe in things I can't see." Tallulah pulled out her phone. "There is like a ton of pictures on this website-" "Deputy." Butch rubbed his eyebrow. "Pictures from the internet of all places? You do know there is such a thing as Photoshop, right? You shrugged , keeping your face netural as always. "The ghost usually goes unnoticed at the time, but afterwards it appears in the print. Most individuals will attempt to replicate the image after witnessing it in order to refute it." "Well, whether or not you believe in ghosts, there is one truth: we have to get back to the station." Butch said, looking bored. Tallulah frowned for a second but then smiled again. "Thank you, $Name; I hope you have a good night." The two officers left the cafe, and you said a quick goodbye before looking at the clock again. 9:00. What was taking so long? You thought, Should you go out and look for Aunt Zinnia? As the clock began to tick away, you felt a shiver go up your back. Looking up, you saw the lights flicker. "What the-?" You felt as though the coldest parts of the room were all coming towards you at once, as though you were the only thing living and breathing in the world, and it wanted to swallow you whole until you drowned in it. The light bulbs began to flicker again and shake like an earthquake, but the ground wasn't shaking underneath you; only the lights hanging above you began to sway from side to side. $CatName arched his back, almost getting into a defensive stance on the counter in front of you, and let out a hiss. You swore his eyes became darker, tracking the room as if ready to strike the darkness. * [[You ignored your instincts and stayed.]] * [[You followed your instincts and tried to make it to the front door.]]

"I don't think you are crazy, Tallulah!" You said that, grabbing her hand in a friendly manner. "I believe in ghosts too!" Tallulah grinned and squeezed your hand. "I knew we were on the same wave length, $Name." "Or both wearing tin foil hats." Butch cut in, looking at you. "Are you just trying to be nice, or do you actually believe in ghosts?" You smiled. "Oh, come on. This is the unknown we are talking about! Who knows what is on the other side?" Tallulah nodded her head with enthusiasm. "Exactly, $Name." She said it, matching your excitement. "I just don't believe in things I can't see." Tallulah pulled out her phone. "There is like a ton of pictures on this website-" "Deputy." Butch rubbed his eyebrow. "Pictures from the internet of all places? You do know there is such a thing as Photoshop, right? You shrugged , trying not to blind Butch with your smile. "Look at all these stories; all these people can't be lying." "Well, whether or not you believe in ghosts, there is one truth: we have to get back to the station." Butch said, looking bored. Tallulah frowned for a second but then smiled again. "Thank you, $Name; I hope you have a good night." The two officers left the cafe, and you said a quick goodbye before looking at the clock again. 9:00. What was taking so long? You thought, Should you go out and look for Aunt Zinnia? As the clock began to tick away, you felt a shiver go up your back. Looking up, you saw the lights flicker. "What the-?" You felt as though the coldest parts of the room were all coming towards you at once, as though you were the only thing living and breathing in the world, and it wanted to swallow you whole until you drowned in it. The light bulbs began to flicker again and shake like an earthquake, but the ground wasn't shaking underneath you; only the lights hanging above you began to sway from side to side. $CatName arched his back, almost getting into a defensive stance on the counter in front of you, and let out a hiss. You swore his eyes became darker, tracking the room as if ready to strike the darkness. * [[You ignored your instincts and stayed.]] * [[You followed your instincts and tried to make it to the front door.]]

You pressed your lips together in a thin line. "I mean, ghosts don't really seem possible." Butch nodded his head, while Tallulah frowned a little. "But... I mean, my grandmother saw..." You gently took Tallulah's hand. "Look, maybe I am wrong, but...just maybe your grandmother just saw something that she wanted to see?" Butch snorted. "That is an understatement." You gave him a pointed glare. Tallulah pulled out her phone. "There is like a ton of pictures on this website-" "Deputy." Butch rubbed his eyebrow. "Pictures from the internet of all places? You do know there is such a thing as Photoshop, right? You squeezed her hand. "I feel that people believe in ghosts because it links us to the past. When we hear that a place is haunted, we are curious to find out more about what may have truly occurred there to cause it to be this way." You said, trying to give reason to your statement. "Well, whether or not you believe in ghosts, there is one truth: we have to get back to the station." Butch said, looking bored. Tallulah frowned for a second but then smiled again. "Thank you, $Name; I hope you have a good night." The two officers left the cafe, and you said a quick goodbye before looking at the clock again. 9:00. What was taking so long? You thought, Should you go out and look for Aunt Zinnia? As the clock began to tick away, you felt a shiver go up your back. Looking up, you saw the lights flicker. "What the-?" You felt as though the coldest parts of the room were all coming towards you at once, as though you were the only thing living and breathing in the world, and it wanted to swallow you whole until you drowned in it. The light bulbs began to flicker again and shake like an earthquake, but the ground wasn't shaking underneath you; only the lights hanging above you began to sway from side to side. $CatName arched his back, almost getting into a defensive stance on the counter in front of you, and let out a hiss. You swore his eyes became darker, tracking the room as if ready to strike the darkness. * [[You ignored your instincts and stayed.]] * [[You followed your instincts and tried to make it to the front door.]]

You snickered. "Wait...seriously, you believe in ghost?" Butch snickered as well, while Tallulah frowned a little. "Yeah...but... I mean, my grandmother saw..." Your voice full of sarcasm said. "Look....this was like, what in the 50s or something? Maybe she was smoking something she found out in the forest." Butch snorted. "That is an understatement." You gave him a raised eyebrow. Tallulah pulled out her phone. "There are like a ton of pictures on this website-" "Deputy." Butch rubbed his eyebrow. "Pictures from the internet of all places? You do know there is such a thing as Photoshop, right? You gave her a sly smile and a bump on the shoulder. "Cheer up, maybe me and the old man are wrong." "Old?" Butch growled, but you ignored him. "I just think it's all tales and stories, but if it makes you feel better, I think people who believe in ghosts are more ethical and compassionate." Tallulah smiled. "Really?" "Oh yeah, thinking about ghosts whose anguish, sad ends, and unfinished business cage them between two realms as the dead makes people reflect more fully on their fellow humans, both alive and dead, in their sufferings and pleasures." Butch rubbed his forehead. "Gosh, that is depressing." You put your hands up. "What? I am just saying." Tallulah smiled. "Thanks $Name, I know your usally have a scarstic humor but that really makes me feel better." "Well, whether or not you believe in ghosts, there is one truth: we have to get back to the station." Butch said, looking bored. Tallulah frowned for a second but then smiled again. "Thank you, $Name; I hope you have a good night." The two officers left the cafe, and you said a quick goodbye before looking at the clock again. 9:00. What was taking so long? You thought, Should you go out and look for Aunt Zinnia? As the clock began to tick away, you felt a shiver go up your back. Looking up, you saw the lights flicker. "What the-?" You felt as though the coldest parts of the room were all coming towards you at once, as though you were the only thing living and breathing in the world, and it wanted to swallow you whole until you drowned in it. The light bulbs began to flicker again and shake like an earthquake, but the ground wasn't shaking underneath you; only the lights hanging above you began to sway from side to side. $CatName arched his back, almost getting into a defensive stance on the counter in front of you, and let out a hiss. You swore his eyes became darker, tracking the room as if ready to strike the darkness. * [[You ignored your instincts and stayed.]] * [[You followed your instincts and tried to make it to the front door.]]

<<set $Rash to $Rash + 1>> <<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> You ignored the need to run out the door and stayed. "Aunt Z, if this is a prank, this isn't funny!" You yelled—no humor, just fear. Could this be a prank? Aunt Zinnia only pranked you when you ate the last tub of Neapolitan ice cream or when you stole her favorite blanket, two things you have done of late, or so you believed in that moment. This also wasn't her style: water balloons to the face. yes. Creepy shadows on the walls? No. Okay, just think this through clearly. You thought as you gripped the counter. Maybe a thunderstorm is coming, and that was making $CatName so on edge. The swinging lights? That could mean someone was walking up the stairs, or rather, jumping, although that would just mean that someone broke into the loft, which wasn't a peaceful thought. What was happening? Could lack of sleep make you think shadows are climbing up the walls? Was staying up late finally making you crack? All those thoughts ran through your head, which did not help the growing anxiety that something was coming. Your gaze made it to the front door, which was now blocked by the shadows, although they had formed some sort of attachment that looked a lot like tentacles that shot off from both sides of the room. [["So... you're the heir to the mirrored throne."]]

<<set $Rash to $Rash - 1>> <<set $Cautious to $Cautious + 1>> You picked up $CatName and made your way towards the door. You had to get out of here; every part of your body begged for you to get out of this room. Reaching for the knob was cut short by a shadow coming out of a corner, almost as if taking the form of a gooey tentacle, grasping onto your foot and pulling you back. This couldn't be happening; this wasn't possible. A dream, yes; this had to be some sort of nightmare. You feel asleep behind the counter, and now you're having a nightmare. You tried to rationalize what was happening to you, but even your subconscious didn't believe it. You let out a fearful scream, shaking your foot, wanting the tentacle away from you, which seemed to pull back. Losing your balance, you fell on your stomach as the shadow started pulling you towards where it came from. "No! No!" You let go of $CatName and clawed at the floors. Someone had to see you; someone would come into the shop, and maybe, just maybe, they would wake you up, but even as you looked at the door, you knew deep down that wasn't happening. $CatName, with almost lightning speed, came towards you and hissed. His pupils were not the big, cute, pouting eyes you're used to seeing with sharp slits. Furrowing your brows, you winced in pain as the tentacle gripped you tighter. $CatName hissed again, arching his back, which made you realize that he wasn't hissing at you but at whatever was around your foot. With a big leap, $CatName attacked the shadow, swiping his claws just once, barely missing your own skin. The creature seemed to coil in pain, and steam went off the nightmarish hell as if it were just ice you poured hot water over. Standing back up, you looked around you, and the tentacles shot off from both sides of the room, blocking the door. [["So... you're the heir to the mirrored throne."]]

"So... you're the heir to the mirrored throne," the voice behind you said, not a question but a statement. The hairs on your neck stood up, and you slowly turned around to see a man. The same man you saw at the stop light only two days ago The same man that made your hair on your neck stand up even when he was across the street when you were safe in a locked car. He even looked the same, with slicked-back almost white hair and sharp and pointed features, but it was the eyes that you recognized instantly, a stone-steel grey that seemed to bore into you with hate. Although now he seemed to have two new accessories to go with his outfit, not just a black turtleneck and jeans that only seemed to make his white skin seem paler, but a black leather jacket and a four-foot-long snake around his neck with neon green eyes. "I-who...I..?" You stuttered out, but the man only raised an eyebrow, which only made you feel smaller as he stood on the counertops, looming above you. The man looked you over. "I was expecting you to be taller." Okay, that was a little harsh; you thought through the fear. "Who are you-?" You said, backing away a little from the man, the room seemed to decrease in heat to the point where you could see your breath. Wake up. Wake up! None of this is real; that is what you kept telling yourself, but was it possible to be so aware? Was this some sort of sleep paralysis? You have heard of demons that people can see. Does your imagination think that demons have tentacles? The man's smile became cruel, as if looking at a piece of meat. "I am the one the Sins threw away, the one who was trained by their ancient brother." He petted the snake. "The one that you have feared and watched out for ever since you heard the name Zerubbabel." You frowned, your hands raised to protect you. "Okay, listen, I don't know who you are....uh....Zerubbabel, but whoever you are—whatever you are—" Feeling yourself lifted up, you felt shadows wrap around your waist. Zerubbabel looked at you with mistrust. "Do. Not. Play. Games." He said, the shadows squeezed you harder. "I know who you are, heir, and I will not be taken lightly when lied to." * [[You looked into his eyes, which made your heart pound in your chest.]] * [["Look...as cute as you are; I don't know you." You said.]] * [["Get away from me!" You tried to kick at the shadows.]] * [[You sighed, looking at him with all honesty. "Look, I don't know who you are; I'm sorry."]] * [[You started to tear up. "Let me go, please!"]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> <<set $ZFIP to $ZFIP + 1>> You looked into his eyes; the small grey pools almost pulled you in. You knew you should be scared, but you doubted that the heart pounding in your chest was not because of how close the man was or how handsome he looked, even as shadows danced behind him. When you didn't say anything, Zerubbabel looked at you, narrowing his eyes. Coming in closer, you could feel his hot breath on your face. While your gaze should probably have been on the big snake draped along his shoulders, you couldn't seem to stop looking into his eyes. "I...-" You stuttered out; however, the man didn't seem to notice as he traced a finger on your neck, making your skin boil under it. "The little lion's heart is beating." Was he talking about you? "Almost like small prey in a trap waiting for the hunter to come. I suppose I am the hunter in this little metaphor, ready to put you out of your misery." He gave you a cocky smirk as if he had just won some sort of race, not as if he was just threatening you. "Master will be pleased." But before he could get any closer than he already was, he let out a painful scream. "Ahh!" Both of you looked down, and you saw that $CatName was clawing at his leg, the tiny claws barely ripping at his jeans. "Ugh." The man rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. "Uvrodon, darling, please show this little feline some manners." You wiggled as the snake, with lighting speed, went down your captor's leg, the head easily shooting forward and biting $CatName 's torso. You saw $CatName 's $fur stained with blood as two puncture holes were marked by the reptile. "NO!" You yelled as the python ignored $CatName 's almost piecing meow and, with unhuman strength, threw your small pet across the room, going slack. Your eyes widened, and you glared at the man with so much hate. "I'm going to kill you." Your captor grinned, but his face became one of surprise as he looked over your shoulder. Following his gaze, you didn't see $CatName like you expected, but what could only be described as some sort of beast form of your feline. About twenty feet long, although most of it was tail and almost reaching the ceiling, was what looked like your cat. The punture wounds were no longer there; huge claws came out of the beast's paws as it started to bend down. "Shit-" That was the only word the slender man was able to say as the shadows dropped you, making you fall on your back with a thud, and with a graceful jump, the beast pounced on the man, slamming him to the floor. You weren't able to see much, as the beast's back was towards you, covering most of the fighting. " $CatName ?" You whispered, fear and amazement mixed in your tone, although quickly cut off as once again the beast was again thrown back but this time landed on their feet. You didn't know what was happening, but you did know that $CatName or at least a bigger version of $CatName , was giving you time. You ducked down as the man's shadows flew overhead and started to strangle what you were half-percent sure was your feline, whose claws lit up in an almost dark, purplish light and easily swatted the shadows away as if they were mere bugs. You finally came up with a plan in your head.... * <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head. |AthRight]]<<else>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head.]]<</if>> *<<if $Charisma >= 5>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking. |ChaRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking.]]<</if>> *<<if $Knowledge >= 5>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him. |KnoRight]]<<else>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him.]]<</if>> * <<if $Stealth >= 5>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom. |SteRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom.]]<</if>>

<<set $ZFIP to $ZFIP + 1>> "Look...as cute as you are, I don't know you." You said. Were you really flirting with... well, whatever this was, this could as well have been a dream, but the way your plused raced suggested otherwise. Zerubbabel looked at you, surprise mirroring his face, but only for a quick second before his own smile and devilish eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Coming in closer, you could feel his hot breath on your face. While your gaze should probably have been on the big snake draped along his shoulders, you couldn't seem to stop looking into his eyes. "Yes?" You said, trying not to be too breathy; however, the man didn't seem to notice as he traced a finger on your neck, making your skin tingle. <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> "Oh, so the little lion wants to play." Was he talking about you? "Master always said not to play with your prey before you kill them, but I can make an exception for you." He gave you a cocky smirk as if he had just won some sort of prize, not as if he was just threatening you. But before he could get any closer than he already was, he let out a painful scream. "Ahh!" Both of you looked down, and you saw that $CatName was clawing at his leg, the tiny claws barely ripping at his jeans. "Ugh." The man rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. "Uvrodon, darling, please show this little feline some manners." You wiggled as the snake, with lighting speed, went down your captor's leg, the head easily shooting forward and biting $CatName 's torso. You saw $CatName 's $fur stained with blood as two puncture holes were marked by the reptile. "NO!" You yelled as the python ignored $CatName 's almost piecing meow and, with unhuman strength, threw your small pet across the room, going slack. Your eyes widened, and you glared at the man with so much hate. "I'm going to kill you." Your captor grinned, but his face became one of surprise as he looked over your shoulder. Following his gaze, you didn't see $CatName like you expected, but what could only be described as some sort of beast form of your feline. About twenty feet long, although most of it was tail and almost reaching the ceiling, was what looked like your cat. The punture wounds were no longer there; huge claws came out of the beast's paws as it started to bend down. "Shit-" That was the only word the slender man was able to say as the shadows dropped you, making you fall on your back with a thud, and with a graceful jump, the beast pounced on the man, slamming him to the floor. You weren't able to see much, as the beast's back was towards you, covering most of the fighting. " $CatName ?" You whispered, fear and amazement mixed in your tone, although quickly cut off as once again the beast was again thrown back but this time landed on their feet. You didn't know what was happening, but you did know that $CatName or at least a bigger version of $CatName , was giving you time. You ducked down as the man's shadows flew overhead and started to strangle what you were half-percent sure was your feline, whose claws lit up in an almost dark, purplish light and easily swatted the shadows away as if they were mere bugs. You finally came up with a plan in your head.... * <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head. |AthRight]]<<else>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head.]]<</if>> *<<if $Charisma >= 5>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking. |ChaRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking.]]<</if>> *<<if $Knowledge >= 5>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him. |KnoRight]]<<else>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him.]]<</if>> * <<if $Stealth >= 5>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom. |SteRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom.]]<</if>>

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> "Get away from me!" You tried to kick at the shadows. Zerubbabel laughed, looking delighted. "Yes, fight back. It's always fun when the prey fight back." Your breath became labored as the room became much colder. "Get the hell away from me, ripoff Draco Malfoy!" "Excuse me? I am not this "Draco Malfoy" that you speak of." He said, catching your arm, that you managed to wiggle free to hit him. "Watch your tone, little lion." What the fuck? Little lion? Okay, this guy has issues, dream or not. "Master wants you alive, but I don't think he cares about what state you come in. "He smiles, his pearly white teeth showing much like a shark. "Touch me, and I'll punch you in the face." You yelled. He narrowed his eyes. "I told you to watch your tone." But before he could get any closer than he already was, he let out a painful scream. "Ahh!" Both of you looked down, and you saw that $CatName was clawing at his leg, the tiny claws barely ripping at his jeans. "Ugh." The man rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. "Uvrodon, darling, please show this little feline some manners." You wiggled as the snake, with lighting speed, went down your captor's leg, the head easily shooting forward and biting $CatName 's torso. You saw $CatName 's $fur stained with blood as two puncture holes were marked by the reptile. "NO!" You yelled as the python ignored $CatName 's almost piecing meow and, with unhuman strength, threw your small pet across the room, going slack. Your eyes widened, and you glared at the man with so much hate. "I'm going to kill you." Your captor grinned, but his face became one of surprise as he looked over your shoulder. Following his gaze, you didn't see $CatName like you expected, but what could only be described as some sort of beast form of your feline. About twenty feet long, although most of it was tail and almost reaching the ceiling, was what looked like your cat. The punture wounds were no longer there; huge claws came out of the beast's paws as it started to bend down. "Shit-" That was the only word the slender man was able to say as the shadows dropped you, making you fall on your back with a thud, and with a graceful jump, the beast pounced on the man, slamming him to the floor. You weren't able to see much, as the beast's back was towards you, covering most of the fighting. " $CatName ?" You whispered, fear and amazement mixed in your tone, although quickly cut off as once again the beast was again thrown back but this time landed on their feet. You didn't know what was happening, but you did know that $CatName or at least a bigger version of $CatName , was giving you time. You ducked down as the man's shadows flew overhead and started to strangle what you were half-percent sure was your feline, whose claws lit up in an almost dark, purplish light and easily swatted the shadows away as if they were mere bugs. You finally came up with a plan in your head.... * <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head. |AthRight]]<<else>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head.]]<</if>> *<<if $Charisma >= 5>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking. |ChaRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking.]]<</if>> *<<if $Knowledge >= 5>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him. |KnoRight]]<<else>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him.]]<</if>> * <<if $Stealth >= 5>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom. |SteRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom.]]<</if>>

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> <<set $ZFrP to $ZFrP + 1>> You sighed, looking at him with all honesty. "Look, I don't know who you are; I'm sorry." You said it with complete sincerity in your tone. Zerubbabel looked at you, narrowing his eyes. "No...you play tricks, but I will not fall for them." Your breath became labored as the room became much colder. "I'm serious! Okay!? I saw you once on the other side of the street, and that is all! I can't be the person you're searching for." "The lion that hides its true nature is the first to die." He said he looked you over as if trying to determine something about you. Was he talking about you? "Master would not lead me in the wrong direction; he has too much at stake, right?" He whispered, he seemed to be talking more to himself than you. But before he could get any closer than he already was, he let out a painful scream. "Ahh!" Both of you looked down, and you saw that $CatName was clawing at his leg, the tiny claws barely ripping at his jeans. "Ugh." The man rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. "Uvrodon, darling, please show this little feline some manners." You wiggled as the snake, with lighting speed, went down your captor's leg, the head easily shooting forward and biting $CatName 's torso. You saw $CatName 's $fur stained with blood as two puncture holes were marked by the reptile. "NO!" You yelled as the python ignored $CatName 's almost piecing meow and, with unhuman strength, threw your small pet across the room, going slack. Your eyes widened, and you glared at the man with so much hate. "I'm going to kill you." Your captor grinned, but his face became one of surprise as he looked over your shoulder. Following his gaze, you didn't see $CatName like you expected, but what could only be described as some sort of beast form of your feline. About twenty feet long, although most of it was tail and almost reaching the ceiling, was what looked like your cat. The punture wounds were no longer there; huge claws came out of the beast's paws as it started to bend down. "Shit-" That was the only word the slender man was able to say as the shadows dropped you, making you fall on your back with a thud, and with a graceful jump, the beast pounced on the man, slamming him to the floor. You weren't able to see much, as the beast's back was towards you, covering most of the fighting. " $CatName ?" You whispered, fear and amazement mixed in your tone, although quickly cut off as once again the beast was again thrown back but this time landed on their feet. You didn't know what was happening, but you did know that $CatName or at least a bigger version of $CatName , was giving you time. You ducked down as the man's shadows flew overhead and started to strangle what you were half-percent sure was your feline, whose claws lit up in an almost dark, purplish light and easily swatted the shadows away as if they were mere bugs. You finally came up with a plan in your head.... * <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head. |AthRight]]<<else>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head.]]<</if>> *<<if $Charisma >= 5>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking. |ChaRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking.]]<</if>> *<<if $Knowledge >= 5>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him. |KnoRight]]<<else>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him.]]<</if>> * <<if $Stealth >= 5>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom. |SteRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom.]]<</if>>

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> You started to tear up. "Let me go, please!" Zerubbabel snorted, rolling his eyes. "Ugh, I hate when they cry..so annoying." Your breath became labored as the room became much colder. "Please! I'll do anything! Okay? Just please let me go!" "Oh, my maker, stop whining." He said this, squeezing you tighter in the shadows. "You are not even going to show some teeth, little lion?" What? Little lion? Okay, this guy has issues, dream or not. "Master wants you alive, but I don't think he cares if you're knocked out." He said, looking over you as if trying to figure out the best place to knock you out at. "Please, I am begging you! Just let me go!" You sobbed, letting your tears fall. He groaned. "Maker, you are so annoying." But before he could get any closer than he already was, he let out a painful scream. "Ahh!" Both of you looked down, and you saw that $CatName was clawing at his leg, the tiny claws barely ripping at his jeans. "Ugh." The man rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. "Uvrodon, darling, please show this little feline some manners." You wiggled as the snake, with lighting speed, went down your captor's leg, the head easily shooting forward and biting $CatName 's torso. You saw $CatName 's $fur stained with blood as two puncture holes were marked by the reptile. "NO!" You yelled as the python ignored $CatName 's almost piecing meow and, with unhuman strength, threw your small pet across the room, going slack. Your eyes widened, and you glared at the man with so much hate. "I'm going to kill you." Your captor grinned, but his face became one of surprise as he looked over your shoulder. Following his gaze, you didn't see $CatName like you expected, but what could only be described as some sort of beast form of your feline. About twenty feet long, although most of it was tail and almost reaching the ceiling, was what looked like your cat. The punture wounds were no longer there; huge claws came out of the beast's paws as it started to bend down. "Shit-" That was the only word the slender man was able to say as the shadows dropped you, making you fall on your back with a thud, and with a graceful jump, the beast pounced on the man, slamming him to the floor. You weren't able to see much, as the beast's back was towards you, covering most of the fighting. " $CatName ?" You whispered, fear and amazement mixed in your tone, although quickly cut off as once again the beast was again thrown back but this time landed on their feet. You didn't know what was happening, but you did know that $CatName or at least a bigger version of $CatName , was giving you time. You ducked down as the man's shadows flew overhead and started to strangle what you were half-percent sure was your feline, whose claws lit up in an almost dark, purplish light and easily swatted the shadows away as if they were mere bugs. You finally came up with a plan in your head.... * <<if $Athletics >= 5>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head. |AthRight]]<<else>>[[You picked up a frying pan and planned to hit the shadow man over the head.]]<</if>> *<<if $Charisma >= 5>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking. |ChaRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to distract the shadow man by talking.]]<</if>> *<<if $Knowledge >= 5>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him. |KnoRight]]<<else>>[[You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him.]]<</if>> * <<if $Stealth >= 5>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom. |SteRight]]<<else>>[[You planned to hide behind some of the crates in the backroom.]]<</if>>

<<set $ACH1 to "Locked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Locked">> With fear and adrenaline, you ran to the kitchen, seeing a frying pan on the stove. You held it in your hand, almost trying to guess its weight. For sure, you could probably knock someone the fuck out with a good hit. By making your legs move, you went back into the front room to see the man's back to you; you didn't see the reptile on his shoulders as the shadow man faced the large feline. You could tell he was getting tired; sweat beamed on his face, and you could only guess he wouldn't last much longer. You looked down at the frying pan in your hand. Just like throwing a ball, but said ball is a frying pan, and you're trying to hit a floating guy trying to beat up your—what you think is your cat. ...1 ....2 ....3... With all your strength, you threw the frying pan; it went through the air with ease and hit the man in the head, although he didn't go down. //What? That wasn't possible. He was just hit with about four pounds of iron; he should be lying down with his tongue hanging out like some sort of cartoon. // But he just simply turned around, his eyes glaring at you. "You. Are. Tiresome." Was all he said through clenched teeth, rubbing the back of his head, where the skillet hit him. "I think it's time for the little lion to go to sleep." Zerubbabel picked the skillet off the ground, and with a swift motion, you saw it aim towards your face. //Oh no. // You saw $CatName with pounce on the man before your vision went black. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<<set $ACH1 to "Locked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Unlocked">> <<set $Stealth to $Stealth + 1>> With fear and adrenaline, you tried to run to the kitchen. You planned to hide behind some of the crates that were stored. You made your legs move, the fear made you want to throw up, and then, by accident, you tripped over a chair, tumbling to the ground. Everything seemed to freeze; the air became stale, which didn't mix well with the cold. Zerubbabel turned to you. "Are you trying to hide, little lion? Oh, that won't do at all. " Zerubbabel, with raised hands, made the shadows on the walls follow his movements; the tentacle-like sludge grabbed you by the arm, and although the feeling was something you felt before, this time it burned. The cold goo touched your skin, and you felt your jaw clench in pain; it was almost as if hot acid was burning you. Your vision became hazy, you became weak in your knees, your arm started to throb, and you felt yourself collapsing under your own weight. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<<set $ACH1 to "Locked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Unlocked">> <<set $Charisma to $Charisma + 1>> With fear and adrenaline, you started walking towards the man. "Stop!" The shadow man turned around, raising an eyebrow, and everything seemed to freeze into place. "What did you say?" He said, his eyes gleaming with total confidence. "I-uh...listen...you don't, I mean." You stuttered out; the fear fluttering in your stomach wanted to make you throw up. Zerubbabel, without a word and with raised hands, made the shadows on the walls follow his movements; the tentacle-like sludge grabbed you by the arm, and although the feeling was something you felt before, this time it burned. The cold goo touched your skin, and you felt your jaw clench in pain; it was almost as if hot acid was burning you. Your vision became hazy, you became weak in your knees, your arm started to throb, and you felt yourself collapsing under your own weight. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<<set $ACH1 to "Locked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Unlocked">> <<set $Knowledge to $Knowledge + 1>> With fear and adrenaline, you ran to the right wall, towards a mirror hanging there. You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him and reflect his powers using a mirror, like in the movies. You yelled at the man. "Hey! Over here!" The man turned towards you, the air around you began to feel stale, and you held your breath. "You. Are. Tiresome." Was all he said through clenched teeth. "I think it's time for the little lion to learn its lesson." Zerubbabel, with raised hands, made the shadows on the walls follow his movements; the tentacle-like sludge grabbed you by the arm, throwing the mirror out of your hand. The shards of glass barely missed you. While you have felt the shadow like goo, this was different; it wasn't just cold and uncomfortable; it burned. You felt your jaw clench in pain; it was almost as if hot acid was burning you. Your vision became hazy, you became weak in your knees, your arm started to throb, and you felt yourself collapsing under your own weight. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<<set $ACH1 to "Locked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Unlocked">> <<set $Athletics to $Athletics + 1>> With fear and adrenaline, you ran to the kitchen, seeing a frying pan on the stove. You held it in your hand, almost trying to guess its weight. For sure, you could probably knock someone the fuck out with a good hit. By making your legs move, you went back into the front room to see the man's back to you; you didn't see the reptile on his shoulders as the shadow man faced the large feline. You could tell he was getting tired; sweat beamed on his face, and you could only guess he wouldn't last much longer. You looked down at the frying pan in your hand. Just like throwing a ball, but said ball is a frying pan, and you're trying to hit a floating guy trying to beat up your—what you think is your cat. ...1 ....2 ....3... With your lack of strength, you threw the frying pan; it went through the air and hit the floor next to the man. //Okay. Yeah, you're screwed. // But he just simply stared at your "weapon" and then turned around, his eyes glaring at you. "You. Are. Tiresome." Was all he said through clenched teeth. "I think it's time for the little lion to learn its lesson." Zerubbabel, with raised hands, made the shadows on the walls follow his movements; the tentacle-like sludge grabbed you by the arm, and although the feeling was something you felt before, this time it burned. The cold goo touched your skin, and you felt your jaw clench in pain; it was almost as if hot acid was burning you. Your vision became hazy, you became weak in your knees, your arm started to throb, and you felt yourself collapsing under your own weight. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<<set $ACH1 to "Unlocked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Locked">> With fear and adrenaline, you ran to the right wall, towards a mirror hanging there. You thought if you crunched the numbers right, you could use his power against him and reflect his powers using a mirror, like in the movies. You yelled at the man. "Hey! Over here!" The man turned towards you, the air around you began to feel stale, and you held your breath. "You. Are. Tiresome." Was all he said through clenched teeth. "I think it's time for the little lion to learn its lesson." Zerubbabel, with raised hands, made the shadows on the walls follow his movements; the tentacle-like sludge lunged forward; you held up the mirror. You narrowed your eyes, and you felt your heart begin to pound in your chest. Please work. Please work. Please. You felt your hands begin to grow warmer, and you saw the edges of the mirror start to shine. The mirror itself started to reflect almost a glowing purple light. "What?" you whispered. Going too fast, unable to stop the motion of lunging towards you, the tentacle made contact with the mirror. When the purple light hit the shadow-like creature, letting out something like a screech, the shadow backed away as if a scared puppy. The shadow man growled. "No! What are you doing you fools! Get the stupid heir!" The mirror's light started to dull, and your vision started to become blurry. Before you hit the ground, the only thing you saw was the shadows retreating and $CatName 's claw in the air ready to tear the man to pieces. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<<set $ACH1 to "Locked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Locked">> With fear and adrenaline, you started walking towards the man. "Stop!" The shadow man turned around, raising an eyebrow, and everything seemed to freeze into place. "What did you say?" He said, his eyes gleaming with total confidence. You saw sweat beaming off of him, he couldn't go much longer, not like this. "Listen. You're tired, I can tell." "Oh, little lion, I promise you I have enough stamina for the both of us." He said with a wink. You tried your best not to think about that statement, but looking over his shoulder, you could see the bigger version of $CatName sneaking forward, ready to pounce. You gave him your most charming smile. "Come on, let's just talk this out, yeah?" Before the man could retort, you saw, with a high jump from almost unmistakable force, $CatName attack the man, who was caught off guard and barely had time to react, and stumbled a little when firing back with shadows. With almost full force, $CatName was thrown back in, and your vision began going hazy as you felt your back against the wall. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<<set $ACH1 to "Locked">> <<set $ACH2 to "Locked">> With fear and adrenaline, you tried to run to the kitchen. You planned to hide behind some of the crates that were stored. You made your legs move; the fear made you want to throw up, but you finally were able to breathe once you crouched behind an apple crates that were stacked on top of one another. You tried to control your breathing, and with a loud crash, you saw that the man was thrown back, over the counter. Looking at him up close, you saw that beads of sweat were forming on his lip. He couldn't go much longer. Coming right behind the man was a bigger version of $CatName who bound for the man with full force, bumping into the crates. Letting out a scream, you saw boxes start to fall on top of you. Your world went black. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Three]]</div>

<div style="text-align: center">//''CHAPTER THREE:''//</div> You felt as though your head was turned to mush but all you could concentrate was the darkness around you. //Am I dead?// No. You couldn't be dead. [[Wake Up]]

Was this hell? Or Heaven? It looked like.....nothing.... //$Name? It is time to get up Sugar Cube.// //Was that Aunt Zinnia? // The darkness seemed to become thicker, pressing against your chest like a weighted blanket. Your heart started to beat faster, and your hands started to sweat. It became harder to breathe. "WAKE UP!" [[You blinked away the darkness as you woke up]]

''Tuesday Morning, In Your Bedroom'' You blinked away the darkness as you woke up, your head fuzzy and beating like a drum so hard that you couldn't hear the ringing in your ears. Through the haze, you could see the familiar face of your aunt, a worried expression clear on her face. "Aunt Zinnia?" You said it in a raspy voice. "Here...let me help you, Sugar Cube." With a gentle push on your back, you sat up, and before you knew it, you had a straw on your lips, which was poking out of an opened water bottle. "Drink." Aunt Zinnia spoke, her eyes roaming all over you, looking for unseen marks. Taking a big gulp, the water coated your dry mouth effortlessly until you felt like you were able to talk again. "What happened?" You said that, holding your head in your hands. The grey eyes of the man who attacked you still burn into your memory. Aunt Zinnia put a wet rag on your head. "You must have passed out; I came back and you were passed out behind the counter." You frowned. You remember what happened last night. The shadows. The tentacle man. <<if $ACH2 is "Unlocked">>[[You looked at your bandaged arm]]<</if>> <<if $ACH2 is "Locked">>[[You looked at Aunt Zinnia]]<</if>>

You catch sight of the bandage on your arm, only a little below your shoulder. "What happened?" You whispered to no one, really. You remember the tentacles grabbing you and the coldness feeling like acid. Aunt Zinnia pursed her lips together, looking away from you for a second before turning towards you again. "The fryer was on in the kitchen; thank God that Triana and I got here in time before something bad happened." //The fryer? No. It was the....shadow man, right?// "Aunt Zinnia..when you left..something weird happened..." Aunt Zinnia moved in closer and put a hand on my shoulder. A look of concern mixed with seriousness came across her face that put you on edge. "You can tell me anything, Sugar Cube." * [[You told Aunt Zinnia about the Shadow Man who attacked you |You told Aunt..hurt arm]] * [[It was probably just a dream. You didn't tell Aunt Zinnia.]] * [[You were sure that it was real but you needed more proof without sounding like a crazy person.]]

"What happened?" You whispered to no one, really, rubbing your arms to settle the goosebumps coating them. Aunt Zinnia sighed. "I am so sorry, $Name. I shouldn't have left you by yourself alone in the store, especially..." She shook her head. //Especially what.....?// Aunt Zinnia shook her head, seeming to find her thoughts. "Especially when I knew that weekdays have a lot of orders." "Aunt Zinnia..when you left..something weird happened..." You said. Aunt Zinnia moved in closer and put a hand on my shoulder. A look of concern mixed with seriousness came across her face that put you on edge. "You can tell me anything, Sugar Cube." * [[You told Aunt Zinnia about the Shadow Man who attacked you |You told Aunt..no injury]] * [[It was probably just a dream. You didn't tell Aunt Zinnia.]] * [[You were sure that it was real but you needed more proof without sounding like a crazy person.]]

You bite your lip. If you were to bite any harder, the soft layer of skin was going to break, leaving you with another wound. Could you actually tell her? Was she going to think that you were insane. Shaking your head, you looked at the bandage again. You got hurt from...whatever that was last night. What if he came after your aunt? Taking a deep breath you finally spoke up... <div style="text-align: right"><<if $Stoic >= 50>>[[Next|Told Aunt...Stoic]]<<else>>[[Next|Told Aunt...Friendly]]<</if>></div>

It was too crazy to be real. Could it be a vivid dream? You used to have them when you were younger, but they always caused feelings of joy or comfort. You even found yourself waking up wishing you could return to the dream but last night was different. You never had some super villain regect throw you around the room like a rag doll or dream about you $CatName turning into some beast from hell. But...it could happen, right? Maybe you were finally cracking, and this was your brain's way of telling you that it was time to throw in the towel. Aunt Zinnia, put a wet cloth on your forehead. "Oh, Sugar Cube, you must be overworked." Your mouth felt dry, and before you could even respond, Aunt Zinnia interrupted your thoughts. "It is a good thing that Triana came over to help me get you up the stairs." <<if $TrinniaShipper is "Happy">>[[You felt yourself smile. "Miss Mendozo came over?"]]<</if>> <<if $TrinniaShipper is "Weird">>[[You hid your grimace from your aunt. "Miss Mendozo came over?"]]<</if>> <<if $TrinniaShipper is "Indifferent">>[[You shrugged, enjoying the cold rag on your forehead.]]<</if>>

Could it be a vivid dream? You used to have them when you were younger, but they always caused feelings of joy or comfort. You even found yourself waking up wishing you could return to the dream, but last night was different. You never had some supervillain throw you around the room like a rag doll or dream about you $CatName turning into some beast from hell. Wait. No. There was no way that it was a dream. You basically have a concussion. It was too ''real'' to be a dream. You looked at Aunt Zinnia's face. There was no way she was going to believe you without a bucket load of proof; she probably just thought you were losing it. Aunt Zinnia, put a wet cloth on your forehead. "Oh, Sugar Cube, you must be overworked." Your mouth felt dry, and before you could even respond, Aunt Zinnia interrupted your thoughts. "It is a good thing that Triana came over to help me get you up the stairs." "Wait...what?" <<if $TrinniaShipper is "Happy">>[[You felt yourself smile. "Miss Mendozo came over?"]]<</if>> <<if $TrinniaShipper is "Weird">>[[You hid your grimace from your aunt. "Miss Mendozo came over?"]]<</if>> <<if $TrinniaShipper is "Indifferent">>[[You shrugged, enjoying the cold rag on your forehead.]]<</if>>

You bite your lip. If you were to bite any harder, the soft layer of skin was going to break, leaving you with another wound. Could you actually tell her? Was she going to think that you were insane. Shaking your head, you rubbed your forehead, trying to massage the headache that was aching in your temple. You have to tell your aunt about the man. What if he came back? Taking a deep breath you finally spoke up... <div style="text-align: right"><<if $Sincerity >= 50>>[[Next|Told Aunt...Sincerity]]<<else>>[[Next|Told Aunt...snark]]<</if>></div>

You keep a netural expression on your face as you look at your aunt. "When you left...some guy broke in-" Still, keeping your face from giving anything away, you watch your aunt sit very still with a very serious expression on her face; however, she didn't look at you but right next to your head, like she was scared that if she stared into your eyes, she would give something away. "He broke in, and....god this is going to sound insane." You pressed your lips together, not really believing that you were saying this out loud. "He could control the shadows on the wall, and then he would make them look like tentacles." You carefully move your shoulder a little to point to it with your other hand. "This wasn't the fryer but a werid shadow thing that did this!" You said, yelling the last bit uncarastically from your usually stoic expression. Aunt Zinnia didn't say anything for what seemed like hours, but you knew in the back of your head it was only a few seconds before she ran the cold, wet rag over your forehead, pushing your hair back in a loving manner. "Sugar Cube, you are just stressed." She said in a hushed whisper that you had to guess was supposed to be soothing but made your stomach feel like a pit. "Aunt Zinnia, I am telling the truth." You said it in a stern manner. "$CatName turned into this—well, I don't know what, but he was huge!" Aunt Zinnia looked a little to the left; following her gaze, you see $CatName sun bathing in your window. Not the beast from last night, but a normal-sized kitty curled up in a little ball, not as if he were thrown into the wall by a snake. Your mouth became dry, and you turned back to your aunt. Were you actually insane? Was last night all some nightmare you had? Aunt Zinnia held your hand. "You must be stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

You try to put a small smile on your face as you look at your aunt. "When you left...some guy broke in-" Fear and confusion embedded itself in your stomach, and you tried not to grimace as you watched your aunt sit very still with a very serious expression on her face; however, she didn't look at you but right next to your head, like she was scared that if she stared into your eyes, she would give something away. "He broke in, and....god this is going to sound insane." You sighed, not really believing that you were saying this out loud. "He could control the shadows on the wall, and then he would make them look like tentacles." You carefully move your shoulder a little to point to it with your other hand. "This wasn't the fryer, but a werid shadow thing that did this!" You said, frantically. Aunt Zinnia didn't say anything for what seemed like hours, but you knew in the back of your head it was only a few seconds before she ran the cold, wet rag over your forehead, pushing your hair back in a loving manner. "Sugar Cube, you are just stressed." She said in a hushed whisper that you had to guess was supposed to be soothing but made your stomach feel like a pit. "Aunt Zinnia, I am telling the truth." You said it, your voice cracking a little. "$CatName turned into this—well, I don't know what, but he was huge!" Aunt Zinnia looked a little to the left; following her gaze, you see $CatName sun bathing in your window. Not the beast from last night, but a normal-sized kitty curled up in a little ball, not as if he were thrown into the wall by a snake. Your mouth became dry, and you turned back to your aunt. Were you actually insane? Was last night all some nightmare you had? Aunt Zinnia held your hand. "You must be stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not. "Yeah....I guess..." You frowned. "Although there isn't much to do in this small town, Aunt Z, unless I want to drive around for a few hours." "There isn't much to do in this small town, Aunt Z, unless I want to drive around for a few hours." "You could go to the library?" "Closed down; apparently there was a water leak." "Oh, come on..uh, how about hanging out with Camila?" "Just because I don't have work doesn't mean Camila is off today, and I think Miss Mendoza needs all the help she can get with Luis back in school." Aunt Zinnia sighed. "Of course, damn, "school" ruins everything." She said. "Aunt Zinnia, please, don't start this rant again..." You groaned, knowing she could rant for hours almost as much as Camila could fangirl about books. "I am just saying! My history teacher said I would regret dropping out and how I am ruining my life-" She looks around dramatically. "Look around! I have a good business, and I raised you; you turned out great." You smiled. "Thanks, Aunt Z." <<if $Name is "Sharon">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandmother." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> <<if $Name is "Basil">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandfather." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> "I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered. "What?" Aunt Zinnia, said, her tone a deadly whisper. "You..you think I don't treat you like an adult?" You regretted looking Aunt Zinnia in the eyes, the sadness and confusion almost seemed to stop you in place. //Was that too far? She is only trying to protect me, right? It isn't like she is trying to treat me like a kid, but that raised the question: protect me from what? Myself? Working too hard?// * [[You winced, you went too far, and you apologized to your aunt.]] * [[You didn't say anything, not wanting to fight; however, you didn't regret what you said.]] * [[Not backing down, you mentioned how your aunt hid things from you.]]

You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good. "Yeah, it would be nice to get away from the register..." You frowned. "Although there isn't much to do in this small town, Aunt Z, unless I want to drive around for a few hours." "You could go to the library?" "Closed down; apparently there was a water leak." "Oh, come on..uh, how about hanging out with Camila?" "Just because I don't have work doesn't mean Camila is off today, and I think Miss Mendoza needs all the help she can get with Luis back in school." Aunt Zinnia sighed. "Of course, damn, "school" ruins everything." She said. "Aunt Zinnia, please, don't start this rant again..." You groaned, knowing she could rant for hours almost as much as Camila could fangirl about books. "I am just saying! My history teacher said I would regret dropping out and how I am ruining my life-" She looks around dramatically. "Look around! I have a good business, and I raised you; you turned out great." You smiled. "Thanks, Aunt Z." <<if $Name is "Sharon">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandmother." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> <<if $Name is "Basil">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandfather." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

Your Aunt and Miss Mendozo came back here? Late at night? Alone? Does that mean.....? *<<if $Sincerity >= 52>>[[You smiled and clapped your hands together.]]<<else>>[[You smirked and then started teasing.]]<</if>>

Your Aunt and Miss Mendozo came back here? Late at night? Alone? Does that mean.....? *<<if $Sincerity >= 52>>[[You should be happy...right?]]<<else>>[[So while I was passed out, Aunt Z was on a date?]]<</if>>

Your Aunt and Miss Mendozo came back here? Late at night? Alone? Does that mean.....? [[It was not any of your business, so you moved the conversation along.]]

You looked right at your aunt, trying to show the honesty behind your eyes.. "When you left...some guy broke in-" You licked your dry lips, trying to blink away tears as you watched your aunt sit very still with a serious expression on her face; however, she didn't look at you but right next to your head, like she was scared that if she stared into your eyes, she would give something away. "He broke in, and....god this is going to sound insane." You held her hand, not really believing that you were saying this out loud. "He could control the shadows on the wall, and then he would make them look like tentacles." Aunt Zinnia didn't say anything for what seemed like hours, but you knew in the back of your head it was only a few seconds before she ran the cold, wet rag over your forehead, pushing your hair back in a loving manner. "Sugar Cube, you are just stressed." She said in a hushed whisper that you had to guess was supposed to be soothing but made your stomach feel like a pit. "Aunt Zinnia, I am telling the truth." You said that the fear heard in your voice. "$CatName turned into this—well, I don't know what, but he was huge!" Aunt Zinnia looked a little to the left; following her gaze, you see $CatName sun bathing in your window. Not the beast from last night, but a normal-sized kitty curled up in a little ball, not as if he were thrown into the wall by a snake. Your mouth became dry, and you turned back to your aunt. Were you actually insane? Was last night all some nightmare you had? Aunt Zinnia squeezed your hand. "You must be stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

You looked right at your aunt, smirked, trying to hide the fear behind your eyes. "Look, this is going to sound insane, but some supervillain broke in last night." You gave a little chuckle, but it came out forced as you watched your aunt sit very still with a serious expression on her face; however, she didn't look at you but right next to your head, like she was scared that if she stared into your eyes, she would give something away. "He broke in, and....god this is going to sound insane." You sighed, almost wanting to die of laughter because you never believed you would be saying this out loud. "He could control the shadows on the wall, like he was in some kind of hentai porn." Aunt Zinnia didn't say anything for what seemed like hours, but you knew in the back of your head it was only a few seconds before she ran the cold, wet rag over your forehead, pushing your hair back in a loving manner. "Sugar Cube, you are just stressed." She said in a hushed whisper that you had to guess was supposed to be soothing but made your stomach feel like a pit. "Aunt Zinnia, I am telling the truth." You said, for the first time, that you were genuine in the conversation. "$CatName turned into this—well, I don't know what, but he was huge!" Aunt Zinnia looked a little to the left; following her gaze, you see $CatName sun bathing in your window. Not the beast from last night, but a normal-sized kitty curled up in a little ball, not as if he were thrown into the wall by a snake. Your mouth became dry, and you turned back to your aunt. Were you actually insane? Was last night all some nightmare you had? Aunt Zinnia squeezed your hand. "You must be stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house." "So I can't stay in bed all day?" You pouted. "Sorry, kiddio, but I think it would be best for you to get out of your room." You groaned and hid under the covers. "Do I have to?" "Yes, you do." You, Aunt Zinnia, said. "How about you get dressed, and I'll be down stars making you some breakfast." "Are you going to be able to handle the cafe while I am gone?" You asked, worried. "I handled the cafe plenty before you were even born, $Name." Your aunt got up and went to the door, opening it. "Ill meet you down stairs, okay?" You sighed and yawned a little. "Okay, Aunt Z." "I love you, $Name." Your aunt said, looking at you softly. You smiled at your aunt. "I love you too." <div style="text-align: right"> [[Next|On McKinley Road]]</div>

<<set $TruthDad to "Does not know">> <<set $ShellyTitle to "No Name">> "You know...you remind me so much of your grandmother." Aunt Zinnia said. "Is it the name?" You asked with a smile. The older woman passed away before you were ever born, dying of a stroke. Your aunt always told you she wasn't surprised that you were named after your grandma Sharon, due to the fact that your mother and grandmother were really close growing up. When your mother was alive, your mother would have a thousand pictures in your home in Colorado of your grandmother, always pointing to her in family scrapbooks and talking about how much your grandma valued education and loved baking. "I would say it is more your work ethic." Aunt Zinna said, "She was always overworking, just like you." "Maybe that's where I got it from." You piped up. "Or maybe it is just you not being able to sit still." She said it with a teasing grin. "Oh...well..whatever!" You said. Your aunt Zinnia laughed and hugged you while you pouted. "I wouldn't have you any other way, $Name. Don't worry." * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $TruthDad to "Does not know">> <<set $ShellyTitle to "No Name">> "You know...you remind me so much of your grandfather." Aunt Zinnia said. "Is it the $EyeColor eyes or the name?" You asked with a smile. Your aunt Zinnia always seemed calmer and more at peace when talking about your grandfather. She looked much younger, and the smile lines around her $EyeColor eyes matched Grandpa Basil's from what you have seen in pictures in scrapbooks. The older man passed away before you were ever born, apparently leaving your aunt in a state of grief so horrible that your mother once said to answer "Sugar Cube" or "Bazzy" when visiting Aunt Zinnia's house, although you never saw grief. Your aunt said your name with such joy, like she was remembering old memories that she had stored deep down inside her. "I would say it is more your attitude." Aunt Zinna said. "He was always determined, just like you." "Maybe that's where I got it from." You piped up. "Or maybe it is just stubbornness." She said it with a teasing grin. "I am not stubborn!" You said. "Stubborn as a mule!" Your aunt Zinnia laughed and hugged you while you pouted. "I wouldn't have you any other way, $Name. Don't worry." * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $TruthDad to "Does not know">> <<set $ShellyTitle to "No Name">> You winced, you went too far. "I'm...sorry..Aunt Zinnia." Aunt Zinnia frowned. "It is okay, $Name." It looked like your aunt wanted to say something more but stopped her self. Wanting to move the conversation along, you said. "There isn't much to do in this small town, Aunt Z, unless I want to drive around for a few hours." "You could go to the library?" "Closed down; apparently there was a water leak." "Oh, come on..uh, how about hanging out with Camila?" "Just because I don't have work doesn't mean Camila is off today, and I think Miss Mendoza needs all the help she can get with Luis back in school." Aunt Zinnia sighed. "Of course, damn, "school" ruins everything." She said. "Aunt Zinnia, please, don't start this rant again..." You groaned, knowing she could rant for hours almost as much as Camila could fangirl about books. "I am just saying! My history teacher said I would regret dropping out and how I am ruining my life-" She looks around dramatically. "Look around! I have a good business, and I raised you; you turned out great." <<if $Name is "Sharon">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandmother." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> <<if $Name is "Basil">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandfather." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $TruthDad to "Does not know">> <<set $ShellyTitle to "No Name">> You didn't say anything, not wanting to fight; however, you didn't regret what you said. Aunt Zinnia frowned and shook her head, apparently not wanting to fight as well so early in the morning. Wanting to move the conversation along, you said. "There isn't much to do in this small town, Aunt Z, unless I want to drive around for a few hours." "You could go to the library?" "Closed down; apparently there was a water leak." "Oh, come on..uh, how about hanging out with Camila?" "Just because I don't have work doesn't mean Camila is off today, and I think Miss Mendoza needs all the help she can get with Luis back in school." Aunt Zinnia sighed. "Of course, damn, "school" ruins everything." She said. "Aunt Zinnia, please, don't start this rant again..." You groaned, knowing she could rant for hours almost as much as Camila could fangirl about books. "I am just saying! My history teacher said I would regret dropping out and how I am ruining my life-" She looks around dramatically. "Look around! I have a good business, and I raised you; you turned out great." <<if $Name is "Sharon">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandmother." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> <<if $Name is "Basil">>[[* "You know...you remind me so much of your grandfather." Aunt Zinnia said.]]<</if>> * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $TruthDad to "Does not know">> <<set $ShellyTitle to "Has Name">> <<set $Stepdad to "Pops">> Not backing down, you looked at your aunt right in the eye. You and your aunt have always been close. No matter if the prank wars got out of hand or how irritated you got with each other, you always talked it out. Though there was one topic that always ended with a sore feeling in your stomach days after the fight or long silences until you both moved on, slowly, after a few weeks, you only ignored the fight until the upset in your stomach passed into a dull pain buried inside you. The fight about your biological father always made your aunt Zinnia tense up. You knew Sheldon was not your biological parent; the math just didn't make sense. Your mother was a few weeks pregnant before even meeting the doctor. There was also the fact that you looked nothing like the man; you remember from your childhood, whenever you went to the park, that all the other parents thought that Sheldon was your babysitter. Although it may have bothered you, it never bothered your parents, as if they already knew, even though they would "correct" and deny the pointing fingers. The most damning evidence was that your mother wouldn't let you call Sheldon "dad" or "father." If you did, she would correct you, telling you to call him by his title.... * [[Poppa]] * [[Papa S]] * [[Baba]] * [[Opie]] * <<textbox "$Pops" "Pops""No, his title you called him was...">>

''On McKinley Road'' As the hours went by, gas stations serving week-old sushi and fast food restaurants were replaced by stretches upon stretches of forest life. White oak trees stood on the side of the two-lane road, which had different patches of cement, like the builders didn't care one way or another how the road looked. There were no signs. No crosswalks. There wasn't even a road on an old United States map. However, there was a vintage car with rear split windows that effortlessly went around the fallen branches on the mismatched road. "Are we there yet?" Margaret said, shaking the passenger's headrest. "Ay, now get out." The red head said, turning around to look at the floral-dressed woman. Margaret frowned, a little confused, as she looked outside to see the wheels of the car still moving. If the blurry trees were any indication. "No!" Marcel said, pulling Margaret's sleeve. "Do not get out of a moving vehicle." Marcel continued softly as he looked at Margaret's face, her expression looking a little scared from the outburst. "You ruin all my fun, Marcel." The older looking man said, looking at Marcel through a rear-view mirror. Marcel rolled his eyes. "You call almost killing someone "fun?"" "She's already dead." Owen said, taking out his flask. "So I don't get out of the car or-?" Margaret started. Marcel cut her off. "No! Margaret, stay buckled and don't open your door. Owen, give me that-" Marcel reached for the flask. Owen tried to pull back from Marcel's grip, but with his bad angle, he lost the battle as Margaret tried to get closer to her door away from the tug of war. "Marcel, what is wrong with you?" Marcel was triumphant but explained in a knowing tone. "You told me to stop you from drinking." "I'm pretty sure I was drunk when I said that." Owen groaned. "It still counts, and we are on a mission. A mission that deserves our total attention." <div style="text-align: right"> [[Next|Owen frowned and pressed his lips together...]]</div>

<<set $Pops to "Poppa">> While your aunt Zinnia always referred to Sheldon as your "dad," you actually weren't allowed to call him that. No. Not in your mother's house. You called him $Pops , a name you decided was fit for him when your mother sat you down and told you that the man raising you was not "dada" but " $Pops ." You always felt that your mother was reserving that name for someone else who could just show up at any moment. For your biological father to just knock on the door and come into your life. But he never did, and $Pops was the one who stayed at home all day with you, quitting his job to be a stay-at-home parent while your mom taught English at the local college. He was the one who sewed your favorite stuffed animal back together when it ripped; he was the one who gave you piggyback rides around the living room; $Pops was the one who made your comfort food when you were sick and tucked you in bed at night. Not even your mother did all those things. Young $Name always had $Pops to back $hers up. "You don't treat me like an adult; I am twenty-one years old, and you won't even talk about my biological father." "Sheldon is your father. Did he raise you?" "Yes. I know he raised me, but I just want to know who I am. His name? Just admit it, please." You said it almost in a pleading tone. <<if $ACH2 is "Unlocked">>[[Next|Aunt Does tell the truth]]<</if>> <<if $ACH2 is "Locked">>[[Next|Aunt Does not tell the truth]]<</if>>

<<set $Pops to "Papa S">> While your aunt Zinnia always referred to Sheldon as your "dad," you actually weren't allowed to call him that. No. Not in your mother's house. You called him $Pops , a name you decided was fit for him when your mother sat you down and told you that the man raising you was not "dada" but " $Pops ." You always felt that your mother was reserving that name for someone else who could just show up at any moment. For your biological father to just knock on the door and come into your life. But he never did, and $Pops was the one who stayed at home all day with you, quitting his job to be a stay-at-home parent while your mom taught English at the local college. He was the one who sewed your favorite stuffed animal back together when it ripped; he was the one who gave you piggyback rides around the living room; $Pops was the one who made your comfort food when you were sick and tucked you in bed at night. Not even your mother did all those things. Young $Name always had $Pops to back $hers up. "You don't treat me like an adult; I am twenty-one years old, and you won't even talk about my biological father." "Sheldon is your father. Did he raise you?" "Yes. I know he raised me, but I just want to know who I am. His name? Just admit it, please." You said it almost in a pleading tone. <<if $ACH2 is "Unlocked">>[[Next|Aunt Does tell the truth]]<</if>> <<if $ACH2 is "Locked">>[[Next|Aunt Does not tell the truth]]<</if>>

<<set $Pops to "Baba">> While your aunt Zinnia always referred to Sheldon as your "dad," you actually weren't allowed to call him that. No. Not in your mother's house. You called him $Pops , a name you decided was fit for him when your mother sat you down and told you that the man raising you was not "dada" but " $Pops ." You always felt that your mother was reserving that name for someone else who could just show up at any moment. For your biological father to just knock on the door and come into your life. But he never did, and $Pops was the one who stayed at home all day with you, quitting his job to be a stay-at-home parent while your mom taught English at the local college. He was the one who sewed your favorite stuffed animal back together when it ripped; he was the one who gave you piggyback rides around the living room; $Pops was the one who made your comfort food when you were sick and tucked you in bed at night. Not even your mother did all those things. Young $Name always had $Pops to back $Hers up. "You don't treat me like an adult; I am twenty-one years old, and you won't even talk about my biological father." "Sheldon is your father. Did he raise you?" "Yes. I know he raised me, but I just want to know who I am. His name? Just admit it, please." You said it almost in a pleading tone. <<if $ACH2 is "Unlocked">>[[Next|Aunt Does tell the truth]]<</if>> <<if $ACH2 is "Locked">>[[Next|Aunt Does not tell the truth]]<</if>>

<<set $Pops to "Opie">> While your aunt Zinnia always referred to Sheldon as your "dad," you actually weren't allowed to call him that. No. Not in your mother's house. You called him $Pops , a name you decided was fit for him when your mother sat you down and told you that the man raising you was not "dada" but " $Pops ." You always felt that your mother was reserving that name for someone else who could just show up at any moment. For your biological father to just knock on the door and come into your life. But he never did, and $Pops was the one who stayed at home all day with you, quitting his job to be a stay-at-home parent while your mom taught English at the local college. He was the one who sewed your favorite stuffed animal back together when it ripped; he was the one who gave you piggyback rides around the living room; $Pops was the one who made your comfort food when you were sick and tucked you in bed at night. Not even your mother did all those things. Young $Name always had $Pops to back $hers up. "You don't treat me like an adult; I am twenty-one years old, and you won't even talk about my biological father." "Sheldon is your father. Did he raise you?" "Yes. I know he raised me, but I just want to know who I am. His name? Just admit it, please." You said it almost in a pleading tone. <<if $ACH2 is "Unlocked">>[[Next|Aunt Does tell the truth]]<</if>> <<if $ACH2 is "Locked">>[[Next|Aunt Does not tell the truth]]<</if>>

While your aunt Zinnia always referred to Sheldon as your "dad," you actually weren't allowed to call him that. No. Not in your mother's house. You called him $Pops , a name you decided was fit for him when your mother sat you down and told you that the man raising you was not "dada" but " $Pops ." You always felt that your mother was reserving that name for someone else who could just show up at any moment. For your biological father to just knock on the door and come into your life. But he never did, and $Pops was the one who stayed at home all day with you, quitting his job to be a stay-at-home parent while your mom taught English at the local college. He was the one who sewed your favorite stuffed animal back together when it ripped; he was the one who gave you piggyback rides around the living room; $Pops was the one who made your comfort food when you were sick and tucked you in bed at night. Not even your mother did all those things. Young $Name always had $Pops to back $hers up. "You don't treat me like an adult; I am twenty-one years old, and you won't even talk about my biological father." "Sheldon is your father. Did he not raise you?" "Yes. I know he raised me, but I just want to know who I am. His name? Just admit it, please." You said it almost in a pleading tone. <<if $ACH2 is "Unlocked">>[[Next|Aunt Does tell the truth]]<</if>> <<if $ACH2 is "Locked">>[[Next|Aunt Does not tell the truth]]<</if>>

<<set $TruthDad to "Knows">> Aunt Zinnia, a pillar of strength amidst the storm of confusion, watched you intently. Her eyes drifted to your bandaged arm, her eyes brimming with remorse but also a glimmer of hope. With a tender touch she told you what you always knew. "Sheldon isn't your real father but he is the man who raised you. The man who loved you like a daughter." "Who is my real father?" Aunt Zinnia looked out the window as the morning sky was painted with hues of amber. "I never met him…but your mother really seemed to love him." "Apparently he didn't feel the same way" Aunt Zinnia pressed her lips together. "Maybe..but maybe he felt it was better to let her go." The room fell into a deafening silence as you absorbed every word, your heart pounding as the essence of your father's identity swayed precariously. You always knew but to have your aunt say it out loud made it feel real. Was he a good man? Does it even matter? * [[You didn't care, the past is in the past, time to move on]] * [[You hate your biological father for leaving you and your mom, there is no excuse.]] * [[You don't know the man, you can't judge a man only on your aunt's word.]] * [[You felt yourself tear up.]]

Aunt Zinnia, a pillar of strength amidst the storm of confusion, watched you intently. She sighed. "Sheldon is your father, $Name." You felt irritation bubble up inside you. "Aunt Zinnia, I know-" * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $OpinionsDad to "Didn't care">> You didn't care. You shouldn't care...right? You never met the man. The past, your parents choices, exists because of where you are now. The past does not dictate what is possible; it shouldn't be in your eyes. You just needed to embrace the concept that the past is in the past. "I...okay." You said, nodding your head. "Okay?" Your aunt raised an eyebrow. "No screaming matches with me? Anymore questions?" //The man wasn't there for me.// You kept telling yourself over and over in your head. "Nope." You said, gulping the questions that arose in your throat. * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $OpinionsDad to "hate">> You hate your biological father for leaving you and your mom; there is no excuse. He was supposed to be there for you. Does he have another family? You bit your lip, and you were surprised when you didn't draw blood. "I hate him." You whispered, and your aunt patted your back. "I was surprised that your mother never did." Aunt Zinnia said, before you could even acknowledge that sentence. * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $OpinionsDad to "Didn't care">> You don't know the man; you can't judge a man only on your aunt's word. Your aunt lied to you for years, saying that Sheldon was your father. Sure, you knew the truth deep down, but it still came as a shock when you finally confronted her about it. It made you realize that sometimes people we trust can deceive us, and you couldn't help but question everything, including your aunt. She lied to you. What was keeping her from lying again? //Maybe something happened? Like he didn't want to leave me and mom. // You aunt Zinnia pressed her lips together as she watched you. * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

<<set $OpinionsDad to "sad">> Your vision blurred with tears as you confronted the implications of this revelation. The walls echoed with the weight of your silent contemplation, each second stretching into eternity, as questions sprouted in your mind, beseeching answers that only the dead held. Your aunt wrapped her arms around you. "I'm so sorry, Sugar Cube." She whispered into your hair, pulling you closer. After a while, the comfort stopped your tears, and your aunt needed to fall in silence. * [[Your aunt Zinnia continued. "We will figure something out for you to do: get the sun on your face and out of the house."]]

Owen frowned and pressed his lips together as if it were stopping him from saying anything he would regret. "Are you gentlemen done fighting now?" Rosemary asked, gracefully gripping the wheel as she moved out of the way of an unfinished spot on the asphalt. "We're buggin ye, Rosie?" Owen said with a snicker, looking over to the driver. Marcel pinched his nose. "I am sorry for my behavior, Rosemary. I should be more respectful in your car." Rosie grinned. "Oh, Marcel, you are as sweet as melted ice cream on a Sunday, but I would rather have an apology from the big guy over here." She raised her eyebrow at Owen. "Me? What? Why?" Owen asked. Margaret piped up. "Rosie did say not to bring any drinks or food into her car, Owen." Rosemary nodded. "See? It seems everyone followed my instructions, but you." Owen clicked his tongue. "I didn't hear you." "Or you didn't want to hear me." Rosemary explained, looking at the road, her perfectly manicured nails drumming on the wheel. "I'm waiting." Rosemary said it in a sing song voice. Owen grumbled but looked at Rosemary's drumming nails. "Fine….. I'm sorry, Rosemary, for bringing my flask into yer car-" He looks around at everyone in the vehicle. "Happy?" Marcel nodded, smiling softly. "I am glad we could have open communication about-" Margaret jumped a little in her seat, shaking Marcel. "Look at the rabbit! By the tree line!" Owen and Rosie both snickered as they watched Marcel from the rearview mirror try to calm Margaret down. From the distance, they could see a 'Welcome to Lockwood' sign. As the car started to drive closer, their breaths became shallower. Margaret breathed out and saw her own breath. "What is happening?" Owen strengthened his shoulders. "It's here." Marcel frowned and, with a serious expression, looked at the sign up ahead. A deep feeling curled in his chest, and he felt the need to run. Marcel felt his stomach drop, like there were millions and millions of tons in his stomach. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|"Rosemary… stop up here."]]</div>

"Rosemary… stop up here." Marcel said, his tone making everyone in the car's eyes sharpen, looking for trouble. Rosie's hands gripped the wheel, and she slowed to a stop right in front of the sign. Putting the car in park, Rosie stepped out, following her companions. "This is odd…." Rosemary said, her eyes darting from the tree lines. "Odd? It's downright eerie." Owen said, putting himself between his comrades and the sign like he was about to fight the inanimate object. Marcel pressed his lips together. "Whatever is here is ancient. I mean, really, it doesn't even feel like it is supposed to be on the mortal plane." Margaret frowned. "Could that just be the King's magic? He was born before the mortal plane even existed." Owen looked at the smaller woman. "There's no way, Margo, I can feel the King's magic... Whatever this is, it doesn't feel right." The four individuals could feel the barrier made by their king. It was different from what they had ever experienced before, like a warm glow around them. They all felt a shiver; they hadn't felt warm in a while. The barrier was along the greeting sign, and as Owen got closer, the warm feeling around him reached a boiling point, and red bumps started oozing on his skin. "That is angelic magic. If I ever see it, they should just throw damn holy water on us." "Well, the barrier is made by Lucifer." Rosemary said, standing as close to the car as she could. "So what is so ancient that it can overpower Lucifer's magic?" "We all know that it could be ''him''." Owen stated. "We don't know that yet, and Tai should have been able to sense ''him''." "Not by much; with this angelic magic protecting the town, you probably wouldn't be able to sense anything outside the warding." "Well, isn't that just great? We have a crack in the barrier, and we can't even sense where it is." "Or if there even is a crack." Margaret said, looking in the distance. "Tai wouldn't say there was one unless he found something inside the town." Marcel started. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next |Rosie rolled her eyes. "You always have to stand up for that bluenose?"]]</div>

Rosie rolled her eyes. "You always have to stand up for the wet blanket, don't you?" Rosemary raised an eyebrow at Marcel, who ignored her and continued. "We will have to figure out where the crack in the barrier is located and how it happened; not much can get past angelic magic." "Except for demonic, and last I checked, the only demonic entity that could cut through this much powerful warding without help is the lords and ladies or the heir." Owen said, crossing his arms. Margaret clapped her hands together. "When will we get to meet them?" Marcel patted Margaret's shoulder. "I'm sure you will get to meet the $Princess very soon." Owen rolled his eyes at the mention of the said heir. "Okay, can we just do the ritual already?" Rosie pulled out a small triangle potion bottle with dark black liquid. "The blood of the lords and ladies." Margaret whispered and held out her palm. Rosemary opened the potion, and dark smoke poured out. "Only a drop should be enough to put a coat of holy fire around us to get through the barrier." Lined up, Rosemary put a drop in each of the companions hands. Owen shivered in delight as the blood hit the palm of his hand, burning up in a little flame before vaporizing into the air. "It feels like home." An aura of almost pure light could be seen around each of them, and a feeling of strength washed over them as if charged up. Marcel started to speak. "We should be strong enough to get through the barrier without-" "Burning up?" Owen said, looking at Marcel. "Do you always have to be so crass?" "What does crass mean again?" Owen asked. Marcel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Nevermind. Let's just get a move on." Getting back in the car, they crossed over the invisible barrier; besides the little string across their skin, that was all they felt. "Good old holy fire, too bad the stuff is too expensive in hell." Owen said, itching his leg a little and wishing he had his flask. "Well, it is the only thing that can kill angels, Owen." "And get through their magic." Margaret said it with a little bit of distance in her tone as she looked through her window at the town outside. "Well, isn't this a cute little town?" Rosemary said, pulling down her sunglasses. "I wouldn't be so chipper, Rosie, I don't even think this place has a nail salon." Owen said, but quieted after he saw Marcel's expression. <<if $Siamese is "sphynx">>[[In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline |Sphynx staring contest]]<</if>> <<if $Siamese is "orange tabby">>[[In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline |OT staring contest]]<</if>> <<if $Siamese is "siamese">>[[In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline |siamese staring contest]]<</if>> <<if $Siamese is "bengal">>[[In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline |bengal staring contest]]<</if>> <<if $Siamese is "persian">>[[In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline |persian staring contest]]<</if>>

You felt yourself smile, your injury forgotten about, as you clapped your hands together. Your aunt Zinnia frowned and placed a hand on your shoulder to stop you from moving. However, that didn't break your sincere smile. "I am so happy for you, Aunt Zinnia, so was it like an in-the-moment thing? Like in the movies, were you just feel drawn together?" Aunt Zinnia pressed her lips together. "Okay...$Name, what are you talking about? You lost me a few seconds ago." You frowned in confusion. "I'm just happy that you and Miss Mendozo finally got together." Aunt Zinnia's eyes widened. "Maybe I should call, Doc, about your spitting nonsence." She reached for her cell phone. You held her hand. "Wait...now I am confused; you said that you and Miss Mendozo found me." Your aunt nodded her head. "Yes, we came in, and you were passed out." "Aunt Z....so that would mean that you and the woman you have been in love with came back late when you assumed I was asleep to do-" "What? Oh. OH! $Name get your head out of the gutter before I smack it out of you." Your frown deepened this time out of concern. "Wait what...so you and her aren't...you know." You intertwined your two hands together. "No!-" Aunt Zinnia rubbed the back of her neck, her face turning a bright shade of red. "We were just going to have a cup of tea before I drove her home." You pouted. "So you're still pinning over each other?" "We are not pinning over one another. Why are we focusing on this, we should be talking about you." Your aunt let out a deep sigh. "Look, Sugar Cube, I think it would be better if we talked about you right now instead of my love life." She held your hand and gave a gentle squeeze. "I think your too stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

You felt yourself smirk, your injury forgotten about, as you wiggled your eyebrows together. Your aunt Zinnia raised an eyebrow. However, that didn't break your smirk. "I am so happy for you, Aunt Zinnia; I didn't think you had it in your old bones." Aunt Zinnia pressed her lips together. First, I am not old. Second, $Name, what are you talking about? You lost me a few seconds ago." "Oh, come on, you and Miss Mendozo did the hanky panky." "What are you-" "The shaking sheets, you could say." I don't know-" You raised an eyebrow. "You know....bam-bam in the ham." Aunt Zinnia's eyes widened. "Maybe I should call, Doc, about your spitting nonsence." She reached for her cell phone. You held her hand. "Wait...now I am confused; you said that you and Miss Mendozo found me." Your aunt nodded her head. "Yes, we came in, and you were passed out." "Aunt Z....so that would mean that you and the woman you have been in love with came back late when you assumed I was asleep to do-" "What? Oh.OH! $Name get your head out of the gutter before I smack it out of you." You held up your hands. "Wait what...so you and her aren't doing the horizontal tango?" You intertwined your two hands together. "No!-" Aunt Zinnia rubbed the back of her neck, her face turning a bright shade of red. "We were just going to have a cup of tea before I drove her home." You groaned. "So you're still pinning over each other?" "We are not pinning over one another. Why are we focusing on this? We should be talking about you." Your aunt let out a deep sigh. "Look, Sugar Cube, I think it would be better if we talked about you right now instead of my love life." She held your hand and gave you a gentle squeeze. "I think you're too stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

You should feel happy, right? Your Aunt Zinnia was finding someone she really had a connection with, so why did you have a pit in your stomach. Miss Mendozo cared about your aunt; anyone could see that, so why couldn't you just be happy for them? But deep down, you knew it was because you were scared. Aunt Z had to put up with you for years; you were dumped on her like unwanted mail, and now that she found someone that she actually wanted to spend time with, you were going to be left in the dust. She was the only family you had left, the only person who put up with you...but your aunt deserved someone special. "I am so happy for you, Aunt Zinnia." You said it, hoping your Aunt couldn't see the sadness behind your genuine smile. Aunt Zinnia frowned in concern. "Happy? I found my sweet $Niece passed out. I wouldn't say happy, Sugar Cube." You frowned. "But I ruined your and Miss Mendozo's night." Aunt Zinnia rubbed your back. "Oh, $Name, don't worry, she and I can have tea another time." "Tea?" You asked, confused. "Yeah, she was going to try this new tea recipe from Morocco that I ordered." Before you could decide how you felt, Aunt Zinnia said. "I think your too stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

//So while I was passed out, Aunt Z was on a date?// You felt a pit deep in your stomach; anger and sadness pilled in, which made you want to throw up. Your Aunt Zinnia was finding someone she really had a connection with. . Miss Mendozo cared about your aunt; anyone could see that, so why were you not happy? But deep down, you knew it was because you were scared. Aunt Z had to put up with you for years; you were dumped on her like unwanted mail, and now that she found someone that she actually wanted to spend time with, you were going to be left in the dust. She was the only family you had left, the only person who put up with you...but your aunt deserved someone special. "So you two smashed?" You said it, smirking, hoping Aunt Zinnia couldn't see the sadness behind your eyes. Aunt Zinnia frowned in concern. "Smashing? Smashing what exactly? Are you feeling alright?" She put a hand on your forehead, feeling for a fever. You lightly swiped Aunt Zinnia's hand away. "You and Miss Mendozo were together last night, right?" Aunt Zinnia raised an eyebrow. "Yes....? I already told you that; she helped me get you up the stairs and took some tea home." "Tea?" You asked, confused. "Yeah, she was going to try this new tea recipe from Morocco that I ordered, but I decided to just give her a bag." //So Miss Mendozo and your aunt aren't together. // Before you could decide how you felt, Aunt Zinnia said. "I think you're too stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

It was not any of your business, so you moved the conversation along. "Did Miss Mendozo and you have trouble getting me up the stairs?" You asked, enjoying the wet cloth Aunt Zinnia put on your head. "It wasn't what I had in mind when I asked Triana over for tea." "The new batch you ordered from Morocco?" Aunt Zinnia nodded her head. "But enough about the tea, $Name; I want to talk to you about something." Your aunt's expression grew serious. I think you're too stressed. I heard that burnout can result from working too hard. How about you spend the day away from the bakery?" You shook your head, already ready to object, but your aunt gave you a stern look. "$Name, listen to me; I am the adult here." * [[You sighed, knowing you were going to take a day off, whether you liked it or not.]] * [["I am an adult too; maybe you should start treating me like one." You muttered.]] * [[You just nodded your head; maybe a day off would do you some good.]]

''In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline'' Coming out of your cloggy mind after your aunt closed the door, you lifted your head and spotted two light lavender eyes looking at you. As $CatName 's pupils became round, like the aperture of a camera, the flashes of the creature ran through your mind, or rather, the giant version of $CatName attacked the man from last night. You pressed your lips together in a shaky voice. " $CatName....do you have something to tell me?" Strentching out his wrinkly skin with a quick motion, he jumped onto the window seal. "What are you-oh no, you don't." Crouching down, $CatName jumped from the window seal to your curtians, adding to the already-ripped fabric from his failed acrobatic performance. You grabbed $CatName on a reflex, tearing him away from the curtians. $CatName let out an upset meow and a small hiss while you plopped him on the bed. * [[You gently start to pet him. "This is fine." You whispered, disbelieving. "You are the normal cat I have had since I was a kid."]] * [[You pressed your lips together, analyzing your feline, confused out of your mind.]] * [[You backed into a wall, afriad of the cat staring at you.]]

''In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline'' Coming out of your cloggy mind after your aunt closed the door, you lifted your head and spotted two light lavender eyes looking at you. As $CatName 's pupils became round, like the aperture of a camera, the flashes of the creature ran through your mind, or rather, the giant version of $CatName attacked the man from last night. You pressed your lips together in a shaky voice. " $CatName....do you have something to tell me?" Your orange furball let out a yawn, and with a plop, he laid on his stomach. "Are we not going to talk about what happened?" $CatName closed his eyes letting out a meow. * [[You gently start to pet him. "This is fine." You whispered, disbelieving. "You are the normal cat I have had since I was a kid."]] * [[You pressed your lips together, analyzing your feline, confused out of your mind.]] * [[You backed into a wall, afriad of the cat staring at you.]]

''In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline'' Coming out of your cloggy mind after your aunt closed the door, you lifted your head and spotted two light lavender eyes looking at you. As $CatName 's pupils became round, like the aperture of a camera, the flashes of the creature ran through your mind, or rather, the giant version of $CatName attacked the man from last night. You pressed your lips together in a shaky voice. " $CatName....do you have something to tell me?" With his lean, tubular body, $CatName hopped on the bed, making you jump a little. Opening his triangular mouth, you could see the small, sharp teeth but instead of the molars growing, he let out a vocal meow. * [[You gently start to pet him. "This is fine." You whispered, disbelieving. "You are the normal cat I have had since I was a kid."]] * [[You pressed your lips together, analyzing your feline, confused out of your mind.]] * [[You backed into a wall, afriad of the cat staring at you.]]

''In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline'' Coming out of your cloggy mind after your aunt closed the door, you lifted your head and spotted two light lavender eyes looking at you. As $CatName 's pupils became round, like the aperture of a camera, the flashes of the creature ran through your mind, or rather, the giant version of $CatName attacked the man from last night. You pressed your lips together in a shaky voice. " $CatName....do you have something to tell me?" Not even looking at you, the spotted Bengal cat turned his head at a mouse-shaped cat toy. With his muscular hind legs, he jumped onto the toy, sinking his teeth into the cloth and flopping a little in excitement. You winced. "You are really not helping your case, $CatName." * [[You gently start to pet him. "This is fine." You whispered, disbelieving. "You are the normal cat I have had since I was a kid."]] * [[You pressed your lips together, analyzing your feline, confused out of your mind.]] * [[You backed into a wall, afriad of the cat staring at you.]]

''In Your Bed, Have A Staring Contest With Your Feline'' Coming out of your cloggy mind after your aunt closed the door, you lifted your head and spotted two light lavender eyes looking at you. As $CatName 's pupils became round, like the aperture of a camera, the flashes of the creature ran through your mind, or rather, the giant version of $CatName attacked the man from last night. You pressed your lips together in a shaky voice. " $CatName....do you have something to tell me?" $CatName let out a quiet meow and walked over to his cat bed, snuggling up to a toy tiger that you got him when he was just a kitten. * [[You gently start to pet him. "This is fine." You whispered, disbelieving. "You are the normal cat I have had since I was a kid."]] * [[You pressed your lips together, analyzing your feline, confused out of your mind.]] * [[You backed into a wall, afriad of the cat staring at you.]]

<<set $Optimist to $Optimist - 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist + 1>> You gently started to pet him. "This is fine." You whispered, disbelieving. "You are the normal cat I have had since I was a kid." $CatName came up to you, sitting on your lap, purring. "Okay....I'm fine....are you fine?" You said, scratching $CatName behind the ears. "......I must be going crazy." You mumbled. With a groan, you rubbed your eyes and said, "I am going insane." Not having to work today, you don't even look at your work uniform hanging on the door. You stood in front of your open closet. You pondered for a moment, running your fingers through your $HairColor locks while scanning your wardrobe. You started evaluating your options for the perfect ensemble, which wasn't hard; all your clothes were set in a.... * [[Funky. Vintage pattern corduroy flares and a wide collar shirt]] * [[Cutesy. Pink ruffled clothes and pastel patterns.]] * [[Professional. Blazer with a silk pressed shirt, trousers, and your favorite sleek shoes]] * [[Edgy. Flannel shirts and ripped jeans with your aunt's old leather jacket and combat boots]] * [[Casual. Simple jeans and a t-shirt with your worn-out sweatshirt]]

<<set $Rash to $Rash + 1>> <<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> You pressed your lips together, analyzing your feline, confused out of your mind. "So...?" $CatName looked at you, blinking slowly. "If this is the moment to come clean, $CatName," You cricled your cat, checking for any kind of what happened last night, but everything seemed normal. With a groan, you rubbed your eyes and said, "I am going insane." Not having to work today, you don't even look at your work uniform hanging on the door. You stood in front of your open closet. You pondered for a moment, running your fingers through your $HairColor locks while scanning your wardrobe. You started evaluating your options for the perfect ensemble, which wasn't hard; all your clothes were set in a.... * [[Funky. Vintage pattern corduroy flares and a wide collar shirt]] * [[Cutesy. Pink ruffled clothes and pastel patterns.]] * [[Professional. Blazer with a silk pressed shirt, trousers, and your favorite sleek shoes]] * [[Edgy. Flannel shirts and ripped jeans with your aunt's old leather jacket and combat boots]] * [[Casual. Simple jeans and a t-shirt with your worn-out sweatshirt]]

<<set $Optimist to $Optimist + 1>> <<set $Pessimist to $Pessimist - 1>> You backed into the wall, afriad of the cat staring at you. "S-S-Stay back." You stuttered. $CatName tilted his head, almost tense at your afriad state, looking around the room for danger. Letting out a meow, $CatName came close, almost asking what was wrong. In your scared state, you winced and backed further away into a corner, stopping $CatName in his tracks. For a second, so quick you thought you must have imagined it, there was a flash of hurt in $CatName's eyes, making the feline look more human than you could have ever thought possible. In a flash, $CatName turned around and fled your room, leaving you stunned. With a groan, you rubbed your eyes and said, "I am going insane." Not having to work today, you don't even look at your work uniform hanging on the door. You stood in front of your open closet. You pondered for a moment, running your fingers through your $HairColor locks while scanning your wardrobe. You started evaluating your options for the perfect ensemble, which wasn't hard; all your clothes were set in a.... * [[Funky. Vintage pattern corduroy flares and a wide collar shirt]] * [[Cutesy. Pink ruffled clothes and pastel patterns.]] * [[Professional. Blazer with a silk pressed shirt, trousers, and your favorite sleek shoes]] * [[Edgy. Flannel shirts and ripped jeans with your aunt's old leather jacket and combat boots]] * [[Casual. Simple jeans and a t-shirt with your worn-out sweatshirt]]

<<set $Style to "You rock your 70s style when you are not in your work uniform.">><<set $Clothes to "Funky">> You had a more retro style, with your wardrobe consisting of bell-bottom jeans and tie dye and, of course, your best polyester leisure suit. You looked at yourself in the mirror, blowing a strand of hair out of your face. You gently touched the day-old bandage on your chin and the back of your mind, thinking how you weren't more hurt if what happened actually happened. What did happen? You held your head in your hands, rubbing your forehead with your thumb, wanting the handache creeping in to stop before it started. //SCREECHHHHHH!!!!// You instinctively covered your ears. //What the hell is that?// With the sound of what seemed like a gunshot with a loud squeaking sound, You go on to pulled open the curtains of your window, a large amount of smoke coming out of the engine, and the sound of cursing as a red head got out of the vehicle and waved at the smoke. * [[You peeked while hiding behind the curtain.]] * [[Before he could see you, you fell to the ground.]] * [[You continued to gaze and winked.]] * [[As you left, you drawed the curtain shut.]]

<<set $Style to "You rock bright and dull pastel clothes when you are not in your work uniform.">> <<set $Clothes to "Cutesy">> You were surprised when Luis said he didn't mind your style due to the fact that you and Camila have a very similar wardrobe, sharing the love for "childlike" and pretty things that make your heart flutter. Although Luis might have just said that because your wardrobe was usually more toned down than Camila's own style. Although maybe the teen wanted to annoy the hell out of his sister. You looked at yourself in the mirror, blowing a strand of hair out of your face. You gently touched the day-old bandage on your chin and the back of your mind, thinking how you weren't more hurt if what happened actually happened. What did happen? You held your head in your hands, rubbing your forehead with your thumb, wanting the handache creeping in to stop before it started. //SCREECHHHHHH!!!!// You instinctively covered your ears. //What the hell is that?// With the sound of what seemed like a gunshot with a loud squeaking sound, You go on to pulled open the curtains of your window, a large amount of smoke coming out of the engine, and the sound of cursing as a red head got out of the vehicle and waved at the smoke. * [[You peeked while hiding behind the curtain.]] * [[Before he could see you, you fell to the ground.]] * [[You continued to gaze and winked.]] * [[As you left, you drawed the curtain shut.]]

<<set $Style to "You rock your formal business style when you are not in your work uniform.">> <<set $Clothes to "Professional">> While your aunt Zinnia had a very punk rock style, you took another approach to your wardrobe. You have a taste for beige and simple patterns, like you were about to go to a business meeting. You looked at yourself in the mirror, blowing a strand of hair out of your face. You gently touched the day-old bandage on your chin and the back of your mind, thinking how you weren't more hurt if what happened actually happened. What did happen? You held your head in your hands, rubbing your forehead with your thumb, wanting the handache creeping in to stop before it started. //SCREECHHHHHH!!!!// You instinctively covered your ears. //What the hell is that?// With the sound of what seemed like a gunshot with a loud squeaking sound, You go on to pulled open the curtains of your window, a large amount of smoke coming out of the engine, and the sound of cursing as a red head got out of the vehicle and waved at the smoke. * [[You peeked while hiding behind the curtain.]] * [[Before he could see you, you fell to the ground.]] * [[You continued to gaze and winked.]] * [[As you left, you drawed the curtain shut.]]

<<set $Style to "You rock your edgy outfits when you are not in your work uniform.">> <<set $Clothes to "Edgy">> You adopted your Aunt Zinnia's "rockstar" look, and she was more than happy to help you with more than one shopping day. You filled your closet with fishnets and tour shirts from your favorite bands. You looked at yourself in the mirror, blowing a strand of hair out of your face. You gently touched the day-old bandage on your chin and the back of your mind, thinking how you weren't more hurt if what happened actually happened. What did happen? You held your head in your hands, rubbing your forehead with your thumb, wanting the handache creeping in to stop before it started. //SCREECHHHHHH!!!!// You instinctively covered your ears. //What the hell is that?// With the sound of what seemed like a gunshot with a loud squeaking sound, You go on to pulled open the curtains of your window, a large amount of smoke coming out of the engine, and the sound of cursing as a red head got out of the vehicle and waved at the smoke. * [[You peeked while hiding behind the curtain.]] * [[Before he could see you, you fell to the ground.]] * [[You continued to gaze and winked.]] * [[As you left, you drawed the curtain shut.]]

<<set $Style to "You rock your blue jeans and sweatshirt when you are not in your work uniform..">> <<set $Clothes to "Casual">> Basic, but you really could never go wrong with your casual style. You looked at yourself in the mirror, blowing a strand of hair out of your face. You gently touched the day-old bandage on your chin and the back of your mind, thinking how you weren't more hurt if what happened actually happened. What did happen? You held your head in your hands, rubbing your forehead with your thumb, wanting the handache creeping in to stop before it started. //SCREECHHHHHH!!!!// You instinctively covered your ears. //What the hell is that?// With the sound of what seemed like a gunshot with a loud squeaking sound, You go on to pulled open the curtains of your window, a large amount of smoke coming out of the engine, and the sound of cursing as a red head got out of the vehicle and waved at the smoke. The red head looked up as you peeked out the window. * [[You peeked while hiding behind the curtain.]] * [[Before he could see you, you fell to the ground.]] * [[You continued to gaze and winked.]] * [[As you left, you drawed the curtain shut.]]

<<set $OFlP to $OFlP + 1>> <<set $C60 to "Shy">> His sweaty physique added to the beauty of the scene as the tight jeans gripped the redhead's muscles nicely. You kept peeking from behind the drapes. When the man's gaze eventually landed on you, he waved the smoke out of his face and raised an eyebrow before he scoffed a bit. You sank to the ground and swiftly crawled away from the window instead of answering. The blush on your face, a sign of humiliation. //What is wrong with me?// You made an effort not to focus on the man's sweaty, fit figure or the fact that you behaved so ridiculously when he first noticed you as you went down the stairs. When you went down the stairs, you were presented with a plate of muffins. Aunt Zinnia looked towards you, putting down her newspaper as you pinched off a bit of a muffin and popped it into your mouth. "Someone seems to be smoking outside your store." Well, as long as they are not doing it inside, I suppose." Your aunt shrugged. You took another bite of your muffin. "No, I mean literally smoking; you would think that their car was on fire." Zinnia's put down her newspaper. "Why didn't you say so?" With another quick bite, you eat the last of your muffin and follow your aunt out, who seemed to be already pulling out her phone. The front door jiggled, catching the attention of the owners of the vehicle. "You four need help?" Your aunt asked. You noticed her move to the doorway, gesturing towards the car. You tried to peer around her to see who she was talking to, but you couldn't see anything until four people fanned out in front of you and you came up beside your aunt. You put a hand in front of your face, blocking out the beaming sun as you went outside. There were some people out and about; most seemed to be minding their own business, probably rushing to work. Some glanced at the broken-down car or maybe were just trying to get a read on the newcomers to Lockwood, but they were waved off by one of the newcomers, a woman in a floral dress who took her sunny expression at heart and went on their merry way. One of the individuals' heads popped up. "Oh yes, it would seem that the car broke down on the way to our friend's residence." The man started coming over before stopping, smelling the air, and looking at you. A smile reached his face before he started walking again, over to you and your aunt, like nothing had happened. The man's voice was like smooth honey. Was his accent Greek? Latin? You thought as he shook your aunt's hand. Eventually he gets to you, and you take his hand, giving it a shake. With the man right in front of you, you could thoroughly examine him. With a tall frame, maybe six feet, he retracted his hand after the shake and gave you a kind smile that you felt the need to return. The shirt that he wore was laced with beads. The scarf with embroidery patterns dangled around him with green and brown undertones. The pants were loose, giving him a relaxed figure as you saw his toes poking out of his open-toe saddles. "Hi, I'm Marcellus De Rosa, but you can call me Marcel." He said this, running his hand through his thick, curly hair. "As you can see we could really use the help." Marcel looked back at the smoking car. "Help? I told you, my poor baby is probably overheated." You look over Marcel's shoulder to find the owner of the voice with the husky tone. The lady was gorgeous. She had a lovely figure—the kind you saw on beauty vlogs or in fashion magazines—the kind that made everyone around her feel bad about themselves just by being in the same room as her. Her hair was dark brown, curly, and short. But it was her eyes that took you aback; her eyes changed constantly from a dark sea green to a light blue like a kaleidoscope, finally landing on dark brown. You shook your head, almost trying to get your thoughts aligned. Looking back at the woman, you saw that her eyes didn't change but stayed dark brown. //A trick of the light. // The woman walked towards you, her heels clicking against the pavement as she held her hand out. "Rosemary." Sheraised a perfect plucked eyebrow. As if wanting you to kiss her palm. * [[You bent down and kissed her palm "It's a pleasure to meet you."]] * [[You reddened, stuttered a response, and kissed her hand swiftly.]] * [["It's a pleasure to meet you." You shook her hand.]] * [[You just looked at the hand. Nope. You were not touching her.]] * [[You do an exaggerated bow and make a show of kissing her hand.]]

<<set $C60 to "None">> Before the man could see you, you knelt down and crawled across the floor away from the window. The man could have thought you were watching him like some freak, spying on him. You went down the stairs, praying that the man did not see you. When you went down the stairs, you were presented with a plate of muffins. Aunt Zinnia looked towards you, putting down her newspaper as you pinched off a bit of a muffin and popped it into your mouth. "Someone seems to be smoking outside your store." Well, as long as they are not doing it inside, I suppose." Your aunt shrugged. You took another bite of your muffin. "No, I mean literally smoking; you would think that their car was on fire." Zinnia's put down her newspaper. "Why didn't you say so?" With another quick bite, you eat the last of your muffin and follow your aunt out, who seemed to be already pulling out her phone. The front door jiggled, catching the attention of the owners of the vehicle. "You four need help?" Your aunt asked. You noticed her move to the doorway, gesturing towards the car. You tried to peer around her to see who she was talking to, but you couldn't see anything until four people fanned out in front of you and you came up beside your aunt. You put a hand in front of your face, blocking out the beaming sun as you went outside. There were some people out and about; most seemed to be minding their own business, probably rushing to work. Some glanced at the broken-down car or maybe were just trying to get a read on the newcomers to Lockwood, but they were waved off by one of the newcomers, a woman in a floral dress who took her sunny expression at heart and went on their merry way. One of the individuals' heads popped up. "Oh yes, it would seem that the car broke down on the way to our friend's residence." The man started coming over before stopping, smelling the air, and looking at you. A smile reached his face before he started walking again, over to you and your aunt, like nothing had happened. The man's voice was like smooth honey. Was his accent Greek? Latin? You thought as he shook your aunt's hand. Eventually he gets to you, and you take his hand, giving it a shake. With the man right in front of you, you could thoroughly examine him. With a tall frame, maybe six feet, he retracted his hand after the shake and gave you a kind smile that you felt the need to return. The shirt that he wore was laced with beads. The scarf with embroidery patterns dangled around him with green and brown undertones. The pants were loose, giving him a relaxed figure as you saw his toes poking out of his open-toe saddles. "Hi, I'm Marcellus De Rosa, but you can call me Marcel." He said this, running his hand through his thick, curly hair. "As you can see we could really use the help." Marcel looked back at the smoking car. "Help? I told you, my poor baby is probably overheated." You look over Marcel's shoulder to find the owner of the voice with the husky tone. The lady was gorgeous. She had a lovely figure—the kind you saw on beauty vlogs or in fashion magazines—the kind that made everyone around her feel bad about themselves just by being in the same room as her. Her hair was dark brown, curly, and short. But it was her eyes that took you aback; her eyes changed constantly from a dark sea green to a light blue like a kaleidoscope, finally landing on dark brown. You shook your head, almost trying to get your thoughts aligned. Looking back at the woman, you saw that her eyes didn't change but stayed dark brown. //A trick of the light. // The woman walked towards you, her heels clicking against the pavement as she held her hand out. "Rosemary." Sheraised a perfect plucked eyebrow. As if wanting you to kiss her palm. * [[You bent down and kissed her palm "It's a pleasure to meet you."]] * [[You reddened, stuttered a response, and kissed her hand swiftly.]] * [["It's a pleasure to meet you." You shook her hand.]] * [[You just looked at the hand. Nope. You were not touching her.]] * [[You do an exaggerated bow and make a show of kissing her hand.]]

<<set $OFlP to $OFlP + 1>> <<set $C60 to "Flirty">> His sweaty physique added to the beauty of the scene as his tight jeans properly embraced the redheads' muscles. When the redhead finally focused on you, he lifted an eyebrow in your direction. You winked back while standing there for a couple more minutes to enjoy the view of the burly man who ignored your wink. You went down the stairs to meet your aunt, enjoying the image of the man's sweaty body replaying in your mind. When you went down the stairs, you were presented with a plate of muffins. Aunt Zinnia looked towards you, putting down her newspaper as you pinched off a bit of a muffin and popped it into your mouth. "Someone seems to be smoking outside your store." "Well, as long as they are not doing it inside, I suppose." Your aunt shrugged. You took another bite of your muffin. "No, I mean literally smoking; you would think that their car was on fire." Zinnia's put down her newspaper. "Why didn't you say so?" With another quick bite, you eat the last of your muffin and follow your aunt out, who seemed to be already pulling out her phone. The front door jiggled, catching the attention of the owners of the vehicle. "You four need help?" Your aunt asked. You noticed her move to the doorway, gesturing towards the car. You tried to peer around her to see who she was talking to, but you couldn't see anything until four people fanned out in front of you and you came up beside your aunt. You put a hand in front of your face, blocking out the beaming sun as you went outside. There were some people out and about; most seemed to be minding their own business, probably rushing to work. Some glanced at the broken-down car or maybe were just trying to get a read on the newcomers to Lockwood, but they were waved off by one of the newcomers, a woman in a floral dress who took her sunny expression at heart and went on their merry way. One of the individuals' heads popped up. "Oh yes, it would seem that the car broke down on the way to our friend's residence." The man started coming over before stopping, smelling the air, and looking at you. A smile reached his face before he started walking again, over to you and your aunt, like nothing had happened. The man's voice was like smooth honey. Was his accent Greek? Latin? You thought as he shook your aunt's hand. Eventually he gets to you, and you take his hand, giving it a shake. With the man right in front of you, you could thoroughly examine him. With a tall frame, maybe six feet, he retracted his hand after the shake and gave you a kind smile that you felt the need to return. The shirt that he wore was laced with beads. The scarf with embroidery patterns dangled around him with green and brown undertones. The pants were loose, giving him a relaxed figure as you saw his toes poking out of his open-toe saddles. "Hi, I'm Marcellus De Rosa, but you can call me Marcel." He said this, running his hand through his thick, curly hair. "As you can see we could really use the help." Marcel looked back at the smoking car. "Help? I told you, my poor baby is probably overheated." You look over Marcel's shoulder to find the owner of the voice with the husky tone. The lady was gorgeous. She had a lovely figure—the kind you saw on beauty vlogs or in fashion magazines—the kind that made everyone around her feel bad about themselves just by being in the same room as her. Her hair was dark brown, curly, and short. But it was her eyes that took you aback; her eyes changed constantly from a dark sea green to a light blue like a kaleidoscope, finally landing on dark brown. You shook your head, almost trying to get your thoughts aligned. Looking back at the woman, you saw that her eyes didn't change but stayed dark brown. //A trick of the light. // The woman walked towards you, her heels clicking against the pavement as she held her hand out. "Rosemary." She raised a perfect plucked eyebrow. As if wanting you to kiss her palm. * [[You bent down and kissed her palm "It's a pleasure to meet you."]] * [[You reddened, stuttered a response, and kissed her hand swiftly.]] * [["It's a pleasure to meet you." You shook her hand.]] * [[You just looked at the hand. Nope. You were not touching her.]] * [[You do an exaggerated bow and make a show of kissing her hand.]]

<<set $C60 to "None">> I probably need a soundproof system of some sort, or at the very least, thicker curtains. Thank God. When you opened the drapes, he was unable to see you. You went down the stairs to meet your aunt, rolling your shoulders. When you went down the stairs, you were presented with a plate of muffins. Aunt Zinnia looked towards you, putting down her newspaper as you pinched off a bit of a muffin and popped it into your mouth. "Someone seems to be smoking outside your store." Well, as long as they are not doing it inside, I suppose." Your aunt shrugged. You took another bite of your muffin. "No, I mean literally smoking; you would think that their car was on fire." Zinnia's put down her newspaper. "Why didn't you say so?" With another quick bite, you eat the last of your muffin and follow your aunt out, who seemed to be already pulling out her phone. The front door jiggled, catching the attention of the owners of the vehicle. "You four need help?" Your aunt asked. You noticed her move to the doorway, gesturing towards the car. You tried to peer around her to see who she was talking to, but you couldn't see anything until four people fanned out in front of you and you came up beside your aunt. You put a hand in front of your face, blocking out the beaming sun as you went outside. There were some people out and about; most seemed to be minding their own business, probably rushing to work. Some glanced at the broken-down car or maybe were just trying to get a read on the newcomers to Lockwood, but they were waved off by one of the newcomers, a woman in a floral dress who took her sunny expression at heart and went on their merry way. One of the individuals' heads popped up. "Oh yes, it would seem that the car broke down on the way to our friend's residence." The man started coming over before stopping, smelling the air, and looking at you. A smile reached his face before he started walking again, over to you and your aunt, like nothing had happened. The man's voice was like smooth honey. Was his accent Greek? Latin? You thought as he shook your aunt's hand. Eventually he gets to you, and you take his hand, giving it a shake. With the man right in front of you, you could thoroughly examine him. With a tall frame, maybe six feet, he retracted his hand after the shake and gave you a kind smile that you felt the need to return. The shirt that he wore was laced with beads. The scarf with embroidery patterns dangled around him with green and brown undertones. The pants were loose, giving him a relaxed figure as you saw his toes poking out of his open-toe saddles. "Hi, I'm Marcellus De Rosa, but you can call me Marcel." He said this, running his hand through his thick, curly hair. "As you can see we could really use the help." Marcel looked back at the smoking car. "Help? I told you, my poor baby is probably overheated." You look over Marcel's shoulder to find the owner of the voice with the husky tone. The lady was gorgeous. She had a lovely figure—the kind you saw on beauty vlogs or in fashion magazines—the kind that made everyone around her feel bad about themselves just by being in the same room as her. Her hair was dark brown, curly, and short. But it was her eyes that took you aback; her eyes changed constantly from a dark sea green to a light blue like a kaleidoscope, finally landing on dark brown. You shook your head, almost trying to get your thoughts aligned. Looking back at the woman, you saw that her eyes didn't change but stayed dark brown. //A trick of the light. // The woman walked towards you, her heels clicking against the pavement as she held her hand out. "Rosemary." Sheraised a perfect plucked eyebrow. As if wanting you to kiss her palm. * [[You bent down and kissed her palm "It's a pleasure to meet you."]] * [[You reddened, stuttered a response, and kissed her hand swiftly.]] * [["It's a pleasure to meet you." You shook her hand.]] * [[You just looked at the hand. Nope. You were not touching her.]] * [[You do an exaggerated bow and make a show of kissing her hand.]]

<<set $RFlP to $RFlP + 1>> You look at her with a puzzled expression. "Hello, my name is $Name . It's a pleasure to meet you." You shook her hand before releasing it. She looked at you for a while, raising an eyebrow, before laughing softly. "Nice to meet you as well, $Dollface ." She then returned to her car, and you observed the redhead from before who was chuckling quietly. Your aunt tensed beside you as you both examined the looming redhead. He had to be taller than six feet, with tight clothes that hugged his body and a chain hung on his black jeans, which went with the "bad boy" aesthetic that the man was going for. The muscular man leaned against the car, putting his hand in his pocket of his red leather jacket asas if looking for something before frowning; apparently, whatever he was looking for was not there, his eyes staring daggers at Marcel before his arms went limp in defeat. <<if $C60 is "Flirty">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Flirty]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "Shy">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Shy]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "None">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up.]]<</if>>

<<set $RFlP to $RFlP + 1>> "I…I..oh..." You stammered over your words, struggling to think clearly, before nervously pressing your lips to her fingers. //That's something I've never done before! Was that correct, or should I have gone a little slower? Faster? I can't go back in time to fix whatever I did.// "...Was that good...? You winced and muttered inwardly in embarrassment. Rosemary only smirked, which darkened your scarlet cheeks. "Perfect, $Dollface " She returned to stand next to her car, winking at the redhead, who chuckled quietly. Your aunt tensed beside you as you both examined the looming redhead. He had to be taller than six feet, with tight clothes that hugged his body and a chain hung on his black jeans, which went with the "bad boy" aesthetic that the man was going for. The muscular man leaned against the car, putting his hand in his pocket of his red leather jacket asas if looking for something before frowning; apparently, whatever he was looking for was not there, his eyes staring daggers at Marcel before his arms went limp in defeat. <<if $C60 is "Flirty">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Flirty]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "Shy">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Shy]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "None">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up.]]<</if>>

<<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> You look at her with a puzzled expression. "Hello, my name is $Name . It's a pleasure to meet you." You shook her hand before releasing it. She looked at you for a while, raising an eyebrow, before laughing softly. "Nice to meet you as well, $Dollface ." She then returned to her car, and you observed the redhead from before who was chuckling quietly. Your aunt tensed beside you as you both examined the looming redhead. He had to be taller than six feet, with tight clothes that hugged his body and a chain hung on his black jeans, which went with the "bad boy" aesthetic that the man was going for. The muscular man leaned against the car, putting his hand in his pocket of his red leather jacket asas if looking for something before frowning; apparently, whatever he was looking for was not there, his eyes staring daggers at Marcel before his arms went limp in defeat. <<if $C60 is "Flirty">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Flirty]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "Shy">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Shy]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "None">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up.]]<</if>>

"Hi." You said this while staring at the woman's hand. Rosemary frowned and sighed. "Well, aren't you a charmer, $Dollface ?" She said, sarcastically. The redhead chuckled, she rolled her eyes and returned to her car. Your aunt tensed beside you as you both examined the looming redhead. He had to be taller than six feet, with tight clothes that hugged his body and a chain hung on his black jeans, which went with the "bad boy" aesthetic that the man was going for. The muscular man leaned against the car, putting his hand in his pocket of his red leather jacket asas if looking for something before frowning; apparently, whatever he was looking for was not there, his eyes staring daggers at Marcel before his arms went limp in defeat. <<if $C60 is "Flirty">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Flirty]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "Shy">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Shy]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "None">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up.]]<</if>>

You bowed as your aunt snorted. You kissed her finger tips, making it a big show. "Well, aren't you a charmer, $Dollface ?" Rosemary said, smirking. "I try." You said it, shrugging as you strengthened up and watching as the redhead in the back laughed. Your aunt tensed beside you as you both examined the looming redhead. He had to be taller than six feet, with tight clothes that hugged his body and a chain hung on his black jeans, which went with the "bad boy" aesthetic that the man was going for. The muscular man leaned against the car, putting his hand in his pocket of his red leather jacket asas if looking for something before frowning; apparently, whatever he was looking for was not there, his eyes staring daggers at Marcel before his arms went limp in defeat. <<if $C60 is "Flirty">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Flirty]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "Shy">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. |C60Shy]]<</if>> <<if $C60 is "None">>[[Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up.]]<</if>>

Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. You felt yourself heat up from head to toe, but you hid it with a sly smile. You barely noticed Zinnia's glare directed at the redhead. "Do I get a name, or perhaps I just call you the "Carrot Top?"" " $C71 " He said it with a deep Scottish accent, his stance relaxing, and you swore you saw a touch of amusement in his eyes even though the tone of voice was rough. You shrugged and put on a coy smile, which the redhead returned with his own smirk. "My name is Owen, $Lass ." " $Lass ?" You questioned. "Is that my new nickname?" Owen just nodded his head, factually. "Aye." He stared at you before looking away. Your arm was getting squeezed—not enough to hurt. Looking over at the owner, your aunt, in a protective stance next to you, staring daggers at Owen. "Do you know each other?" Your aunt asked with a relaxed tone, but you felt unease come off her in waves. "I just saw him through the window when the car blew up." You said, looking at your aunt, concerned. "Over heated." Rosemary corrected, and your aunt just gave you a nod, breathing out what looked like a sigh of relief. Before you could say or do anything, you were interrupted. "Oh my God, you're $Hers !" A woman beside Marcel said she was shorter than the curly-haired man beside her, with a surprised expression on her face and a look of realization. "You know me?" You asked, frowning, looking at the pointed finger. You have never met this woman in your life, and didn't these people just arrive here? She nodded in response, brushing back a few strands of brown hair that were in front of her dark blue eyes. "I mean, yeah, we are here-" Marcel cut in. "We heard about you from Tai." He sent the woman a look, who just looked at him confused before something clicked, and she nodded. She soothed out her knee-length yellow floral dress, and with a little wrinkle forming on her forehead, she started to speak again, more slowly this time, as if thinking it through. "Oh! Yeah! Tai has told us all about you!" You frowned in confusion. "Tai? Tai Huang? You all know Tai?" How could these people know Tai? Rosemary poured some water from a water bottle into some part of the car's engine and watched as the car started to cool down and the smoke started to disappear. Even as the smoke was all in her face, you were surprised to see that she still looked like she had just walked off the runaway. The steam didn't even smudge her makeup. "He's…a friend." Rosemary said the word friend like it was a disease. Rosemary gracefully closed the lid of her car. Marcel smiled. "We were just on our way to meet him before we broke down." Marcel put a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Thankfully, Margaret spotted the smoke." Owen snorted. "Ye mean noisily told everyone in the car." Margaret frowned a little bit, like a flower decaying, to which Owen huffed at the expression on her face. You could see a bit of regret flicker in Owen's eyes, he said. "But it was good you pointed it out, Margo." Margaret’s face brightened like the sun. "Thank you, Owen!" Owen crossed his arms, and you swore you saw a small blush on the man’s cheeks. "Don’t mention it, lass." "So you came all the way to Lockwood for Tai?" You asked. Rosemary smirked. "Among other things, but that's for us to know, $Dollface ." She winked as she leaned against the car, wearing a lace tank top and blue jeans. You couldn’t help but notice people who were walking past just turning to get another glance at her. "I would get your car checked out if I were to go all the way to Doc's place." Aunt Zinnia said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "I am guessing that is where you are going?" Marcel let out a charming laugh. "You would be correct, Miss..?" "Zinnia." Your aunt said. "Zinnia Oleander." She pointed to you. "This is my $Niece , $Name." $C69 The woman, or Margaret, waved at you while Marcel started to talk again. "So you two wouldn't happen to know where the nearest mechanic shop is, would you?" Marcel gave a sleepish grin and looked at the now unsmoking car. You nodded your head. "Yeah, there is a Mr. Matthews place just at the edge of town." Marcel frowned. "You wouldn't be able to give us a map, would you?" "$Name can show you the way," Zinnia said. You snapped your head toward your aunt Zinnia. "I will?" "You can ride in the car and give them directions, $Name." * [[You pulled your aunt a little to the side to express your concerns]] * [["I'm what?!" You asked, not caring about anyone hearing you]] * [["Is this your way of getting rid of me?" You put a hand on your hip, adding to your sarcastic remark.]] * [[You just shrugged and nodded your head in agreement.]] * [[You smiled. "It won't be a long trip, so why not?"]]

Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. With his eyes on you, you felt your embarrassment boil over, you probably looked as red as a tomato. You felt your aunt's eyes on you with a questioning glance, but you couldn't look away from the redhead's blue eyes. "Hi." You said it meekly, feeling your face heat up even more as you caught a glance at Rosemary, who gave you a knowing look. Although the redhead in front of you relaxed a little, you had guessed, realizing you were not a threat to him. However, you could see confusion written on your face. "Owen." The redhead said it with a deep Scottish accent. "W-what?" You stammared. "My name is Owen, $Lass ." Before you could say or do anything, you were interrupted. "Oh my God, you're $Hers !" A woman beside Marcel said she was shorter than the curly-haired man beside her, with a surprised expression on her face and a look of realization. "You know me?" You asked, frowning, looking at the pointed finger. You have never met this woman in your life, and didn't these people just arrive here? She nodded in response, brushing back a few strands of brown hair that were in front of her dark blue eyes. "I mean, yeah, we are here-" Marcel cut in. "We heard about you from Tai." He sent the woman a look, who just looked at him confused before something clicked, and she nodded. She soothed out her knee-length yellow floral dress, and with a little wrinkle forming on her forehead, she started to speak again, more slowly this time, as if thinking it through. "Oh! Yeah! Tai has told us all about you!" You frowned in confusion. "Tai? Tai Huang? You all know Tai?" How could these people know Tai? Rosemary poured some water from a water bottle into some part of the car's engine and watched as the car started to cool down and the smoke started to disappear. Even as the smoke was all in her face, you were surprised to see that she still looked like she had just walked off the runaway. The steam didn't even smudge her makeup. "He's…a friend." Rosemary said the word friend like it was a disease. Rosemary gracefully closed the lid of her car. Marcel smiled. "We were just on our way to meet him before we broke down." Marcel put a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Thankfully, Margaret spotted the smoke." Owen snorted. "Ye mean noisily told everyone in the car." Margaret frowned a little bit, like a flower decaying, to which Owen huffed at the expression on her face. You could see a bit of regret flicker in Owen's eyes, he said. "But it was good you pointed it out, Margo." Margaret’s face brightened like the sun. "Thank you, Owen!" Owen crossed his arms, and you swore you saw a small blush on the man’s cheeks. "Don’t mention it, lass." "So you came all the way to Lockwood for Tai?" You asked. Rosemary smirked. "Among other things, but that's for us to know, $Dollface ." She winked as she leaned against the car, wearing a lace tank top and blue jeans. You couldn’t help but notice people who were walking past just turning to get another glance at her. "I would get your car checked out if I were to go all the way to Doc's place." Aunt Zinnia said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "I am guessing that is where you are going?" Marcel let out a charming laugh. "You would be correct, Miss..?" "Zinnia." Your aunt said. "Zinnia Oleander." She pointed to you. "This is my $Niece , $Name." $C69 The woman, or Margaret, waved at you while Marcel started to talk again. "So you two wouldn't happen to know where the nearest mechanic shop is, would you?" Marcel gave a sleepish grin and looked at the now unsmoking car. You nodded your head. "Yeah, there is a Mr. Matthews place just at the edge of town." Marcel frowned. "You wouldn't be able to give us a map, would you?" "$Name can show you the way," Zinnia said. You snapped your head toward your aunt Zinnia. "I will?" "You can ride in the car and give them directions, $Name." * [[You pulled your aunt a little to the side to express your concerns]] * [["I'm what?!" You asked, not caring about anyone hearing you]] * [["Is this your way of getting rid of me?" You put a hand on your hip, adding to your sarcastic remark.]] * [[You just shrugged and nodded your head in agreement.]] * [[You smiled. "It won't be a long trip, so why not?"]]

Finally, his sky-blue eyes landed on you, sizing you up. His face was set in a firm line, and you were surprised you were not melting on the spot from his stare. You started to grow uncomfortable as the atmosphere started to become so thick that it could suffocate you. Aunt Zinnia put a hand on your shoulder; her own stare matching the man's, however, was instead directed at the man, her other hand on her hip. "Do we have a problem here?" Zinnia asked, her voice almost made of stone, and you were taken aback for a moment. Your aunt Zinnia practically put you behind her. The man's eyes left you and landed on your aunt; the stare down sent chills to everyone in a ten-foot radius. You were sure of it. The stare down felt like it was for hours, but you knew it was only for a split second until finally Marcel patted the redhead on the shoulder, giving him a look you really couldn't figure out, which made the man relax a little, but he still looked at your aunt dead in the eye. "No. No problem here." Zinnia eased up, her body becoming less on edge. However, she gave you a look that read: //You okay?// She must have found the answer she was looking for in your eyes, and she looked back at the man. Marcel smiled, which loosened the mood even further, and elbowed the man, who snarled but seemed to get the message he was sending. "Owen." The man said, his voice deep with the most profound Scottish accent. While it was clear that his friend was sending him the message to talk, you were still taken aback. "What?" You croaked, and the redhead crossed his arms over his chest. "The name is Owen." He said it with a hiss, though you felt only a little of the anger was directed at you and more at his curly brown-haired friend. Marcel, who again didn't seem to notice or care, just elbowed him again. "Oi! Fine!" The Scottish man, Owen, growled, stepped forward, and stuck out his hand. "Hullo, it's a pleasure to make yer acquaintance." * [[You smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Owen."]] * [[You just smirked, a little bite in your tone. "Don't want to make Daddy angry, aye?" You looked toward Marcel.]] * [[You quickly shook his hand and backed away, closer to your Aunt Zinnia.]] * [[You cocked an eyebrow and gave him a smirk, clapping him on the shoulder in a friendly manner.]]

You pulled your aunt a little to the side to express your concerns. "You want me to get in that car with complete strangers? What if something happens to me?" Your aunt gave you a reassuring pat on the shoulder. " $C76 " She then narrowed her eyes at the group who seemed to be chatting around the car before turning back at you. "Even if you aren't, you know I'll break their heads in if something were to happen to you." "How about I just don't go in the car with complete strangers?" You whispered. "Listen, kiddo, they seem to be having real car trouble. I don't think you can fake your car being on fire just to kidnap someone." Okay, true, their car does look really bad. "Plus, they seem to know Tai, and you know this town better than anyone; those folks will get lost before even finding Matty's driveway." You nodded your head. "I guess that makes sense." Your aunt nodded as well, giving you a small smile, but it looked a little tense. "Of course it does; I always make sense. but to even get away from your worries more, my dear $Niece, I'll make two of them stay back while we wait on Tai." "Tai is coming over?" You asked, surprised. "That is two days in a week that he has assoiated with our "sugar hell," as he loves to call it." Your aunt shrugged, her posture strengthening. "He called this morning and wanted to come by and talk." "Talk? Talk to you?" Your aunt smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, don't be so jealous; I am sure he just wanted to go over my lab results from a few months ago." "Nothing is wrong, right? Are you sick or something?" You asked with a worried tone in your voice, but your aunt just let out a barking laugh. "Don't worry, Sugar Cube; you know how old-school Tai is; he probably just wants to tell me I am all fine and dandy in person." Your breathing went back to normal, and you nodded. "Right. Right." Zinnia gave you a soft smile. "Don't worry, $Name, I am going to be around for a long time." You gave her your own soft smile. "Yeah, I know, Aunt Z." "Good. So no rush to give me any great nieces or nephews." Your aunt said it in a fake serious tone, which made you groan. //So....Aunt Zinnia can't do it while I stay behind; she has a doctor's appointment...or a doctor's meeting? Whatever. She needs to meet Dr. Grumpy. // "But besides that, are you okay with going with some of them to Mat's?" It was widely known that Mat's shop was hard to find without living in Lockwood your whole life. With him living in the backwoods, there was no way that Marcel, Maragrat, Rosemary, or even Owen would be able to find his shop on the first try, and at a glance at the car, they didn't have that kind of power right now. "Okay, fine, I'll do it." Zinnia smiled at you and went back over to the group, with you following close behind. "So, my dear, $Niece is going to go with two of you to Matt's place to fix your car." "Not just a car." You heard Rosemary whisper under her breath. Your aunt continued in a stern tone. "While two of you stay back and wait in my shop for Tai." "Tai is coming here?" Owen asked, rather gruffly. "Why? He knew we were going to meet him at his place." Zinnia gave him a tense smile. "Oh, you know, doctor things." Marcel smiled through the tense atmosphere and looked at you. "If you are okay with it, then we would be so grateful for you to give us directions." You felt a wave of calm wash over you and returned his smile with your own. "Yeah, I am okay with it." Marcel clapped his hands together. "Marvelous!" * [[You looked toward Marcel and Rosemary.]](Owen and Margaret stay behind.) * [[You looked toward Owen and Margaret.]] (Marcel and Rosemary stay behind.)

"I'm what?!" You asked, not caring about anyone hearing you. "You want me to get in that car with complete strangers? What if something happens to me?" Your aunt gave you a reassuring pat on the shoulder. " $C76 " She then narrowed her eyes at the group who looked between us. "Even if you aren't, you know I'll break their heads in if something were to happen to you." Marcel gave you a reassuring smile, which was overshadowed by a little frown on his face. "I can assure you that my friends and I would never hurt you, $Name ." "It is not about that... I just would rather not get in a car with complete strangers."You said this, wincing at Marcel's genuine expression. "Listen, kiddo, they seem to be having real car trouble. I don't think you can fake your car being on fire just to kidnap someone." "My car is not on fire anymore." Rosemary said, crossing her arms. Okay, true, their car did look really bad. "Plus, they seem to know Tai, and you know this town better than anyone; those folks will get lost before even finding Matty's driveway." Owen frowned a little at the comment about them getting lost. You nodded your head. "I guess that makes sense." Your aunt nodded as well, giving you a small smile, but it looked a little tense. "Of course it does; I always make sense. but to even get away from your worries more, my dear $Niece , I'll make two of them stay back while we wait on Tai." "Tai is coming over?" You asked, surprised. "That is two days in a week that he has assoiated with our "sugar hell," as he loves to call it." "Sounds like Tai." You heard Rosemary say. Your aunt shrugged, her posture strengthening. "He called this morning and wanted to come by and talk." "Talk? Talk to you?" Your aunt smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, don't be so jealous; I am sure he just wanted to go over my lab results from a few months ago." "Nothing is wrong, right? Are you sick or something?" You asked with a worried tone in your voice, but your aunt just let out a barking laugh. "Don't worry, Sugar Cube; you know how old-school Tai is; he probably just wants to tell me I am all fine and dandy in person." Your breathing went back to normal, and you nodded. "Right. Right." Zinnia gave you a soft smile. "Don't worry, $Name, I am going to be around for a long time." You gave her your own soft smile. "Yeah, I know, Aunt Z." "Good. So no rush to give me any great nieces or nephews." Your aunt said it in a fake serious tone, which made you groan, and it didn't help that Maragart and Marcel gave you smiles. Although one was so big and bright, it might have blinded you, while the other was small and seemed to twinkle in his eye as he looked between you and your aunt. //So, Aunt Zinnia can't do it while I stay behind; she has a doctor's appointment...or a doctor's meeting? Whatever. She needs to meet Dr. Grumpy. // "But besides that, are you okay with going with some of them to Mat's?" It was widely known that Mat's shop was hard to find without living in Lockwood your whole life. With him living in the backwoods, there was no way that Marcel, Maragrat, Rosemary, or even Owen would be able to find his shop on the first try, and at a glance at the car, they didn't have that kind of power right now. And....they were all staring at you. "Okay, fine, I'll do it." "Finally, $She made up her mind." Owen said that you sending him a glare didn't seem to help, as he just shrugged it off. Zinnia smiled at you and turned to the group, with you following close behind. "So, my dear, $Niece is going to go with two of you to Matt's place to fix your car." "Not just a car." You heard Rosemary whisper under her breath. Your aunt continued in a stern tone. "While two of you stay back and wait in my shop for Tai." Marcel smiled through the tense atmosphere and looked at you. "If you are sure you are okay with it, then we would be so grateful for you to give us directions." You felt a wave of calm wash over you and returned his smile with your own. "Yeah, I am okay with it." Marcel clapped his hands together. "Marvelous!" * [[You looked toward Marcel and Rosemary.]](Owen and Margaret stay behind.) * [[You looked toward Owen and Margaret.]] (Marcel and Rosemary stay behind.)

"Is this your way of getting rid of me?" You put a hand on your hip, adding to your sarcastic remark. Your aunt put a hand over her heart in a mock fashion. "Me? Never!?" "But you want me to end up on a milk carton....?" Your aunt gave you a reassuring pat on the shoulder. " $C76 " She then waved over to the group, who seemed to be looking between the two of you. "Even if you aren't, you know I'll break their heads in if something were to happen to you." Marcel gave you a reassuring smile, which was overshadowed by a little frown on his face. "I can assure you that my friends and I would never hurt you, $Name ." "Of course, but I would rather you not put these people in the hospital." You said it with a sly smile that matched your aunt's, making light of the conversation. Owen scoffed a little. "Although." You started to say it, scratching your chin. "These kidnappers on the run do need help with their car..." You said it with a joking tone. Rosemary snickered, catching on to the light tone in your voice. "You offering to be our next victim, $Dollface ?" "Maybe, although with your ride, there is no way you would get far, and you all will definitely get lost at Mat's shop." It was widely known that Matt's shop was hard to find without living in Lockwood your whole life. With him living in the backwoods, there was no way that Marcel, Maragrat, Rosemary, or even Owen would be able to find his shop on the first try, and at a glance at the car, they didn't have that kind of power right now. "Even if we had a map?" "Even if there was a map." You corrected. "Mr. Matthew is a very private person and lives in the backwoods; people who don't live here will a hundred percent get lost." Your aunt nodded, giving you a small smile, but it looked a little tense. "If you want two or more people to go with you while I wait for Tai," "Tai is coming over?" You asked, surprised. "That is two days in a week that he has assoiated with our "sugar hell," as he loves to call it." Margaret mouthed at Marcel with a questioning gaze. 'Sugar hell?' Marcel just seemed to give a small shurg. Your aunt shrugged, her posture strengthening. "He called this morning and wanted to come by and talk." "Talk? Talk to you?" Your aunt smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, don't be so jealous; I am sure he just wanted to go over my lab results from a few months ago." "Nothing is wrong, right? Are you sick or something?" You asked with a worried tone, your joking exterior melting away, but your aunt just let out a barking laugh. "Don't worry, Sugar Cube; you know how old-school Tai is; he probably just wants to tell me I am all fine and dandy in person." Your breathing went back to normal, and you nodded. "Right. Right." Zinnia gave you a soft smile. "Don't worry, $Name, I am going to be around for a long time." You gave her your own soft smile. "Yeah, I know, Aunt Z." "Good. So no rush to give me any great nieces or nephews." Your aunt said it in a fake serious tone, which made you groan. Marcel seemed to give you a reassuring smile; however, you saw a twinkle in your eye at your aunt's and yours's enchange. //So....Aunt Zinnia can't do it while I stay behind; she has a doctor's appointment...or a doctor's meeting? Whatever. She needs to meet Dr. Grumpy. // "But seriously, are you okay with going to Mat's with them?" Aunt Zinnia pointed to the group. "Okay, fine, I'll do it." Zinnia smiled at you and turned back over to the group. "So, my dear, $Niece is going to go with two of you to Matt's place to fix your car." "Not just a car." You heard Rosemary whisper under her breath. Your aunt continued in a stern tone. "While two of you stay back and wait in my shop for Tai." Marcel smiled through the tense atmosphere and looked at you. "If you are okay with it, then we would be so grateful for you to give us directions." You returned his smile with your own. "Of course!" Marcel clapped his hands together. "Marvelous!" * [[You looked toward Marcel and Rosemary.]](Owen and Margaret stay behind.) * [[You looked toward Owen and Margaret.]] (Marcel and Rosemary stay behind.)

You just shrugged and nodded your head in agreement. Rosemary raised an eyebrow. "Well, don't be too excited, $Dollface." She said it sarcastically. However, Marcel had the opposite reaction, while Owen looked like he could care less. "Oh, thank you, $Name!" Mary frowned. "But why can't we just use a map?" "Even if there was a map." You corrected. "Mr. Matthew is a very private person and lives in the backwoods; people who don't live here will a hundred percent get lost." Your aunt nodded, giving you a small smile, but it looked a little tense. "If you want two or more people to go with you while I wait for Tai," "Tai is coming over?" You asked, surprised. "...that is two days this week... Your aunt shrugged, her posture strengthening. "He called this morning and wanted to come by and talk." Your head was tilted in confusion. Your aunt smiled, raising an eyebrow. "He just wanted to go over my lab results from a few months ago." "Nothing is wrong, right? Are you sick or something?" You asked with a worried tone. "Don't worry, Sugar Cube; you know how old-school Tai is; he probably just wants to tell me I am all fine and dandy in person." Your breathing went back to normal, and you nodded. Zinnia gave you a soft smile. "Don't worry, $Name, I am going to be around for a long time." You gave her a soft look. "Yeah, I know, Aunt Z." "Good. So no rush to give me any great nieces or nephews." Your aunt said it in a fake serious tone, which made you shake your head. Marcel seemed to give you a reassuring smile; however, you saw a twinkle in your eye at your aunt's and yours's enchange. Zinnia smiled at you and turned back over to the group. "So, my dear, $Niece is going to go with two of you to Matt's place to fix your car." "Not just a car." You heard Rosemary whisper under her breath. Your aunt continued in a stern tone. "While two of you stay back and wait in my shop for Tai." Marcel smiled through the tense atmosphere and looked at you. "If you are okay with it, then we would be so grateful for you to give us directions." You returned his smile with a head nod. Marcel clapped his hands together. "Marvelous!" * [[You looked toward Marcel and Rosemary.]](Owen and Margaret stay behind.) * [[You looked toward Owen and Margaret.]] (Marcel and Rosemary stay behind.)

You smiled. "It won't be a long trip, so why not?" Rosemary raised an eyebrow with a flirty smile. "Glad you are so excited, $Dollface" Marcel smiled , while Owen looked like he could care less. "Oh, thank you, $Name!" Mary frowned. "But why can't we just use a map?" "Even if there was a map." You corrected. "Mr. Matthew is a very private person and lives in the backwoods; people who don't live here will a hundred percent get lost." Your aunt nodded, giving you a small smile, but it looked a little tense. "If you want two or more people to go with you while I wait for Tai," "Tai is coming over?" You asked, surprised. "...that is two days this week... Your aunt shrugged, her posture strengthening. "He called this morning and wanted to come by and talk." You frowned. "Talk? Talk about what?" Your aunt smiled, raising an eyebrow. "He just wanted to go over my lab results from a few months ago." "Nothing is wrong, right? Are you sick or something?" You asked with a worried tone. "Don't worry, Sugar Cube; you know how old-school Tai is; he probably just wants to tell me I am all fine and dandy in person." Your breathing went back to normal, and you smiled. "Okay, great." Zinnia gave you a soft smile. "Don't worry, $Name, I am going to be around for a long time." You gave her a soft look. "Yeah, I know, Aunt Z." "Good. So no rush to give me any great nieces or nephews." Your aunt said it in a fake serious tone, which made you shake your head. Marcel seemed to give you a reassuring smile; however, you saw a twinkle in your eye at your aunt's and yours's enchange. Zinnia smiled at you and turned back over to the group. "So, my dear, $Niece is going to go with two of you to Matt's place to fix your car." "Not just a car." You heard Rosemary whisper under her breath. Your aunt continued in a stern tone. "While two of you stay back and wait in my shop for Tai." Marcel smiled through the tense atmosphere and looked at you. "If you are okay with it, then we would be so grateful for you to give us directions." You returned his smile with your own. "Of course!" Marcel clapped his hands together. "Marvelous!" * [[You looked toward Marcel and Rosemary.]](Owen and Margaret stay behind.) * [[You looked toward Owen and Margaret.]] (Marcel and Rosemary stay behind.)

You smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Owen." Owen's eyes widened a little, and he opened his mouth in surprise; he just looked at your hand. "I-uh..nice to meet ya as well, $Lass ." Your smile grew when you watched the large man have a dumbfounded expression on his face. Before you could say or do anything, you were interrupted. "Oh my God, you're $Hers !" A woman beside Marcel said she was shorter than the curly-haired man beside her, with a surprised expression on her face and a look of realization. "You know me?" You asked, frowning, looking at the pointed finger. You have never met this woman in your life, and didn't these people just arrive here? She nodded in response, brushing back a few strands of brown hair that were in front of her dark blue eyes. "I mean, yeah, we are here-" Marcel cut in. "We heard about you from Tai." He sent the woman a look, who just looked at him confused before something clicked, and she nodded. She soothed out her knee-length yellow floral dress, and with a little wrinkle forming on her forehead, she started to speak again, more slowly this time, as if thinking it through. "Oh! Yeah! Tai has told us all about you!" You frowned in confusion. "Tai? Tai Huang? You all know Tai?" How could these people know Tai? Rosemary poured some water from a water bottle into some part of the car's engine and watched as the car started to cool down and the smoke started to disappear. Even as the smoke was all in her face, you were surprised to see that she still looked like she had just walked off the runaway. The steam didn't even smudge her makeup. "He's…a friend." Rosemary said the word friend like it was a disease. Rosemary gracefully closed the lid of her car. Marcel smiled. "We were just on our way to meet him before we broke down." Marcel put a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Thankfully, Margaret spotted the smoke." Owen snorted. "Ye mean noisily told everyone in the car." Margaret frowned a little bit, like a flower decaying, to which Owen huffed at the expression on her face. You could see a bit of regret flicker in Owen's eyes, he said. "But it was good you pointed it out, Margo." Margaret’s face brightened like the sun. "Thank you, Owen!" Owen crossed his arms, and you swore you saw a small blush on the man’s cheeks. "Don’t mention it, lass." "So you came all the way to Lockwood for Tai?" You asked. Rosemary smirked. "Among other things, but that's for us to know, $Dollface ." She winked as she leaned against the car, wearing a lace tank top and blue jeans. You couldn’t help but notice people who were walking past just turning to get another glance at her. "I would get your car checked out if I were to go all the way to Doc's place." Aunt Zinnia said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "I am guessing that is where you are going?" Marcel let out a charming laugh. "You would be correct, Miss..?" "Zinnia." Your aunt said. "Zinnia Oleander." She pointed to you. "This is my $Niece , $Name." $C69 The woman, or Margaret, waved at you while Marcel started to talk again. "So you two wouldn't happen to know where the nearest mechanic shop is, would you?" Marcel gave a sleepish grin and looked at the now unsmoking car. You nodded your head. "Yeah, there is a Mr. Matthews place just at the edge of town." Marcel frowned. "You wouldn't be able to give us a map, would you?" "$Name can show you the way," Zinnia said. You snapped your head toward your aunt Zinnia. "I will?" "You can ride in the car and give them directions, $Name." * [[You pulled your aunt a little to the side to express your concerns]] * [["I'm what?!" You asked, not caring about anyone hearing you]] * [["Is this your way of getting rid of me?" You put a hand on your hip, adding to your sarcastic remark.]] * [[You just shrugged and nodded your head in agreement.]] * [[You smiled. "It won't be a long trip, so why not?"]]

You just smirked, a little bite in your tone, taking on a fake Scottish accent. "Don't want to make Daddy angry, aye?" You looked toward Marcel and then back at Owen. You jumped a little at the sound of bark laughter, and you were shocked that it came from the redhead himself. Everyone was shocked; you could tell from their frozen and surprised expressions. Owen wiped his eyes in dramatic fashion and looked at you right in the eye. "Oh, don't you have a mouth on you, $Lass ." He smiled and had humor in his eyes. "I like it." Before you could say or do anything, you were interrupted. "Oh my God, you're $Hers !" A woman beside Marcel said she was shorter than the curly-haired man beside her, with a surprised expression on her face and a look of realization. "You know me?" You asked, frowning, looking at the pointed finger. You have never met this woman in your life, and didn't these people just arrive here? She nodded in response, brushing back a few strands of brown hair that were in front of her dark blue eyes. "I mean, yeah, we are here-" Marcel cut in. "We heard about you from Tai." He sent the woman a look, who just looked at him confused before something clicked, and she nodded. She soothed out her knee-length yellow floral dress, and with a little wrinkle forming on her forehead, she started to speak again, more slowly this time, as if thinking it through. "Oh! Yeah! Tai has told us all about you!" You frowned in confusion. "Tai? Tai Huang? You all know Tai?" How could these people know Tai? Rosemary poured some water from a water bottle into some part of the car's engine and watched as the car started to cool down and the smoke started to disappear. Even as the smoke was all in her face, you were surprised to see that she still looked like she had just walked off the runaway. The steam didn't even smudge her makeup. "He's…a friend." Rosemary said the word friend like it was a disease. Rosemary gracefully closed the lid of her car. Marcel smiled. "We were just on our way to meet him before we broke down." Marcel put a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Thankfully, Margaret spotted the smoke." Owen snorted. "Ye mean noisily told everyone in the car." Margaret frowned a little bit, like a flower decaying, to which Owen huffed at the expression on her face. You could see a bit of regret flicker in Owen's eyes, he said. "But it was good you pointed it out, Margo." Margaret’s face brightened like the sun. "Thank you, Owen!" Owen crossed his arms, and you swore you saw a small blush on the man’s cheeks. "Don’t mention it, lass." "So you came all the way to Lockwood for Tai?" You asked. Rosemary smirked. "Among other things, but that's for us to know, $Dollface ." She winked as she leaned against the car, wearing a lace tank top and blue jeans. You couldn’t help but notice people who were walking past just turning to get another glance at her. "I would get your car checked out if I were to go all the way to Doc's place." Aunt Zinnia said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "I am guessing that is where you are going?" Marcel let out a charming laugh. "You would be correct, Miss..?" "Zinnia." Your aunt said. "Zinnia Oleander." She pointed to you. "This is my $Niece , $Name." $C69 The woman, or Margaret, waved at you while Marcel started to talk again. "So you two wouldn't happen to know where the nearest mechanic shop is, would you?" Marcel gave a sleepish grin and looked at the now unsmoking car. You nodded your head. "Yeah, there is a Mr. Matthews place just at the edge of town." Marcel frowned. "You wouldn't be able to give us a map, would you?" "$Name can show you the way," Zinnia said. You snapped your head toward your aunt Zinnia. "I will?" "You can ride in the car and give them directions, $Name." * [[You pulled your aunt a little to the side to express your concerns]] * [["I'm what?!" You asked, not caring about anyone hearing you]] * [["Is this your way of getting rid of me?" You put a hand on your hip, adding to your sarcastic remark.]] * [[You just shrugged and nodded your head in agreement.]] * [[You smiled. "It won't be a long trip, so why not?"]]

You quickly shook Owen's hand. You really didn't want to add more tension to the situation. Owen squeezed your hand a little too tight, and with a flash, he let go, rolling his shoulders, and you felt you were free to go back to your aunt. You quickly backed away from the Scottish man, and Zinnia put a comforting hand on your shoulder before crossing her arms. "Don't worry, $Lass ; I don't bite." He said, a sly smile on his face, and you swore, You saw a flicker of something else in his eye, and you nodded meekly, trying not to feel threatened. Before you could say or do anything, you were interrupted. "Oh my God, you're $Hers !" A woman beside Marcel said she was shorter than the curly-haired man beside her, with a surprised expression on her face and a look of realization. "You know me?" You asked, frowning, looking at the pointed finger. You have never met this woman in your life, and didn't these people just arrive here? She nodded in response, brushing back a few strands of brown hair that were in front of her dark blue eyes. "I mean, yeah, we are here-" Marcel cut in. "We heard about you from Tai." He sent the woman a look, who just looked at him confused before something clicked, and she nodded. She soothed out her knee-length yellow floral dress, and with a little wrinkle forming on her forehead, she started to speak again, more slowly this time, as if thinking it through. "Oh! Yeah! Tai has told us all about you!" You frowned in confusion. "Tai? Tai Huang? You all know Tai?" How could these people know Tai? Rosemary poured some water from a water bottle into some part of the car's engine and watched as the car started to cool down and the smoke started to disappear. Even as the smoke was all in her face, you were surprised to see that she still looked like she had just walked off the runaway. The steam didn't even smudge her makeup. "He's…a friend." Rosemary said the word friend like it was a disease. Rosemary gracefully closed the lid of her car. Marcel smiled. "We were just on our way to meet him before we broke down." Marcel put a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Thankfully, Margaret spotted the smoke." Owen snorted. "Ye mean noisily told everyone in the car." Margaret frowned a little bit, like a flower decaying, to which Owen huffed at the expression on her face. You could see a bit of regret flicker in Owen's eyes, he said. "But it was good you pointed it out, Margo." Margaret’s face brightened like the sun. "Thank you, Owen!" Owen crossed his arms, and you swore you saw a small blush on the man’s cheeks. "Don’t mention it, lass." "So you came all the way to Lockwood for Tai?" You asked. Rosemary smirked. "Among other things, but that's for us to know, $Dollface ." She winked as she leaned against the car, wearing a lace tank top and blue jeans. You couldn’t help but notice people who were walking past just turning to get another glance at her. "I would get your car checked out if I were to go all the way to Doc's place." Aunt Zinnia said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "I am guessing that is where you are going?" Marcel let out a charming laugh. "You would be correct, Miss..?" "Zinnia." Your aunt said. "Zinnia Oleander." She pointed to you. "This is my $Niece , $Name." $C69 The woman, or Margaret, waved at you while Marcel started to talk again. "So you two wouldn't happen to know where the nearest mechanic shop is, would you?" Marcel gave a sleepish grin and looked at the now unsmoking car. You nodded your head. "Yeah, there is a Mr. Matthews place just at the edge of town." Marcel frowned. "You wouldn't be able to give us a map, would you?" "$Name can show you the way," Zinnia said. You snapped your head toward your aunt Zinnia. "I will?" "You can ride in the car and give them directions, $Name." * [[You pulled your aunt a little to the side to express your concerns]] * [["I'm what?!" You asked, not caring about anyone hearing you]] * [["Is this your way of getting rid of me?" You put a hand on your hip, adding to your sarcastic remark.]] * [[You just shrugged and nodded your head in agreement.]] * [[You smiled. "It won't be a long trip, so why not?"]]

You cocked an eyebrow and gave him a smirk, which Owen raised a suspicious eyebrow at. You raised your hand, and you saw that Owen, again, tensed up as if waiting for an impact. He started reaching for something in his other pocket. With a smirk, you clapped Owen on the shoulder, which left him frozen as he stopped reaching for whatever was in his pocket and strengthened up. "I..uh..what?" Owen said, looking at your hand, that started to retract back to your side. "Nice to meet you too." You waved a hand, dismissing him before he could say anything. "Don't worry about it, big guy; I work as a customer service; you aren't the first person who has been rude to me." Before you could say or do anything, you were interrupted. "Oh my God, you're $Hers !" A woman beside Marcel said she was shorter than the curly-haired man beside her, with a surprised expression on her face and a look of realization. "You know me?" You asked, frowning, looking at the pointed finger. You have never met this woman in your life, and didn't these people just arrive here? She nodded in response, brushing back a few strands of brown hair that were in front of her dark blue eyes. "I mean, yeah, we are here-" Marcel cut in. "We heard about you from Tai." He sent the woman a look, who just looked at him confused before something clicked, and she nodded. She soothed out her knee-length yellow floral dress, and with a little wrinkle forming on her forehead, she started to speak again, more slowly this time, as if thinking it through. "Oh! Yeah! Tai has told us all about you!" You frowned in confusion. "Tai? Tai Huang? You all know Tai?" How could these people know Tai? Rosemary poured some water from a water bottle into some part of the car's engine and watched as the car started to cool down and the smoke started to disappear. Even as the smoke was all in her face, you were surprised to see that she still looked like she had just walked off the runaway. The steam didn't even smudge her makeup. "He's…a friend." Rosemary said the word friend like it was a disease. Rosemary gracefully closed the lid of her car. Marcel smiled. "We were just on our way to meet him before we broke down." Marcel put a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Thankfully, Margaret spotted the smoke." Owen snorted. "Ye mean noisily told everyone in the car." Margaret frowned a little bit, like a flower decaying, to which Owen huffed at the expression on her face. You could see a bit of regret flicker in Owen's eyes, he said. "But it was good you pointed it out, Margo." Margaret’s face brightened like the sun. "Thank you, Owen!" Owen crossed his arms, and you swore you saw a small blush on the man’s cheeks. "Don’t mention it, lass." "So you came all the way to Lockwood for Tai?" You asked. Rosemary smirked. "Among other things, but that's for us to know, $Dollface ." She winked as she leaned against the car, wearing a lace tank top and blue jeans. You couldn’t help but notice people who were walking past just turning to get another glance at her. "I would get your car checked out if I were to go all the way to Doc's place." Aunt Zinnia said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "I am guessing that is where you are going?" Marcel let out a charming laugh. "You would be correct, Miss..?" "Zinnia." Your aunt said. "Zinnia Oleander." She pointed to you. "This is my $Niece , $Name." $C69 The woman, or Margaret, waved at you while Marcel started to talk again. "So you two wouldn't happen to know where the nearest mechanic shop is, would you?" Marcel gave a sleepish grin and looked at the now unsmoking car. You nodded your head. "Yeah, there is a Mr. Matthews place just at the edge of town." Marcel frowned. "You wouldn't be able to give us a map, would you?" "$Name can show you the way," Zinnia said. You snapped your head toward your aunt Zinnia. "I will?" "You can ride in the car and give them directions, $Name." * [[You pulled your aunt a little to the side to express your concerns]] * [["I'm what?!" You asked, not caring about anyone hearing you]] * [["Is this your way of getting rid of me?" You put a hand on your hip, adding to your sarcastic remark.]] * [[You just shrugged and nodded your head in agreement.]] * [[You smiled. "It won't be a long trip, so why not?"]]

<<set $C95Per1 to "Rosemary">><<set $C95Per2 to "Marcel">> Rosemary spoke up. "Well, I'm going where my baby goes." She looked toward her car. Owen scoffed, however, and was soon replaced with a smirk. "You just don't want to wait for Tai." "I wouldn't like to see him at all." Rosemary answered back. Marcel frowned. "Rosemary, that is enough." Rosemary pressed her lips together but didn't argue. "However," Marcel continued. "It would probably be best if you went; you are the best with your "baby," as you love to call it." Owen looked towards Aunt Zinnia, who had strengthened up and had a flicker of distrust in her eyes. "I can stay here." "Oh, can I stay too?" Rosemary smiled. "Oh, hun, is your sweet tooth getting to you already?" Maragart smiled back at Rosemary, but she was a little sleepy. "Well, I haven't ate in hours." You spoke up. "Aunt Z made some blueberry muffins." Aunt Zinnia grinned. "My //famous// blueberry muffins, and you are welcome to have some sweet heart." She spoke towards Maragart, who blushed and nodded, seeming to jetter with excitement. Rosemary gave a small bow in a dramatic fashion, which you were starting to think was how she usually was, and just turned and got in the front seat. Marcel posed as if to lend you his arm. "Shall we, $Miss $Name ?" His charm disarmed any negative thoughts, and you took his arm as he led you towards the car. "Be safe, $Name ." You heard Aunt Zinnia say: You looked over your shoulder. "I'll be fine, Aunt Zinnia." * [[You got into the passenger seat next to Rosemary.]] * [[You got into the backseat next to Marcel.]]

<<set $C95Per1 to "Owen">><<set $C95Per2 to "Margaret">> Rosemary spoke up. "Well, I'm going where my baby goes." She looked toward her car. Marcel stepped in. "I actually think it would be better for Owen and Margaret to go with $Name ." Owen shrugged, slautering towards the car. "Alright." Rosemary put a hand on a heart. "What?! You can't really be serious." Marcel nodded. "I am, Rosemary. Your car will be fine, and we should stay with Zinnia." Rosemary threw the keys to Owen, who catched them effotlessly. "Well, isn't this just the bee’s knees?" She said, scarcasm dripping from her voice. When you saw Owen and Margaret getting into the car, you took the hint to move on. "Be safe, $Name ." You heard Aunt Zinnia say: You looked over your shoulder. "I'll be fine, Aunt Zinnia." * [[You got into the passenger seat next to Owen.]] * [[You got into the backseat next to Margaret.]]

<<set $SecondPerson to "Marcel">> You opened the door, the surface of the black handle burning your skin for a quick second; it opened with a satisfying click, and with a swift motion, you climbed into the passenger seat, Rosemary already in, putting on what you could tell was expensive dark blue driving gloves before settling a matching pair of driving glasses on her face, the circler lenses hiding her eyes. <<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> "Buckle in, $Dollface ." You could hear the purr in her voice, almost matching the ignition, starting as Rosemary turned on the car, which made you question if the car needed to go to the shop at all. You put the the seat buckle on as the car started in motion. You heard the click from Marcel's seat belt, which made you look at him through the rearview mirror. "Again, thank you for giving us directions." Your eyes darted away from Marcel's face and to behind him as you saw the small figures of your aunt and the rest of these newcomers start to be out of view. "It is no problem; it is a little hard if you don't know the way to Mr. Anderson's house." "Hopefully this gent can fix my darling jalopy." Your eyebrows raised a little at the oldish slang, but you were guessing that everything about Rosemary was just a little classic. "I am sure that this lovley...uh..mechanic can fix your auto vechicle, Rosemary." Marcel said. You wanted to snort at Mr. Anderson being called "lovley." You were sure the old man wouldn't like to be called anything such. "I wouldn't worry about that." You started. "Mr. Anderson is the best mechanic by miles." "Well, hopefully my baby can get us there in two shakes of a lamb's tail before we land in a ditch, but I am glad that I get to spend more time with you, $Dollface ." Rosemary's head tilted towards you, and you literally cursed whoever made darkened lenses, wanting to see her eyes as she looked at you; like how a dog looked at a juicy piece of meat. You were the meat. * [[You smirked. "Oh well, I am happy to be of service, especially if it helps a lady such as yourself." You said, flirting.]] * [[You just gave an indifferent nod. "It really is no issue."]] * [["Oh, it is no problem at all; it is good to get out once in a while."]] * [["It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything." You said it with a bite.]] * [["It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything." You said it with a sincere tone and a soft smile.]] * [[You blushed. "I...uh...yeah, no problem."]]

You opened the door, the surface of the black handle burning your skin for a quick second. It opened with a satisfying click, and with a swift motion, you climbed into the backseat. <<set $MRFrP to $MRFrP + 1>> "Buckle in, $Dollface ." You could hear the purr in her voice, almost matching the ignition, starting as Rosemary turned on the car, which made you question if the car needed to go to the shop at all. You put the seat buckle on as the car started moving. <<set $SecondPerson to "Rosemary">> You watched as Marcel put his seat belt on, giving you a charming smile as your eyes met. "Thank you so much for doing this again, $Name . Not many people would help a bunch of strangers." <<if $Stoic >= 50>>Surprisingly, you blushed. "It-t-t is no problem." //What is wrong with me?// <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You matched his charming smile with your own. "It is no problem!" You said with a chipper tone. <</if>> //There was no turning back now// You glanced back at the small figure of your aunt, as you were almost at the end of the street. Marcel sighed in response and gave Rosemary a smile in the mirror, which you only saw when she glanced at it for a moment. "Well, today has been inventful, hasn't it?" Rosemary laughed a little. "Now that is an understatement, Marcel." The man beside you glanced your way, worry in his eyes; however, before you could question it, the concern flicker was gone. However, you heard it in his voice as he tried to hide it under a happy tone. "Are you really okay?" //Okay? Driving with strangers or just in general? I honestly don't know how to answer that. // * [[You smirked. "Oh well, as long as I get to sit by such a charming man all day, I think I will get through it."]] * [[With a blank look on your face, you said. "It really is no issue."]] * [["Oh, it is no problem at all; I was getting a little restless at the shop anyway."]] * [["It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything," you said with an irritated tone]] * [[Your mouth suddenly became dry. "I...uh...yeah, no problem."]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>> "It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything." You said it with a sincere tone and a soft smile. <<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> You saw Marcel smile in the review mirror. You honestly didn't mind helping out these newcomers. <<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> Rosemary just laughed. "Well, aren't you a sweetheart, $Dollface ?" She said, however, you could swear you saw a little twinkle of sadness, but it was gone so fast that you swore you imagined it. You blushed a little, and you felt Rosemary's demeanor swift, her body relaxing into the seat. Rosemary's hands gripped the wheel like she was stopping herself from saying something. "Turn up here." You said it softly. Marcel coughed loudly, making you jump a little in your seat, which he returned with an apologetic glance. Rosemary turned right on the road, and Marcel joined in the conversation. "What an....unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. "The road isn't too bumpy." You said that, implying that Rosemary could go faster. With your mind on the car, you looked around at the dark leather exterior. * [["I didn't think they made cars like this anymore."]] * [["......nice car" You said, not knowing anything about cars.]] * [["This is a nice car that you have here." You said it in a friendly tone.]] * [[You looked closer at the exterior; something seemed a little off.]] * [[You laid your head on the window, looking outside at the looming trees.]]

"It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything." You said it with a bit of a bite. <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> You saw Marcel's lips press together in the review mirror, but you couldn't find it in you to care. You honestly didn't want to do this; if you were going to have a day off, then you should have a day off and not be stuck with these newcomers. <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> Rosemary just laughed, ignoring or not caring about the tension you created in the car. "Well, aren't you a riot, $Dollface ?" She said it with a fake smile, her face still looking at the road. <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> You just rolled your shoulders, not saying anything, just sitting through the tension. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> You could feel Rosemary's demeanor swifted next to you, like a wall going up. Rosemary's hands gripped the wheel like she was stopping herself from saying something. "Turn up here." You said. Marcel coughed loudly, which you didn't react to besides giving him a raised eyebrow. Rosemary turned right on the road, and Marcel joined in the conversation. "What an....unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. "The road isn't too bumpy." You said that, implying that Rosemary could go faster. With your mind on the car, you looked around at the dark leather exterior. * [["I didn't think they made cars like this anymore."]] * [["......nice car" You said, not knowing anything about cars.]] * [["This is a nice car that you have here." You said it in a friendly tone.]] * [[You looked closer at the exterior; something seemed a little off.]] * [[You laid your head on the window, looking outside at the looming trees.]]

"Oh, it is no problem at all; it is good to get out once in a while." You said it with a smile. "It really is no issue." <<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> Rosemary gave you a sly smile, turning towards you. "Well, aren't you just an angel? You make me want to take advantage of your kindness." She said it with a teasing tone. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> You just rolled your eyes playfully. "Oh? What would you make me do?" "I could always go for a good bottle of wine. Or maybe someone else will show me around. Marcel isn't very fun." Rosemary pouted, but you could tell she was trying to hold in a laugh. Rosemary turned back towards the road, her slim hands gripping the steering wheel. Marcel coughed loudly at the comment made about him, which made you press your lips together to keep from laughing. You glanced at the road. "Turn right up here." Rosemary turned right on the road, and Marcel joined in the conversation. "What an....unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. "The road isn't too bumpy, so don't worry about your sweet ride." You said. Bringing up the topic of the car, you looked around at the dark leather exterior. * [["I didn't think they made cars like this anymore."]] * [["......nice car" You said, not knowing anything about cars.]] * [["This is a nice car that you have here." You said it in a friendly tone.]] * [[You looked closer at the exterior; something seemed a little off.]] * [[You laid your head on the window, looking outside at the looming trees.]]

<<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> You just gave an indifferent nod. "It really is no issue." You said. It really wasn't that big of a deal, and you didn't intend to make it seem like it was one. Rosemary just nodded, her face still looking at the road. "I am getting the impression, $Dollface , that you are as emotional as a lawyer." She laughed at her own joke, or rather, not the best metaphor. You just rolled your shoulders. "I'm sure you'll get used to it." Your face was not giving anything away. "Oh, I'm sure." Rosemary said, sly, as she gave you a once-over before she turned back towards the road, her slim hands gripping the steering wheel. Marcel coughed loudly, which you didn't react to besides giving him a raised eyebrow. Your face kept looking out at the road; however, at the corner of your eye, you saw Rosemary start to say something, but you cut her off. "Turn right up here." Rosemary turned right on the road, and Marcel joined in the conversation. "What an....unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. "The road isn't too bumpy." You said that, implying that Rosemary could go faster. With your mind on the car, you looked around at the dark leather exterior. * [["I didn't think they made cars like this anymore."]] * [["......nice car" You said, not knowing anything about cars.]] * [["This is a nice car that you have here." You said it in a friendly tone.]] * [[You looked closer at the exterior; something seemed a little off.]] * [[You laid your head on the window, looking outside at the looming trees.]]

You smirked. "Oh well, I am happy to be of service, especially if it helps a lady such as yourself." <<set $RFlP to $RFlP + 1>> You put on a little of a posh or more "oldie" accent just as Rosemary seemed to do, which you had to admit was quite fun. Your flirtation only made butterflies in your stomach go crazy; however, you put on a cool face, hopefully not crossing any boundaries with the stunning woman. The fears you had growing in your veins stopped as soon as Rosemary snapped her head toward you. You were not looking at her eyes; you couldn't see them anyway, but her tongue darted over her lip, and then she laughed. "Oh, well, aren't you cheeky? I thought I was the only one with a certain flair. You could really make a girl blush, $Dollface ." "But not you?" You said, sly, as she turned back towards the road, her slim hands gripping the steering wheel. Marcel coughed loudly, out of surprise or maybe to just remind you that he was also in the car; thankfully, it didn't seem to pull you out of the trance that you were in with Rosemary, even if it was only one side of her face. Rosemary's lips lifted a little. "Oh, you find that I am a bird that loves a good flirt, but it takes a lot to make me blush, $Dollface." "Well, I might be up to the challenge-" You looked towards the road, pointing to the dirt path. "Turn right up here." Rosemary turned right on the road, and Marcel joined in the conversation. "What an....unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. "The road isn't too bumpy, so don't worry about going too slow." You told Rosemary. In the mention of the car, you looked around at the dark and leather exterior. * [["I didn't think they made cars like this anymore."]] * [["......nice car" You said, not knowing anything about cars.]] * [["This is a nice car that you have here." You said it in a friendly tone.]] * [[You looked closer at the exterior; something seemed a little off.]] * [[You laid your head on the window, looking outside at the looming trees.]]

You blushed. "I...uh...yeah, no problem." <<set $RFlP to $RFlP + 1>> Just being near this newcomer made butterflies in your stomach flutter; you could tell your face was as red as a tomato. You wished to as many deities as you could think of that Rosemary wouldn't notice, which probably would not work in your favor because, as soon as you spoke, Rosemary snapped her head toward you. You were not looking at her eyes; you couldn't see them anyway. At least that is what you told yourself was the reason you were not looking at them, as you felt your face heat up even more. "You warm, $Dollface ?" Rosemary asked, smirking, and apparently liked watching you squirm in your seat. "Huh?" You asked dumbly, mentally hitting yourself; however, Rosemary just leaned closer. "You look like you're sweating up a storm. I can put the air on, if you like?" Rosemary licked her lip, making you swallow hard; she had to know what she was doing to you. "Yes! I am super hot. Boiling even so, I would love to have the AC on if you don't mind." You said, keeping your eyes on Rosemary's slim hands that were gripping the steering wheel, as you spoke quickly. Marcel coughed loudly, which made you jump a little as you looked back at him, silently thanking the man for saving you from more embarrassment, which just earned you a worried look. "Rosemary..." Marcel said this in warning, and Rosemary's lips lifted a little. "Oh, don't be such a bluenose, Marcel." Marcel gave Rosemary a look, who sighed and turned towards you. "Sorry, $Dollface , for my live wire attuide. I suppose I don't want to scare you off just yet." She winked. "I...what-" You looked towards the road, pointing to the dirt path. "Turn right up here." Rosemary turned right on the road, and Marcel joined in the conversation once again. "What an....unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. "The road isn't too bumpy, so don't worry about going too slow." You told Rosemary the blush was slowly leaving your cheeks. In the mention of the car, you looked around at the dark and leather exterior. * [["I didn't think they made cars like this anymore."]] * [["......nice car" You said, not knowing anything about cars.]] * [["This is a nice car that you have here." You said it in a friendly tone.]] * [[You looked closer at the exterior; something seemed a little off.]] * [[You laid your head on the window, looking outside at the looming trees.]]

You laid your head on the window, looking outside at the looming trees. Slience filled the car for the past few minutes, and your eyes started to close until Marcel cut in, ruining the silence. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

You looked around the car, and you realized that you knew the model. An old, vintage convertible. You recognized the brand. This car had to be bought for a lot of money since the company hadn't made them since they went bankrupt, so how did Rosemary get one? Of course, it could be that she just comes from money, but your eyes widened when you realized you had been sitting on seats that cost at least in the thousands. What was quite strange was that the car seemed bigger, not snug like most vintage models were; there was plenty of room for your feet, and even for Marcel, who wasn't balled up in the backseat, it seemed impossible, but so did owning an Eleven Thousand Nine Hundred dollar car and not working every day to make sure your kids didn't have to pay it when you dropped dead. // Why were they in Lockwood? They said to see Tai, but how does the doctor know them? Would it be wise to ask? // Your mouth felt dry, as you said. "I didn't think they made cars like this anymore." Rosemary looked over at you so fast that you were surprised that her neck didn't snap. She gave you a smile, which sent a twinkle to her eye. "You know the model?" Her voice, for once, was not seductive but rather full of excitement. "Uh, yeah, a Chevrolet Corvette C2, right?" You contuined. "It looks like one of the older ones." Rosemary beamed. "It is! A 1962 model to be exact, and she still runs great." You thought back to just a few minutes ago, when the car was smoking. "Then today must just be an off day, huh?" Rosemary looked over to you in confusion before understanding what you meant. "Oh right! Yes! But I think this old machine will be back to new with just a little coaxing." Marcel and Rosemaey seemed to share a knowing look in the mirror, but you passed over it, curiosity getting the better of you. "I am guessing you got a pretty big holiday bonus to afford this kind of model." Rosemary grinned, her teeth showing a little more like some sort of predator. "Oh, a very big bounus." Marcel cut in. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

You looked around the car; it seemed like an old model. It had to be expensive, right? Old cars are expensive most of the time. // Does that mean Rosemary has money? Why were they in Lockwood? They said to see Tai, but how does the doctor know them? Would it be wise to ask? // "Nice car," you said; it sounded more like a question. Rosemary looked over at you and gave you a sly smile. "Oh, what is so nice about it, $Dollface ?" She said it in a teasing tone. "Uh, the air conditioning is nice....?" You said it, not really knowing what to say. "The car seems vintage, though." Rosemary grinned. "It is! A 1962 model to be exact, and she still runs great." You thought back to just a few minutes ago, when the car was smoking. "Then today must just be an off day, huh?" Rosemary looked over to you in confusion before understanding what you meant. "Oh right! Yes! But I think this old machine will be back to new with just a little coaxing." Marcel and Rosemaey seemed to share a knowing look in the mirror, but you passed over it, curiosity getting the better of you. Marcel cut in. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

You didn't know much about cars, but you could tell that Rosemary cared about them, or at least this one. "This is a nice car that you have here." You said it in a friendly tone. Rosemary looked over at you and gave you a sly smile. "Oh, what is so nice about it, $Dollface ?" She said it in a teasing tone. "Uh...everything....?" You said it, not really knowing what to say. "The car seems vintage, though." Rosemary grinned. "It is! A 1962 model to be exact, and she still runs great." "Do you like old things?" You asked curiously. Rosemary smirked. "You call them old, $Dollface , I call them vintage." She winked at you. "The classics." Marcel cut in before you could say anything. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

You felt weird in the car, maybe because you were complete strangers, but as soon as you got in the car, you felt a headache coming on. You rubbed your temple as if trying to rub the migraine away with pure will. You just felt off, but you shook your head and looked around the car. It was strange that the car seemed bigger, not snug like most vintage models were; there was plenty of room for your feet, and even for Marcel, who wasn't balled up in the backseat, it seemed impossible, but maybe the events of what happened last night were just making you paranoid. // Stop making a big deal out of things that aren't there to begin with. // But you couldn't help but hear the nagging voice in the back of your head, wondering why they were in Lockwood at all. Marcel cut in; you almost didn't hear him as you were so deep in your thoughts. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

''Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew'' Zinnia bit her finger nails. Sitting around the table, the tension in the room thickened and only got worse as Zinnia and Owen stared each other down. The phone call to Tai didn't help matters; Zinnia's shoulders sagged with guilt for lying to $Name. There was no doctor checkup, at least for Zinnia. Zinnia called Tai last night to give him a review of $Name 's injuries and the break-in, it was decided that Tai would come by tomorrow to make sure $Name was doing okay. The demons showing up a little early just sped the process along. The only sound in the room came from Margaret, who hummed a little as she took bites from a muffin. When Margaret first sat down, she smelled the muffins, looking ecstatic, but as soon as she took a bite, her smile dimmed a little. Zinnia strengthened as Owen started to speak. "Someone was here." Margaret stopped eating and looked at Owen, while Zinnia just let out a soft, "What?" in a hushed whisper. "Someone was here." Owen repeated himself; he cracked his knuckles. "But ya already know that, don't ya, Lass? I hoped that Tai was takin' the piss, but I should have known better." Owen snorted. "Tai doesn't have a sense of humor." "I found $Hers on the ground, passed out." Zinnia gritted her teeth, reminding herself that seeing her $Niece on the ground, hurt and unconscious, sent her into a rage. If it wasn't for Triana, Zinnia would have pulled out her old gear and gone into the forest to find the bastard. Triana used her supernatural strength to pin Zinnia to the ground, which normally would have made Zinnia blush like an idiot, but it just made her curse up a storm. Luckily, Trinia called Bess, who was able to come over and fix the shop and keep $Name stable. Zinnia wondered what would have happened if Triana wasn't there; would she be able to find the thing who did this? Would she be dead, or would this problem all be over? "Well, it wasn't //Pandemonium//...I mean, not really; I think I can get the essence of him in here, but whatever attacked $Name was part of the fiend category." "Your saying this was another demon? The barrier should stop-" "Demons from getting inside? Whatever pressure is on the barrier to make it crack is strong—not strong enough to break but strong enough that something can be sent in." Margaret frowned. "I haven't heard of any demons getting permission to leave hell." Owen patted Margaret's head. "That is because they don't have permission; they must have gotten out with sheer luck or some kind of dumbassery." Owen's eyes went dark. "Whatever it is, my Lord will want me to find answers to make sure that whatever plan this fiend had is... dealt with." Zinnia's mouth went dry at the sheer thought of Owen's Lord, and she stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Margaret piped up. "I can feel... angelic magic here." She looked around the room, as if she were able to physically see it. "I put a blessing around the whole bakery to keep unwanted demons away when I first moved in." Zinnia mummered. "Good job that did." She said it sarcastically. Owen grunted. "So that is what that rash was." He said this, scratching his arm. The door jiggled, and after a pause, Tai walked in, his hair unusually messy and his lab coat winkled over his dark purple sweater. Margaret smiled and waved. "Hey Tai!" Tai ignored her and took one look around the room. "Where are the rest of you? Where is Marcel?" Tai asked, monotone as ever, but Zinnia could swear she heard a little bit of panic. Owen put his hands up. "Don't worry, Tai, we are all in town; Rosie Posie and the boss are just with $Name to get Rosemary's car checked out." Tai frowned and looked at Zinnia. "You were not joking about that?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Zinnia crossed her arms. "Why the hell would I joke about that?" Tai shrugged . "Humans are strange creatures, and it isn't exactly possible, Rosemary's-" Tai said Rosemary's name with disdain before quickly moving on. "car isn't normal; it was created by the Lady of Lust herself." Owen stood against the counter, relaxing. "Which is ran by hell fire, and we just went through a barrier made out of literal angel voodoo, I am surprised the car didn't explode." Zinnia rubbed her forehead. "The car does not matter; what matters is that $Name is out of the house so we can talk." Owen snorted. "Don't let Rosie hear ya say that." Margaret frowned. "Is there no lead on where this person can be that hurt $Name? I mean, they couldn't have gone far, right?" Tai drummed his fingers on the table. "We are going to have to keep a lookout; stay on guard till we apprehend this supernatural." Owen scoffed. "This town wouldn't happen to have a motel around, right?" Zinnia's face twisted into a worrisome frown with the mention of demons staying in Lockwood, which Owen caught. "Oh, don't look so glum, Huntress; we don't want to be here anymore than ya do." Owen said, raising his chin in a challenge. Zinnia got out of her chair. "Don't call me that, you angry bastard." Zinnia said, her fists clenched together, trying not to punch the red-headed man. Tai slammed his hands on the table, which made Margaret shrink back more into her seat. "Enough! Both of you." Tai yelled, making everyone in the room freeze in surprise at Tai's outburst. A wave of an invisible force went through the room, and Zinnia almost tumbled over from exhaustion; her whole body felt like it was shutting down before finally she was able to be caught by her chair, her body going back to normal. Margaret frowned. "Tai, please calm down." She said meekly, her blueberry muffin was forgotten on the table as she put a hand over Tai's clenched fist. Tai pulled away and looked at Margaret, who only stared at him with big doe eyes. The doctor cleared his throat. "Right. Yes, sorry for my little outburst, but we should get back on topic." Owen looked between Margaret and Tai and decided to break through the uncomfortable silence. "Aye, so where are we supposed to stay?" Tai sighed. "You will be able to stay with me." Margaret grinned. "Tai, do you have a house?" She looked at him in awe. "...and it is going to fit all of us?" Owen added. Tai pinched the bridge of his nose. "Of course I have a house; I spend most of my time at the office, but it would be weird if I didn't own a home." Tai smoothed out his coat. "While there are not enough rooms for everyone to get their own suite, I think it is big enough. It's an old house, and the mayor gave me a good price on it when I moved here." Margaret smiled. "It will be like a slumber party!" Owen snickered. "Oh, Aye, one big party." Tai sighed. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Sitting On the Couch Of The Anderson Residence]]</div>

''Sitting On the Couch Of The Anderson Residence'' You sat on the old couch in Mr. Anderson's house, a cup of tea sitting in front of you, the smell comforting you very little as you went over the events that happened only a few minutes ago. // You followed $C95Per1 and $C95Per2 out of the car. Mr. Anderson wiped his hands on a dirty rag, which, you thought, didn't help clean his hands of the oil and dirt from working. Mr. Anderson looked at $C95Per1 and $C95Per2 with a stern expression, looking at them up and down, studying, reminding you of how Aunt Zinnia stared at these newcomers. "Uh...Mr. Anderson?" You felt you needed to say something to stop the growing tension. Mr. Anderson looked back at you; his beard didn't look brushed, and the sweat was any indication. He had been working for quite awhile, but he gave you a soft look, or as soft of a look as you could get from the older man. "Don't worry, $Name , your aunt has given me one of those online messages and told me that your new......friends." Mr. Anderson slowly said the word "friends" like he felt uncomfortable with the word but quickly moved on to say, "here need a little help with their vehicle." You frowned a little at his words, which were going over in your head. ".....online messages? .......Do you mean text message?" You asked. Mr. Anderson snapped his fingers, emphasizing that you hit it right on the nose. "Right, text messages." Mr. Anderson pointed to his house. " $Name , how about you go and wait up there? I have some string cheese in the fridge that you can get your hands on while I talk to these newcomers about their car, of course." "Are you sure?" "Postive." Mr. Anderson interrupted you with a smile that made a shiver go up your spine. You didn't know if it was because the man looked like smiling hurt him or because the smile didn't reach his eyes; it wasn't genuine. $C95Per2 smiled at you, almost encourging you to leave them alone, which to them was a complete stranger. Maybe you were just overthinking this; it wasn't like you had a reason not to leave them alone with Mr. Anderson. Sure, he was rough around the edges, but he was a soft teddy bear on the inside. These people haven't done anything, and you didn't think an older man would actually do something to these newcomers. Okay, that was a bit of a lie; Mr. Anderson's edges were sharp, but he has no reason to hurt these people; he probably just wanted to talk about the car with them. Or maybe he wanted to get a higher price without you sticking your opinion in the mix. Either way, it really was not your business. This wasn't your car. You didn't know these people. You nodded your head and started walking up the steps of the steep hill, and you heard Mr. Anderson's horse voice behind you. "$Name ?" "Yes, Mr. Anderson?" You said, turning back as his black eyes stared into you. "Don't do snooping, yeah? I don't want to give the kid a bad example. I have some stuff; I don't want it touched." You swallowed, your mouth suddenly dry; it felt like a threat, but you nodded, too caught off guard to say anything. // You looked around the house, the all-carpet floor, and the simple decorations. No family photos. It made you feel like it was some studio, trying to look like a house than the actual house itself. * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[[You decided to just sit on the couch and sip your tea.|You decided to just sit on the couch and sip your tea:Stoic]]<<else>>[[You decided to just sit on the couch and sip your tea.|You decided to just sit on the couch and sip your tea:Nice]]<</if>> * [[You looked around the house.]] * [[You tried to just stay on the couch, but you gave in and looked around.]]

<<set $Rash to $Rash + 1>> <<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> You left your tea on the small table and walked around the house. What was the real harm? He was the one who wanted you to wait in his house, and he did know you were your Aunt Zinnia's $Niece ; you were bound to get into trouble. It was basically the right of passage for an Oleander. You couldn't help noting again how bare the house was—no pictures of family members—until you got to a small hallway, the lamp hanging above flickering, the lightbub needing to be changed, and you saw little pictures in old frames with pictures. A young Mr. Anderson had to be around eighteen in a military uniform with a bright smile on his face, which made you do a double take. You saw another picture with another young Matthew Anderson in military garments and a woman with round features and a bright smile that kind of did not fit with her military professional uniform. From the wedding ring on both their hands—the same ring you still saw on Mr. Anderson's finger to this day—you had to guess that this was the older man's late wife, Agatha. As you examined the photo, you saw Agatha's eyes stare right at the camera while Mr. Anderson was looking right at his wife, a goofy smile on his face, but it was his late wife's eyes that stared at you, a look on her face giving a mischievous smile with a raised eyebrow, like she knew you were sneaking around. In the corner of the picture frame, you saw a glare of light. Wanting to see where the light came from, you turned, and you saw it came from the end of the hall, the steel of the bolt lock making a small glare into the frame. You walked closer to the door with the steel lock and saw that it didn't have one lock but five, all needing a key. // $C98 // * [[You started to reach for the door knob.]] * [[You stared at the door before turning away.]]

<<set $Rash to $Rash + 1>> <<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> You looked down at your tea cup, bit your lip until you couldn't stand it anymore, and got up. You left your tea on the small table and walked around the house. You had to know what he was hiding, if anything. This wasn't right, but your feet didn't seem to care as you started to move around the house. You couldn't help noting again how bare the house was—no pictures of family members—until you got to a small hallway, the lamp hanging above flickering, the lightbub needing to be changed, and you saw little pictures in old frames with pictures. A young Mr. Anderson had to be around eighteen in a military uniform with a bright smile on his face, which made you do a double take. You saw another picture with another young Matthew Anderson in military garments and a woman with round features and a bright smile that kind of did not fit with her military professional uniform. From the wedding ring on both their hands—the same ring you still saw on Mr. Anderson's finger to this day—you had to guess that this was the older man's late wife, Agatha. As you examined the photo, you saw Agatha's eyes stare right at the camera while Mr. Anderson was looking right at his wife, a goofy smile on his face, but it was his late wife's eyes that stared at you, a look on her face giving a mischievous smile with a raised eyebrow, like she knew you were sneaking around. In the corner of the picture frame, you saw a glare of light. Wanting to see where the light came from, you turned, and you saw it came from the end of the hall, the steel of the bolt lock making a small glare into the frame. You walked closer to the door with the steel lock and saw that it didn't have one lock but five, all needing a key. // $C98 // * [[You started to reach for the door knob.]] * [[You stared at the door before turning away.]]

<<set $Rash to $Rash - 1>> <<set $Cautious to $Cautious + 1>> You decided to just sit on the couch and sip your tea. You looked around the house; whatever Mr. Anderson wanted you to see, you should respect that. You picked up the cup of tea and took a sip. It was not as good as your aunt's tea, but it definitely had a strong flavor. "What are you doing here?" You jumped a little, almost dropping your tea cup, to see Jezebel wearing a pink sweater and skirt; her hair was a bit messy but still had white ribbons keeping it up. "Uh...hey, kid." You said, sitting down the cup. Jezebel tilted her head. "$Miss Oleander, why are you here?" You leaned back on the couch, crossing your arms. "Some people wanted your grandpa to fix their car, and I rode with them." Jezebel nodded, putting a serious expression on her face, almost trying to mimic your own. "Grandpappy is working." She repeated what you said, sitting beside you on the couch. You kept your face neutral, but you couldn't help feeling surprised; most people find you too intimidating to just sit beside you. Camila often said you had a disease of resting bitch face, which you just shrugged off; it didn't bother you too much. "Grandpappy said you are a good person." Jezebel played with the ruffles in her skirt, not looking at you. You raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Jezebel nodded. "I was really mad at you for almost running over Lollihops." "......" You had to guess that Lollihops had to be the frog; you don't remember almost running over someone else. Jezebel bit her lip. "So I just wanted to say sorry. I thought a lot about it, and Lollihops said that you remind him of Grandpappy." "The frog...told you that I remind you of Mr. Anderson?" You slowly repeated the words in a monotone voice, not trying to give any emotion away. Jezebel nodded, and her little hand came up to your face. "You have the same lines that Grandpappy has," she said, gently touching the middle of your forehead. You realized she was talking about your frown lines. "....." You really didn't know what to say, but you decided the best way to go about this was not to scare the young girl. "Uh....yep." Jezebel smiled and jumpd up and down. "Do you want to go to my room and see him?" "Uh, I am sorry, who?" "Lollihops." Jezebel said, clear excitement in her tone. * [[Oh, hell no, there was no way you were going to go play pretend with this kid and act like you cared about the damn frog.]] * [["I would love to say hi to Lollihops."]] * [["Sure, maybe he will turn into a prince."]] * [[You really didn't want to, but one look at Jezebel's doe eyes, and you just nodded your head. "Okay, yeah, sure, lead the way."]]

<<set $Rash to $Rash - 1>> <<set $Cautious to $Cautious + 1>> You decided to just sit on the couch and sip your tea. You looked around the house; whatever Mr. Anderson wanted you to see, you should respect that. You picked up the cup of tea and took a sip. It was not as good as your aunt's tea, but it definitely had a strong flavor. "What are you doing here?" You jumped a little, almost dropping your tea cup, to see Jezebel wearing a pink sweater and skirt; her hair was a bit messy but still had white ribbons keeping it up. "Uh...well hello, Jezebel." You said so, smiling and sipping your tea. Jezebel tilted her head. "$Miss Oleander, why are you here?" You patted the couch, inviting Jezebel to sit beside you. "Some people wanted your grandpa to fix their car, and I rode with them." Jezebel nodded, her expression becoming less guarded. "Oh....okay." She skipped over to the couch, accepting your invitation. Your smile brightened, and Jezebel sat closer to you, watching you drink your tea with innocent, big eyes. "Grandpappy said you are really nice." Jezebel played with the ruffles in her skirt, not looking at you. You put the tea cup down. "Oh well, that is very nice. You and Grandpappy are nice too." Jezebel nodded. "I was really mad at you for almost running over Lollihops." "Oh, I am so sorry, Jezebel; I didn't want to make you upset." You had to guess that Lollihops had to be the frog; you don't remember almost running over someone else. Jezebel bit her lip. "So I just wanted to say sorry. I thought a lot about it, and Lollihops said that it would be mean for me to not forgive you." "Oh well, that is very nice of Lollihops." You said, quickly accepting the child's imaginary conversation with pet. Jezebel smiled and jumpd up and down. "Do you want to go to my room and see him?" "Uh, I am sorry, who?" "Lollihops." Jezebel said, clear excitement in her tone. * [[Oh, hell no, there was no way you were going to go play pretend with this kid and act like you cared about the damn frog.]] * [["I would love to say hi to Lollihops."]] * [["Sure, maybe he will turn into a prince."]] * [[You really didn't want to, but one look at Jezebel's doe eyes, and you just nodded your head. "Okay, yeah, sure, lead the way."]]

<<set $Cautious to $Cautious + 1>> <<set $Rash to $Rash - 1>> You wondered what could be behind the door if it was even unlocked, but for some reason you needed to know, so you reached to turn the knob. But you stopped yourself and instead turned around, not wanting to give in to whatever the intention was to open the door. That was when you saw Jezebel poking her head around the wall and watching you. You saw Jezebel wearing a pink sweater and skirt; her hair was a bit messy but still had white ribbons keeping it up. When you made eye contact with the little girl, she got into full view, where you can see her wearing a pink sweater and skirt; her hair was a bit messy but still had white ribbons keeping it up. "Oh...hello Jezebel." You said, putting distance between yourself and the door. Jezebel tilted her head. "Miss Oleander, why are you here?" Jezebel's eyes darted toward you and back at the door. You leaned against the wall. "Some people wanted your grandpa to fix their car, and I rode with them." Jezebel frowned. "Grandpappy doesn't let anyone go through that door." You nodded. "Don't worry, I was just about to go back to my seat anyway." Jezebel walked towards you, putting herself between the door and you. "You wouldn't have liked what was down there." Jezebel said it softly. Your eyes widened, never leaving Jezebel's face, but you felt yourself tense. "Oh?" You said. Jezebel shook her head. "It doesn't have the answers you are searching for." Before you could reply, "What?" Jezebel cut you off once again. "Grandpappy said you are a good person." Jezebel said, staring at the carpet floor. You pressed your lips together; so much had happened in only a couple minutes that you felt you needed your brain to catch up. "Oh?" Jezebel nodded. "I didn't believe him because I was really mad at you for almost running over Lollihops." "....who?" You asked, but then it clicked. the frog, you don't remember almost running over someone else. Jezebel bit her lip. "So I just wanted to say sorry. I thought a lot about it, and Lollihops said that you remind him of Grandpappy." "The frog...told you that I remind you of Mr. Anderson?" You slowly repeated it, practically trying to grasp what was going on. Jezebel smiled and jumpd up and down. "Do you want to go to my room and see him?" "Uh, I am sorry, who?" "Lollihops." Jezebel said, blowing hair out of her face, her tone set with excitement; there was no record of the werid conversation in her tone. * [[Oh, hell no, there was no way you were going to go play pretend with this kid and act like you cared about the damn frog.]] * [["I would love to say hi to Lollihops."]] * [["Sure, maybe he will turn into a prince."]] * [[You really didn't want to, but one look at Jezebel's doe eyes, and you just nodded your head. "Okay, yeah, sure, lead the way."]]

<<set $Cautious to $Cautious - 1>> <<set $Rash to $Rash + 1>> You wondered what could be behind the door if it was even unlocked, but for some reason you needed to know, so you reached to turn the knob. Your fingers grazed the handle, and you swallowed. Your mouth felt suddenly dry. There could be nothing behind this door, nothing of value, but you knew deep down that you had to find out. Your neck snapped as you heard the voice of Jezebel. "What are you doing?" You saw Jezebel wearing a pink sweater and skirt; her hair was a bit messy but still had white ribbons keeping it up. "Oh...hello Jezebel." You said, putting distance between yourself and the door. Jezebel tilted her head. "Miss Oleander, why are you here?" Jezebel's eyes darted toward you and back at the door. You leaned against the wall. "Some people wanted your grandpa to fix their car, and I rode with them." Jezebel frowned. "Grandpappy doesn't let anyone go through that door." You bit your lip. "I was just looking around." Jezebel walked towards you, putting herself between the door and you. "You wouldn't have liked what was down there." Jezebel said it softly. Your eyes widened, never leaving Jezebel's face, but you felt yourself tense. "Oh?" You said. Jezebel shook her head. "It doesn't have the answers you are searching for." Before you could reply, "What?" Jezebel cut you off once again. "Grandpappy said you are a good person." Jezebel said, staring at the carpet floor. You pressed your lips together; so much had happened in only a couple minutes that you felt you needed your brain to catch up. "Oh?" Jezebel nodded. "I didn't believe him because I was really mad at you for almost running over Lollihops." "....who?" You asked, but then it clicked. the frog, you don't remember almost running over someone else. Jezebel bit her lip. "So I just wanted to say sorry. I thought a lot about it, and Lollihops said that you remind him of Grandpappy." "The frog...told you that I remind you of Mr. Anderson?" You slowly repeated it, practically trying to grasp what was going on. Jezebel nodded. "Do you want to go to my room and see him?" "Uh, I am sorry, who?" "Lollihops." Jezebel said, blowing hair out of her face, her tone set with excitement; there was no record of the werid conversation in her tone. * [[Oh, hell no, there was no way you were going to go play pretend with this kid and act like you cared about the damn frog.]] * [["I would love to say hi to Lollihops."]] * [["Sure, maybe he will turn into a prince."]] * [[You really didn't want to, but one look at Jezebel's doe eyes, and you just nodded your head. "Okay, yeah, sure, lead the way."]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> You really didn't want to, but one look at Jezebel's doe eyes, and you just nodded your head. "Okay, yeah, sure, lead the way Jezebel's eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly took the lead, guiding you through the hallway. You were pulled towards a door, opening it, skipping into the room, and dragging you along. You walked into the bedroom to find that it was decorated with princesses and pink decor, which was a little off-putting when looking back at Mr. Anderson's plain house decorations. <<if $Clothes is "Cutesy">>You looked down at yourself and realized that the decor matched your aesthetic, and you chuckled a little bit, wondering if that was why Jezebel wanted you to see her room.<</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>You furrowed your brow and felt uncomfortable at the pink decor everywhere; this was your literal hell. You felt so out of place, wearing your darker-toned clothes and your combat boots on the soft carpet, making you a little nervous. As you looked around, you couldn't help but notice the pastel-colored furniture and delicate trinkets that adorned every surface. The contrast between your edgy style and the overwhelmingly cutesy atmosphere intensified your unease, making you wonder how you ended up in this situation. <</if>> You looked over at the big terrarium where the frog, or rather, Lollihops, sat. He slowly blinked, looking at you. Lollihops seemed to be observing you with its curious eyes, as if trying to decipher your intentions. Its vibrant green skin blended perfectly with the lush vegetation inside the terrarium, creating a captivating sight. The tank was filled with what looked like fake trees and leaves, with a layer of dirt layering under the frogs feet. However, you saw bits and pieces of Jezebel's personality, like the stickers on the glass. "Do you like him?" Jezebel said as you looked at the frog. "Uh, yeah, he seems really cool, kid." Jezebel nodded her head. "He is my best friend." You couldn't help but hide a smile at Jezebel's affection for the frog. It was heartwarming to see such a strong bond between them. "Your bestfriend?" You asked. "You don't have any... human friends?" Jezebel shook her head, her eyes never leaving the frog. "No, not really. But it's okay, because Mr. Lollihops understands me better than anyone else." Her words made you realize the depth of their connection and how important the frog was to her. "You are not going to school; you are six, right? "Seven." She held her head up high. You could see the pride in her eyes as she corrected you, emphasizing her age. "Oh well, don't seven-year-olds go to Lock Elementary School?" Jezebel frowned. "Normal kids do, but I don't." Jezebel's response piqued your curiosity, and you couldn't help but want to ask why she didn't attend Lock Elementary School like other children her age. She sighed and looked down at Mr. Lollihops before saying. "I see things; my dad said that I am sick like my mom was. He said it's best for me to stay home and learn from a private tutor instead." Jezebel's words hung in the air, leaving you with a mix of sympathy and intrigue. "But, uh, you live with your grandpappy now. I am sure that he would let me go to school if you really wanted to, although my aunt says that school isn't all that great anyway." You commented, trying to break the tension. Jezebel frowned. "You didn't go to school either?" "I didn't have a tutor, but I was homeschooled." Jezebel furrowed her eyebrows together. "Did you like being homeschooled?" You shrugged your shoulders. "Meh. School is school." You saw that Jezebel seemed a little disappointed by your answer, and you concluded. "It had its pros and cons," you replied, which made Jezebel look at you with curiosity. "On one hand, I had more flexibility in my schedule, which left more time for $C102 . On the other hand, I missed out on making a lot more friends, although I still found people who care about me." Your thoughts drifted to Camila. Jezebel looked at you for a long moment before you slowly sat on her bed. "I miss my dad." Her voice trembled with a mix of sadness and longing as she clutched the stuffed animal tightly to her chest. The room fell into a heavy silence, as if her words had cast a melancholic spell upon the air. * [[You tried to comfort her the best you could.]] * [[You tried to move the conversation along.]] * [[You just stood there in silence.]]

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> You laughed. "Sure, maybe he will turn into a prince." Jezebel's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You really think he is a prince?" You didn't have the heart to tell her that it was just a joke as she eagerly took the lead, guiding you through the hallway. You were pulled towards a door, opening it, skipping into the room, and dragging you along. You walked into the bedroom to find that it was decorated with princesses and pink decor, which was a little off-putting when looking back at Mr. Anderson's plain house decorations. <<if $Clothes is "Cutesy">>You looked down at yourself and realized that the decor matched your aesthetic, and you chuckled a little bit, wondering if that was why Jezebel wanted you to see her room.<</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>You furrowed your brow and felt uncomfortable at the pink decor everywhere; this was your literal hell. You felt so out of place, wearing your darker-toned clothes and your combat boots on the soft carpet, making you a little nervous. As you looked around, you couldn't help but notice the pastel-colored furniture and delicate trinkets that adorned every surface. The contrast between your edgy style and the overwhelmingly cutesy atmosphere intensified your unease, making you wonder how you ended up in this situation. <</if>> You looked over at the big terrarium where the frog, or rather, Lollihops, sat. He slowly blinked, looking at you. Lollihops seemed to be observing you with curious eyes, as if trying to decipher your intentions. Its vibrant green skin blended perfectly with the lush vegetation inside the terrarium, creating a captivating sight. The tank was filled with what looked like fake trees and leaves, with a layer of dirt layering under the frogs feet. However, you saw bits and pieces of Jezebel's personality, like the stickers on the glass. "Do you like him?" Jezebel said as you looked at the frog. "Oh, I am in love." You said it in a teasing tone. "He is very handsome." Jezebel frowned. "You aren't going to kiss him, right? I don't think he will turn into a prince because you aren't royalty." You snapped your fingers and faked a pout. "Well, damn, I guess I have to let Lollihops go." Jezebel nodded her head. "I don't want to see him get married. He is my best friend." You couldn't help but hide a smile at Jezebel's affection for the frog. It was heartwarming to see such a strong bond between them. "Your bestfriend?" You asked. "Do you have any friends that aren't green?" Jezebel shook her head, her eyes never leaving the frog. "No, not really. But it's okay, because Mr. Lollihops understands me better than anyone else." Her words made you realize the depth of their connection and how important the frog was to her. "You are not going to school; you are six, right?" "Seven." She held her head up high. You could see the pride in her eyes as she corrected you, emphasizing her age. "Well, last time I checked, seven-year-olds go to Lock Elementary School?" Jezebel frowned. "Normal kids do, but I don't." Jezebel's response piqued your curiosity, and you couldn't help but want to ask why she didn't attend Lock Elementary School like other children her age. She sighed and looked down at Mr. Lollihops before saying. "I see things; my dad said that I am sick like my mom was. He said it's best for me to stay home and learn from a private tutor instead." Jezebel's words hung in the air, leaving you with a mix of sympathy and intrigue. "But, uh, you live with the old man now. I am sure that he would let me go to school if you really wanted to, although my aunt says that school isn't all that great anyway." You commented, standing on your heels. Jezebel frowned. "You didn't go to school either?" "Didn't you know? I was raised in a barn." You said you were trying to keep a smile off your face. Jezebel's mouth opened in awe. "Really." "Uh...no," you confessed but said. "I was homeschooled." Jezebel furrowed her eyebrows together. "Did you like being homeschooled?" You smiled. "I was always on the prom court. I was the only one in the court." You saw that Jezebel seemed a little confused by your answer, and you turned serious. "It had its pros and cons," you replied, which made Jezebel look at you with curiosity. "On one hand, I had more flexibility in my schedule, which left more time for $C102 . On the other hand, I missed out on making a lot more friends, although I still found people who care about me." Your thoughts drifted to Camila. Jezebel looked at you for a long moment before you slowly sat on her bed. "I miss my dad." Her voice trembled with a mix of sadness and longing as she clutched the stuffed animal tightly to her chest. The room fell into a heavy silence, as if her words had cast a melancholic spell upon the air. * [[You tried to comfort her the best you could.]] * [[You tried to move the conversation along.]] * [[You just stood there in silence.]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>><<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> You did almost run over Lollihops and were probably scarred, Jezebel, to death. The least you could do was see Lollihops. <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>><<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> "I would love to say hi to Lollihops." Jezebel's eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly took the lead, guiding you through the hallway. You were pulled towards a door, opening it, skipping into the room, and dragging you along. You walked into the bedroom to find that it was decorated with princesses and pink decor, which was a little off-putting when looking back at Mr. Anderson's plain house decorations. <<if $Clothes is "Cutesy">>You looked down at yourself and realized that the decor matched your aesthetic, and you chuckled a little bit, wondering if that was why Jezebel wanted you to see her room.<</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>You furrowed your brow and felt uncomfortable at the pink decor everywhere; this was your literal hell. You felt so out of place, wearing your darker-toned clothes and your combat boots on the soft carpet, making you a little nervous. As you looked around, you couldn't help but notice the pastel-colored furniture and delicate trinkets that adorned every surface. The contrast between your edgy style and the overwhelmingly cutesy atmosphere intensified your unease, making you wonder how you ended up in this situation. <</if>> You looked over at the big terrarium where the frog, or rather, Lollihops, sat. He slowly blinked, looking at you Lollihops seemed to be observing you with its curious eyes, as if trying to decipher your intentions. Its vibrant green skin blended perfectly with the lush vegetation inside the terrarium, creating a captivating sight. The tank was filled with what looked like fake trees and leaves, with a layer of dirt layering under the frogs feet. However, you saw bits and pieces of Jezebel's personality, like the stickers on the glass. "Do you like him?" Jezebel said as you looked at the frog. "Lollihops seems delightful, Jezebel; you seem to be taking such good care of him." Jezebel nodded her head. "He is my best friend." You couldn't help but smile at Jezebel's affection for the frog. It was heartwarming to see such a strong bond between them. "Your bestfriend?" You asked. "You don't have any... human friends?" Jezebel shook her head, her eyes never leaving the frog. "No, not really. But it's okay, because Mr. Lollihops understands me better than anyone else." Her words made you realize the depth of their connection and how important the frog was to her. "You are not going to school; you are six, right? "Seven." She held her head up high. You could see the pride in her eyes as she corrected you, emphasizing her age. "Oh well, don't seven-year-olds go to Lock Elementary School?" Jezebel frowned. "Normal kids do, but I don't." Jezebel's response piqued your curiosity, and you couldn't help but want to ask why she didn't attend Lock Elementary School like other children her age. She sighed and looked down at Mr. Lollihops before saying. "I see things; my dad said that I am sick like my mom was. He said it's best for me to stay home and learn from a private tutor instead." Jezebel's words hung in the air, leaving you with a mix of sympathy and intrigue. "But, uh, you live with your grandpappy now. I am sure that he would let me go to school if you really wanted. School is really important." You commented softly. Jezebel frowned. "You didn't go to school either?" "I didn't have a tutor, but I was homeschooled." Jezebel furrowed her eyebrows together. "Did you like being homeschooled?" Your thoughts drifted to Camila. You gave her a small smile; it was clear that Jezebel wanted some clarification. "I think I would have liked to go to school." You saw that Jezebel smiled a little. "It was...lonely a little bit lonely, not to say I don't have friends." Your thoughts drifted to Camila. "On one hand, I had more flexibility in my schedule, which left more time for $C102 . " Jezebel looked at you for a long moment before you slowly sat on her bed. "I miss my dad." Her voice trembled with a mix of sadness and longing as she clutched the stuffed animal tightly to her chest. The room fell into a heavy silence, as if her words had cast a melancholic spell upon the air. * [[You tried to comfort her the best you could.]] * [[You tried to move the conversation along.]] * [[You just stood there in silence.]]

With how things were going today, you really didn't feel like hanging out with a six-year-old and her frog. Your mind still went back to last night, when the man and his fucking tentacles fought you. You looked over at Jezebel. She was sitting on the couch, clutching her hands, and watching you with wide eyes. Despite your reservations, you couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at the thought of disappointing her however you stayed strong. <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You leaned forward, trying to be as genuine as possible. "I really don't feel like going to see Lollihops, Jezebel." You smiled softly. "I hope you understand." <</if>> <<if $Sincerity <= 49>>You laughed a little. "Sorry, kid, but I am not really feeling it today." You gave Jezebel a sly smile. "How about next time? I can even bring some muffins for the tea party." <</if>> Jezebel's eyes filled with disappointment and with a small nod of her head she turned around, her voice cracking. "You...have a good day $Miss Oleander." You frowned at the tone, wondering what had caused Jezebel's sudden change in demeanor. As she walked away, you couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. //I just said I didn't want to meet Lollihops. She is acting like I kicked the damn frog. // You replayed the conversation in your mind, trying to understand why Jezebel had taken your refusal so personally. Perhaps there was more to her attachment to Lollihops than you realized. Regardless, you couldn't shake off the feeling that you had unintentionally hurt her feelings. You sighed and leaned back, the stiff couch only giving you little comfort. [[You couldn't help but rest your eyes.]]

You frowned and sat on the bed next to Jezebel. You knew what it was like to have an absent father, and even though you had Sheldon as a father figure, there was a longing there. <<if $OpinionsDad is "sad">>You pressed your lips together; the aching feeling in your chest didn't help the growing sadness that seemed to weigh you down. Your father left you and your mother without a second thought.<</if>> <<if $OpinionsDad is "Didn't care">>You ignored the sting in your chest; you didn't care that your real dad left you. You didn't care at all. Why would you when he clearly didn't want you anyway?<</if>> <<if $TruthDad is "Does not know">>You barried your feelings deep down; you couldn't deal with your daddy issues while Jezebel was upset with her own father. <</if>> <<if $OpinionsDad is "hate">>Your fist clenched, and you sighed, hoping it would let all your anger out about how you felt about your absent father. You longed for closure, for a chance to express the pain and resentment that had built up over the years. <</if>> You shook your head, ignoring your negative thoughts, and focused on Jezebel. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You didn't let any emotion show on your face however you felt a pile of guilt in your stomach. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You pressed your lips together. Usually, your friendly nature could help you work through this with Jezebel, but not when this problem was too close to home.<</if>> Jezebel shook her head, giving you a watery smile. "Sorry, $Miss Oleander, I am fine." You stood there in silence for what felt like ages until You heard the door open, and you got up. "I think I am going to go see who that could be....are you going to be okay, Jezebel." Jezebel gave you a little sniff but nodded her head. You opened the door to see Mr. Anderson. The smell of lavender hit you like a truck. Mr. Anderson gave you a head nod as he headed towards the kitchen. "Hey, kid." He grumbled. You streatched, your joints cracking a little as you got up to join Mr. Anderson in the kitchen; he seemed to be fixing himself some lemoanbe. The scent of freshly squeezed lemons mixed with the lingering aroma of lavender, creating an oddly refreshing atmosphere. Curiosity piqued, and you couldn't help but ask, "What's with the lavender, Mr. Anderson?" "Lavender?" Mr. Anderson said with a confused look. "I don't smell anything." You took a moment to inhale deeply, trying to pinpoint the source of the lavender scent. It was faint, but definitely there. "Well, it's subtle, but I can definitely smell it," you replied, now even more intrigued by the mysterious combination of scents. Mr. Anderson snorted. "Maybe your nose is broken." He gave you a little pat on the shoulder. "You want some?" He looked toward the lemonade. You shook your head, declining the offer. Mr. Anderson seemed to notice your frown and confused face, he said nonchalantly. "Maybe it's some new air freshener or something, or maybe it is something of Jezebel's? She has all these products that her nanny told her about when she lived with her dad." Mr. Anderson looked like he was swallowing something vile as he said the word "dad." At the mention of fathers, you couldn't help but think about your own. <<if $Stepdad is "Pops">>[[Next|Your stepdad has a name]]<</if>> <<if $Stepdad is "Stepdad">>[[Next|Your stepdad does not have a name]]<</if>>

You frowned and sat on the bed next to Jezebel. You knew what it was like to have an absent father, and even though you had Sheldon as a father figure, there was a longing there. <<if $OpinionsDad is "sad">>You pressed your lips together; the aching feeling in your chest didn't help the growing sadness that seemed to weigh you down. Your father left you and your mother without a second thought.<</if>> <<if $OpinionsDad is "Didn't care">>You ignored the sting in your chest; you didn't care that your real dad left you. You didn't care at all. Why would you when he clearly didn't want you anyway?<</if>> <<if $TruthDad is "Does not know">>You barried your feelings deep down; you couldn't deal with your daddy issues while Jezebel was upset with her own father. <</if>> <<if $OpinionsDad is "hate">>Your fist clenched, and you sighed, hoping it would let all your anger out about how you felt about your absent father. You longed for closure, for a chance to express the pain and resentment that had built up over the years. <</if>> You shook your head, ignoring your negative thoughts, and focused on Jezebel. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You felt uncomfortable as you tried to give Jezebel a friendly smile. You had to move the conversation along.<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You gave her a soft smile, moving the conversation along<</if>> "So do you like the tank that your grandpappy got for Lollihops?" Jezebel perked up and you saw a small smile. "Yeah! Grandpappy spent like a thousand dollars on it." "I am not sure about a thousand but it looks really nice. " Jezebel nodded and ran up to the tank, hitting the class softly with her finger. You saw a brighter smile in the glass, and you breathed a sigh of relief. You heard the door open, and you got up. "I think I am going to go see who that could be; it was good talking with you, Jezebel." Jezebel gave you a little wave as she stared at Lollihop's tank. You opened the door to see Mr. Anderson. The smell of lavender hit you like a truck. Mr. Anderson gave you a head nod as he headed towards the kitchen. "Hey, kid." He grumbled. You streatched, your joints cracking a little as you got up to join Mr. Anderson in the kitchen; he seemed to be fixing himself some lemoanbe. The scent of freshly squeezed lemons mixed with the lingering aroma of lavender, creating an oddly refreshing atmosphere. Curiosity piqued, and you couldn't help but ask, "What's with the lavender, Mr. Anderson?" "Lavender?" Mr. Anderson was confused. "I don't smell anything." You took a moment to inhale deeply, trying to pinpoint the source of the lavender scent. It was faint, but definitely there. "Well, it's subtle, but I can definitely smell it," you replied, now even more intrigued by the mysterious combination of scents. Mr. Anderson snorted. "Maybe your nose is broken." He gave you a little pat on the shoulder. "You want some?" He looked toward the lemonade. You shook your head, declining the offer. Mr. Anderson seemed to notice your frown and confused face, he said nonchalantly. "Maybe it's some new air freshener or something, or maybe it is something of Jezebel's? She has all these products that her nanny told her about when she lived with her dad." Mr. Anderson looked like he was swallowing something vile as he said the word "dad." At the mention of fathers, you couldn't help but think about your own. <<if $Stepdad is "Pops">>[[Next|Your stepdad has a name]]<</if>> <<if $Stepdad is "Stepdad">>[[Next|Your stepdad does not have a name]]<</if>>

You opened your eyes when you heard the door open to see Mr. Anderson. The smell of lavender hitting you like a truck. Mr. Anderson gave you a head nod as he headed towards the kitchen. "Hey, kid." He grumbled. You streatched, your joints cracking a little as you got up to join Mr. Anderson in the kitchen; he seemed to be fixing himself some lemoanbe. The scent of freshly squeezed lemons mixed with the lingering aroma of lavender, creating an oddly refreshing atmosphere. Curiosity piqued, and you couldn't help but ask, "What's with the lavender, Mr. Anderson?" "Lavender?" Mr. Anderson was confused. "I don't smell anything." You took a moment to inhale deeply, trying to pinpoint the source of the lavender scent. It was faint, but definitely there. "Well, it's subtle, but I can definitely smell it," you replied, now even more intrigued by the mysterious combination of scents. Mr. Anderson snorted. "Maybe your nose is broken." He gave you a little pat on the shoulder. "You want some?" He looked toward the lemonade. You shook your head, declining the offer. Mr. Anderson seemed to notice your frown and confused face, he said nonchalantly. "Maybe it's some new air freshener or something, or maybe it is something of Jezebel's? She has all these products that her nanny told her about when she lived with her dad." Mr. Anderson looked like he was swallowing something vile as he said the word "dad." At the mention of fathers, you couldn't help but think about your own. <<if $Stepdad is "Pops">>[[Next|Your stepdad has a name]]<</if>> <<if $Stepdad is "Stepdad">>[[Next|Your stepdad does not have a name]]<</if>>

<<set $WTAH to "Unlocked">><<set $SAT to "Unlocked">><<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to 0>> You frowned. You didn't want to think about your mom right now. You didn't want to think about your dad or even your $Pops ; it just hurt too much. Mr. Anderson looked at you, noticing the grief in your face. "You know, your $Pops was a good man and an amazing doctor." Mr. Anderson said it with a soft smile that felt sincere. "Thanks; I miss him alot." Mr. Anderson patted your back. "Of course you do, kid; he did a good job raising you." You felt a lump form in your throat as memories of your $Pops flooded your mind. Despite the pain, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the impact he had on your life. "I bet your Zinnia misses him too." You looked over at Mr. Anderson, letting the pain sit on your chest. "They were pretty close when he first moved here. You should have seen him when he first started dating your mother; your aunt had to help him calm down before he had a panic attack, but it all worked out in the end." You furrowed your brow; this was news to you. "So Aunt Zinnia helped them get together?" Mr. Anderson paused, almost as if he realized that he said something he shouldn't have. "Uh, yeah, your $Pops was a nervous young man, but your ma gave him a chance with the help of your aunt, so it worked out in the end." You couldn't help but feel a bit confused. Aunt Zinnia had always claimed that Sheldon swept mom off her feet, so why would she lie about something as small as playing matchmaker? Perhaps there was more to the story than Mr. Anderson was letting on. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Margaret">>[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Marcel">>[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Owen">>[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]<</if>></div>

Not your biological father but Sheldon was the one who stayed at home all day with you, quitting his job to be a stay-at-home parent while your mom taught English at the local college. He was the one who sewed your favorite stuffed animal back together when it ripped; he was the one who gave you piggyback rides around the living room; Sheldon was the one who made your comfort food when you were sick and tucked you in bed at night. Not even your mother did all those things. Young $Name always had Sheldon to back $hers up. You missed him. Even though you were grateful for your mother's presence and love, there was a unique bond that you shared with Sheldon. He was not just a caregiver but also a confidant and friend who understood you in a way that no one else did. His absence left a void in your life that no one else could fill. You remember from your childhood, whenever you went to the park, that all the other parents thought that Sheldon was your babysitter. He was a constant source of support and guidance, shaping your growth and nurturing your individuality. His absence made you realize just how integral he was to your life, leaving you longing for his presence and the comfort it brought. Although Aunt Zinnia filled in the absence the best she could after his death but even she held sercerts. Although people called Sheldon your "babysitter" , it never bothered your parents, as if they already knew, even though they would "correct" and deny the pointing fingers. The most damning evidence that he was not your biological father was that your mother wouldn't let you call Sheldon "dad" or "father." If you did, she would correct you, telling you to call him by his title.... * [[Poppa|Poppa2]] * [[Baba|Baba2]] * [[Opie|Opie2]] * <<textbox "$Pops" "Pops""No, you called your stepfather...">>

<<set $Pops to "Poppa">><<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to 0>><<set $WTAH to "Unlocked">><<set $SAT to "Unlocked">> You frowned. You didn't want to think about your mom right now. You didn't want to think about your dad or even your $Pops ; it just hurt too much. Mr. Anderson looked at you, noticing the grief in your face. "You know, your $Pops was a good man and an amazing doctor." Mr. Anderson said it with a soft smile that felt sincere. "Thanks; I miss him alot." Mr. Anderson patted your back. "Of course you do, kid; he did a good job raising you." You felt a lump form in your throat as memories of your $Pops flooded your mind. Despite the pain, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the impact he had on your life. "I bet your Zinnia misses him too." You looked over at Mr. Anderson, letting the pain sit on your chest. "They were pretty close when he first moved here. You should have seen him when he first started dating your mother; your aunt had to help him calm down before he had a panic attack, but it all worked out in the end." You furrowed your brow; this was news to you. "So Aunt Zinnia helped them get together?" Mr. Anderson paused, almost as if he realized that he said something he shouldn't have. "Uh, yeah, your $Pops was a nervous young man, but your ma gave him a chance with the help of your aunt, so it worked out in the end." You couldn't help but feel a bit confused. Aunt Zinnia had always claimed that Sheldon swept mom off her feet, so why would she lie about something as small as playing matchmaker? Perhaps there was more to the story than Mr. Anderson was letting on. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Margaret">>[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Marcel">>[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Owen">>[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]<</if>></div>

<<set $Pops to "Baba">><<set $WTAH to "Unlocked">><<set $SAT to "Unlocked">><<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to 0>> You frowned. You didn't want to think about your mom right now. You didn't want to think about your dad or even your $Pops ; it just hurt too much. Mr. Anderson looked at you, noticing the grief in your face. "You know, your $Pops was a good man and an amazing doctor." Mr. Anderson said it with a soft smile that felt sincere. "Thanks; I miss him alot." Mr. Anderson patted your back. "Of course you do, kid; he did a good job raising you." You felt a lump form in your throat as memories of your $Pops flooded your mind. Despite the pain, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the impact he had on your life. "I bet your Zinnia misses him too." You looked over at Mr. Anderson, letting the pain sit on your chest. "They were pretty close when he first moved here. You should have seen him when he first started dating your mother; your aunt had to help him calm down before he had a panic attack, but it all worked out in the end." You furrowed your brow; this was news to you. "So Aunt Zinnia helped them get together?" Mr. Anderson paused, almost as if he realized that he said something he shouldn't have. "Uh, yeah, your $Pops was a nervous young man, but your ma gave him a chance with the help of your aunt, so it worked out in the end." You couldn't help but feel a bit confused. Aunt Zinnia had always claimed that Sheldon swept mom off her feet, so why would she lie about something as small as playing matchmaker? Perhaps there was more to the story than Mr. Anderson was letting on. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Margaret">>[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Marcel">>[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Owen">>[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]<</if>></div>

<<set $Pops to "Opie">><<set $WTAH to "Unlocked">><<set $SAT to "Unlocked">><<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to 0>> You frowned. You didn't want to think about your mom right now. You didn't want to think about your dad or even your $Pops ; it just hurt too much. Mr. Anderson looked at you, noticing the grief in your face. "You know, your $Pops was a good man and an amazing doctor." Mr. Anderson said it with a soft smile that felt sincere. "Thanks; I miss him alot." Mr. Anderson patted your back. "Of course you do, kid; he did a good job raising you." You felt a lump form in your throat as memories of your $Pops flooded your mind. Despite the pain, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the impact he had on your life. "I bet your Zinnia misses him too." You looked over at Mr. Anderson, letting the pain sit on your chest. "They were pretty close when he first moved here. You should have seen him when he first started dating your mother; your aunt had to help him calm down before he had a panic attack, but it all worked out in the end." You furrowed your brow; this was news to you. "So Aunt Zinnia helped them get together?" Mr. Anderson paused, almost as if he realized that he said something he shouldn't have. "Uh, yeah, your $Pops was a nervous young man, but your ma gave him a chance with the help of your aunt, so it worked out in the end." You couldn't help but feel a bit confused. Aunt Zinnia had always claimed that Sheldon swept mom off her feet, so why would she lie about something as small as playing matchmaker? Perhaps there was more to the story than Mr. Anderson was letting on. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Margaret">>[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Marcel">>[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Owen">>[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $SecondPerson is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]<</if>></div>

You frowned and sat on the bed next to Jezebel. You knew what it was like to have an absent father, and even though you had Sheldon as a father figure, there was a longing there. <<if $OpinionsDad is "sad">>You pressed your lips together; the aching feeling in your chest didn't help the growing sadness that seemed to weigh you down. Your father left you and your mother without a second thought.<</if>> <<if $OpinionsDad is "Didn't care">>You ignored the sting in your chest; you didn't care that your real dad left you. You didn't care at all. Why would you when he clearly didn't want you anyway?<</if>> <<if $TruthDad is "Does not know">>You barried your feelings deep down; you couldn't deal with your daddy issues while Jezebel was upset with her own father. <</if>> <<if $OpinionsDad is "hate">>Your fist clenched, and you sighed, hoping it would let all your anger out about how you felt about your absent father. You longed for closure, for a chance to express the pain and resentment that had built up over the years. <</if>> You shook your head, ignoring your negative thoughts, and focused on Jezebel. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You felt uncomfortable as you tried to give Jezebel a friendly smile. You were not used to being so friendly, but you tried your best to get through it. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You gave her a soft smile, wrapping an arm around her.<</if>> "Everything will be alright, Jezebel. I know you miss your dad, but you have your grandpappy and Lollihops to keep you company." Jezebel nodded, giving you a small smile. "Yeah, and when Daddy comes back, I will show him all the cool things I learned about frogs." She swung her feet back and forth on the bed before giving you a hug. "Thank you, $Name !" "I really.....didn't do much, but I am glad you are feeling better, Jezebel." You heard the door open, and you got up. "I think I am going to go see who that could be; it was good talking with you, Jezebel." Jezebel gave you a little wave as she stared at Lollihop's tank. You opened the door to see Mr. Anderson. The smell of lavender hit you like a truck. Mr. Anderson gave you a head nod as he headed towards the kitchen. "Hey, kid." He grumbled. You streatched, your joints cracking a little as you got up to join Mr. Anderson in the kitchen; he seemed to be fixing himself some lemoanbe. The scent of freshly squeezed lemons mixed with the lingering aroma of lavender, creating an oddly refreshing atmosphere. Curiosity piqued, and you couldn't help but ask, "What's with the lavender, Mr. Anderson?" "Lavender?" Mr. Anderson was confused. "I don't smell anything." You took a moment to inhale deeply, trying to pinpoint the source of the lavender scent. It was faint, but definitely there. "Well, it's subtle, but I can definitely smell it," you replied, now even more intrigued by the mysterious combination of scents. Mr. Anderson snorted. "Maybe your nose is broken." He gave you a little pat on the shoulder. "You want some?" He looked toward the lemonade. You shook your head, declining the offer. Mr. Anderson seemed to notice your frown and confused face, he said nonchalantly. "Maybe it's some new air freshener or something, or maybe it is something of Jezebel's? She has all these products that her nanny told her about when she lived with her dad." Mr. Anderson looked like he was swallowing something vile as he said the word "dad." At the mention of fathers, you couldn't help but think about your own. <<if $Stepdad is "Pops">>[[Next|Your stepdad has a name]]<</if>> <<if $Stepdad is "Stepdad">>[[Next|Your stepdad does not have a name]]<</if>>

[[Profile]] [[Side Characters Information]] [[Relationships]]

Name: $Name Oleander Age: 21 Description: You are an attractive $Gender with $HairLength $HairColor hair and almond shaped $EyeColor eyes that match your aunts and mothers. Personality: Sincerity: $Sincerity % | Snark: $Snark % Rash: $Rash % | Cautious: $Cautious % Friendly: $Friendly % | Stoic: $Stoic % Optimist: $Optimist % | Pessimist: $Pessimist % Skills: Athletics: $Athletics pts. Charisma: $Charisma pts. Knowledge: $Knowledge pts. Stealth: $Stealth pts.

You heard the front door open again to see Margaret come in just a moment later. She looked at Mr. Anderson's face and yours and gave you both a small smile. "How is it going in here?" She asked, her voice quiet, intimidated by the people looking at her. Mr. Anderson nodded, chugging down the lemonade in one sitting before throwing the cup into the sink. "You betcha, Margaret, is there something you need?" Mr. Anderson asked with an uncommonly softer voice, which left Margaret to untense. "Oh! Yes!' The brown-haired girl said her voice was becoming more fast and loud, seeming to grow in courage. "Owen wanted me to come get you to ask you a question about the…uh…he said the…protection on the car." Mr. Anderson's eyes darkened, and he darted you. "The insurance. I should go tell him all about all the coverage options and see if any changes need to be made." You frowned a little at Margaret's nervous expression, but nodded in agreement, saying goodbye as Mr. Anderson started walking towards the door. You watched him leave, feeling a sense of unease. You were left standing in the middle of the kitchen with Margaret , wondering what changes needed to be made and why Margaret was so nervous about it. The only thing you can think of to say was "You doing okay Margaret?" Margaret gave you a weak smile. "Oh yeah! Everything is just a little overwhelming right now." "You don't get out much?" You asked, the brown-haired girl's nature making you quiet your voice like she was a scared animal that could run away at any moment. Margaret nodded her head slowly. "Not really…..I mostly just keep to myself besides my friends." "Like Owen?" You asked, and those two seemed to have a brother-sister bond. Margaret's eyes brightened a little. "Owen is great; he can be a little... what was the thing Marcel used." She furrowed her brows, trying to think. "….rough around the edges but has a heart of gold." You snorted a little; it seemed that the giant man was a teddy bear at heart however you frowned a little. "Can I ask you something?" Margaret head perked up as she bit her finger nails. "I...uh...sure." <<if $WTAH is "Unlocked">>* [["So what brings you to Lockwood?"|So what brings youMargaret]]<</if>> <<if $SAT is "Unlocked">>* [["So you know....Tai..."|So you knowMargaret]]<</if>> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $LocationQuestionsMarcel >= 2>>[[Next|Move on from Location QuestionsMargaret]]<</if>></div>

You heard the front door open again to see Marcel come in just a moment later. He looked at Mr. Anderson's face and yours and frowned a little. "Is everything alright?" He said it in a soft voice, like he was testing the waters of what was over the line to ask people that he just met if they were okay. Mr. Anderson nodded, chugging down the lemonade in one sitting before throwing the cup into the sink. "You betcha, pretty boy, I am guessing there is a reason you are in my house." Mr. Anderson asked with a rasied eyebrow; however, Marcel only gave him a charming smile under the excruciating gaze. "Oh, actually, yes, sir, Rosemary wanted me to ask you something about the Oil Pan Mount Bolts, I think?" Marcel rubbed the back of his neck—the first time you have really seen the so-chill man looking embarrassed. "I am going to be completely honest; I do not know anything about cars, but I think that was what she wanted to ask you about." Mr. Anderson took out a piece of cloth from his pocket. "Fine, but if she thinks she can boss me around, she has another thing coming." Mr. Anderson leaves before you can get a word in, leaving you standing in the middle of the kitchen with Marcel. The only thing you can think of to say is "Boss him around?" Marcel gave you a tense look before sighing. "While Rosemary is one of my good friends, I have to admit she can be a bit controlling about her vehicle, which can be off-putting to others." "Others like Mr. Anderson?" You guessed. Marcel gave you a small smile. "It would seem so." "Can I ask you something?" Marcel looked at you, his eyes inviting you to ask. <<if $WTAH is "Unlocked">>* [["So what brings you to Lockwood?"|So what brings youMarcel]]<</if>> <<if $SAT is "Unlocked">>* [["So you know....Tai..."|So you knowMarcel]]<</if>> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $LocationQuestionsMarcel >= 2>>[[Next|Move on from Location QuestionsMarcel]]<</if>></div>

You heard the front door open again to see Owen come in just a moment later. He looked at Mr. Anderson's face and yours; his posture gave nothing away, but he still turned towards you. "Ye good, $Lass ?" You nodded your head, which seemed like enough information for Owen as he leaned against the counter, looking Mr. Anderson up and down. Mr. Anderson nodded, chugging down the lemonade in one sitting before throwing the cup into the sink. "Is there a reason you are making yourself comfortable in my house?" Mr. Anderson asked with a rasied eyebrow, you could see the older man making a grabbing motion with his hand towards his pocket but otherwise Mr. Anderson ignored the instict. Owen gave Mr. Anderson a nonchanlent shurg. "Margo wanted to ask you about your roses by your shop. She wanted to ask about their water intake or some shit like that." Mr. Anderson let out a small chuckle. "Oh the nice girl. I don't really spend that much work on them but I guess I shouldn't keep her waiting." Mr. Anderson leaves before you can get a word in, leaving you standing in the middle of the kitchen with Owen. The only thing you can think of to say is "Roses?" Owen hand goes to his pocket again and swears when he remembers that it is empty. "Oh yeah, Margo likes plants." "I'm gussing her favorte is roses?" You asked. Owen snickered but his tone was soft. "I don't think the lass has a favorite, wouldn't want to hurt the other plants feelin'." "Can I ask you something?" Owen seemed to groan a little but just nodded his head. "If you want, $Lass ." <<if $WTAH is "Unlocked">>* [["So what brings you to Lockwood?"|So what brings youOwen]]<</if>> <<if $SAT is "Unlocked">>* [["So you know....Tai..."|So you knowOwen]]<</if>> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $LocationQuestionsMarcel >= 2>>[[Next|Move on from Location QuestionsOwen]]<</if>></div>

You heard the front door open again to see Rosemary come in just a moment later. She looked at Mr. Anderson's face and yours and frowned a little. "Is everything alright?" Rosemary scanned you both. Mr. Anderson nodded, chugging down the lemonade in one sitting before throwing the cup into the sink. "You betcha, I am guessing there is a reason you are in my house." Mr. Anderson asked with a raised eyebrow; however, Rosemary just gave him a smirk. "Oh, don't worry, big boy, I am not here to cause any trouble yet." Mr. Anderson gave her a blank look, which she took in stride. "Can you give me an oil change?" Mr. Anderson took out a piece of cloth from his pocket. "Fine, but you stay here; I don't need you telling me that I am doing it wrong." Mr. Anderson leaves before you can get a word in, leaving you standing in the middle of the kitchen with Rosemary, who was looking at her nails. The only thing you can think of to say is, "Tell him he is doing it wrong?" Rosemar gave you a big grin. "I care about my baby, and I just want to make sure it is taken care of." "Can I ask you something?" Rosemary raised an eyebrow, her eyes inviting you to ask. <<if $WTAH is "Unlocked">>* [["So what brings you to Lockwood?"|So what brings youRose]]<</if>> <<if $SAT is "Unlocked">>* [["So you know....Tai..."|So you knowRose]]<</if>> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $LocationQuestionsMarcel >= 2>>[[Next|Move on from Location QuestionsRose]]<</if>></div>

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>><<set $WTAH to "Locked">> "So what brings you to Lockwood?" Marcel opened his mouth, but you put your hand up. "No offense, but I don't really believe that you came all that way for Tai." Marcel chuckled a little. "I have to say it's true. I mean, we didn't just come here just for Tai, but he is kind of the reason we are here." You looked at him in confusion. "And what reason would that be?" Marcel tensed for a moment; however, you thought you imagined it as he quickly replaced it with a smile. "We all go way back to each other to be completely honest with you; we have been friends for, well, ages, you could say." Marcel looked out the window, where you both saw a distant Rosemary. "Even if some have a harder time admitting it than others," The curly-haired man gave you a small smile. "Tai needs some help with his job, and we are here to give him a hand." "You are all doctors?" You were surprised. You couldn't really see Rosemary in a lab coat. "I didn't think that Tai was that swamped at the office-" Marcel shook his head, a twinkle in his eyes. "Oh no, no, no, we are here to help him with a personal job, well, kind of." He said it with a small tilt of his head. "We aren't doctors, but you can call us specialists." "Specialist?" "In hunting." Marcel said, and for the first time since you met him, you saw his eyes darken a little with what you could only call sadness, or was it bitterness? * [[You took a step back in surprise. "I am sorry what?"]] * [[You stared at him blankly, waiting for him to continue.]] * [["So do you like hunting bambi or something like that?"]]

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>> "So you know....Tai...how is that?" <<set $SAT to "Locked">> Marcel gave you a small snort, but he still seemed to make it attractive. "Tai can be a hard nut to crack, as they say, but he is a good man." He smiled warmly. "He is loyal as they come, even if he won't admit it." "Are you close with Tai?" You asked, crossing your arms. Marcel nodded. "We have known each other for years; I consider him one of my best friends and family, and I know he considers us family as well." The "us" you put together had to be the group as a whole. You never heard of these newcomers, and while you and Tai were not really close, you kind of felt like you should have heard about these people. Although this was Tai we were talking about, he kept his cards to his chest. * [[You felt your heart beat in your chest as you blushed. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?"|Your heart beatMarcel]] * [[You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends."|You couldn't helpMarcel]] * [[You snorted. "I wish you the best of luck."]] * [["Well, you seem like a good friend to have."|Well, you seemMarcel]] * [["I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" You said Tai's cute face popped into your mind.|I am guessingMarcel]] * [[You raised an eyebrow at Marcel. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?"]]

Marcel's pressed his lips together. "Do you have any more questions?" You shook your head. "Nope, you're free from my wrath." You joked. Marcel churckled. "Don't worry, $Name , I did not mind your questions." He looked out the window, and you heard the sound of an engine. "However, I do think that Mr. Anderson and Rosemary are finished fixing the car." He held it out of his hand. "I do think it is time that we should be off; I do not want to worry your aunt." You nodded and looked at the clock. "Than, let's get going." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Behind The Counter Of The Lazy Dog]]</div>

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>><<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> You stared at him blankly, waiting for him to continue. Marcel sighed, seeming to forget where he was as he blinked the darkness away from his eyes and let out a warm chuckle. Marcel looked at you, and you could see seriousness behind the warmth in his eyes. "We are here to help a flower." The tone in his voice made it feel like there was so much behind that sentence, and the way he seemed to look at you with some form of determination filled you with the need to look at the ground. However, you continued to look him in the eye as you spoke slowly. "A....flower?" Marcel nodded. "We are hunting for Britton's Violet; it is an endangered species, and Tai thinks we can help him track it down somewhere in the nearby woods." Marcel said, smiling so wide you could see his pearly white teeth. "Tai wants to find this flower. Why?" Marcel tapped his foot on the ground. "For a medical paper, he believes the violet can help create a lot of medicines, and if Tai can locate a large batch of them and study them, then maybe he can help them get out of the endangered species category." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself, however, Marcel just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> "So, do you like hunting Bambi or something like that?" <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> Marcel seemed surprised by your response, seeming to forget where he was as he blinked the darkness away from his eyes and let out a warm chuckle. "I am afraid not; it would be quite difficult for me to shoot an animal." Marcel looked at you, and you could see seriousness behind the warmth in his eyes. "No, we are here to help a flower." The tone in his voice made it feel like there was so much behind that sentence, and the way he seemed to look at you with some form of determination filled you with the need to look at the ground. However, you continued to look him in the eye as you spoke slowly. "A....flower?" Marcel nodded. "We are hunting for Britton's Violet; it is an endangered species, and Tai thinks we can help him track it down somewhere in the nearby woods." Marcel said, smiling so wide you could see his pearly white teeth. "Tai wants to find this flower. Why?" Marcel tapped his foot on the ground. "For a medical paper, he believes the violet can help create a lot of medicines, and if Tai can locate a large batch of them and study them, then maybe he can help them get out of the endangered species category." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself, however, Marcel just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

You took a step back in surprise. "I am sorry, what?" Marcel nodded, seeming to forget where he was as he blinked the darkness away from his eyes and let out a warm chuckle. Marcel looked at you, and you could see seriousness behind the warmth in his eyes. "We are hunting for a flower, or rather, trying to save a flower." The tone in his voice made it feel like there was so much behind that sentence, and the way he seemed to look at you with some form of determination filled you with the need to look at the ground. However, you continued to look him in the eye as you spoke slowly. "A....flower?" Marcel nodded. "We are hunting for Britton's Violet; it is an endangered species, and Tai thinks we can help him track it down somewhere in the nearby woods." Marcel said, smiling so wide you could see his pearly white teeth. "Tai wants to find this flower. Why?" Marcel tapped his foot on the ground. "For a medical paper, he believes the violet can help create a lot of medicines, and if Tai can locate a large batch of them and study them, then maybe he can help them get out of the endangered species category." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close....// You mentally battled with yourself, however, Marcel just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $MRFrP to $MRFrP + 1>> "Well, you seem like a good friend to have." <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You couldn't help but give him a genuine smile.<</if>> <<if $Sincerity <= 49>>You didn't know what came over you to say that, but you couldn't help the awkward, genuine smile that crossed your face.<</if>> For a blink of an eye, you saw surprise cross Marcel's face, but it was replaced with one of the warmest smiles you have ever seen. "Thank you, $Name , that really means a lot." Marcel said. "Maybe we will grow close as well and become friends." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

"I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> Marcel's eyes crinkled, and he gave you a small smirk. "He actually did mention you." You grinned. "Anything I should know about." You really wanted some good flirting material, or even just some dirt on the doctor. Tai's cute face popped into your mind, and butterflies fluttered in your stomach. Marcel just gave you a teasing shurg. "He did say that your annoying voice was in your head quite often, however." Marcel gave you a sly expression. "Your voice ''was'' in his head, and Tai finds everyone annoying, but I don't hear him complaining about their "nagging" voice keeping him up at night." Hope filled your stomach, and yet you didn't know what to do with it. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> You remembered Margaret, mentioning that she at least heard of me from Tai. Did Tai talk about you? Tai had to..... if Margaret knew you just by name and description; that thought brought a blush to your face. You felt your heart beat in your chest. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?" You, of course, could already guess the answer, but the little voice in the back of your mind would not shut up until Marcel gave your lovestruck brain some sort of relief. <<if $TFrP <= 0>>Marcel chuckled softly, his eyes filled with amusement. "Oh, Tai definitely talked about you," he replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "He said that you were quite stubborn, but... I don't think he minded quite as much as he let on." <</if>> <<if $TFrP >= 1>>Marcel chuckled softly, his eyes filled with amusement. "Oh, Tai definitely talked about you," he replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It almost seemed that he enjoyed your company." Marcel's smile warmed. "It honestly made me quite jealous." He winked a little, giving you a hint that he knew about your small infatuation with the doctor. <</if>> You couldn't help but feel a surge of both embarrassment and curiosity at Marcel's response. The mention of Tai's thoughts about you made your heart flutter with a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was clear that there was more to their conversations than you had initially thought, leaving you eager to uncover the depths of Tai's true feelings. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends." <<set $MRFrP to $MRFrP + 1>> Marcel grinned, a look of surprise crossing his face. "Well, thank you. I know that Tai is a bit rough around the edges, but I am glad he has a good friend like you as well." <<set $TFrP to $TFrP+ 1>> "Oh, Tai and I aren't close, but thank you, Marcel." You couldn't help but imagine Tai's scowl in your head and Marcl's warm smile. You had no idea how those two became friends, but maybe with Marcl around, Tai's snarl would become softer. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

You raised an eyebrow at Marcel. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?" Marcel frowned. "It can be quite difficult. Tai isn't the most social; however, he is still my friend." You shrugged. "I am just surprised you can stand him." Marcel sighed and gave you a tense smile. "Maybe if you gave him a chance." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

The thought of being even closer to Tai was so far out of reach in your mind. How did Marcel stand him? The mere idea of being in such close proximity to Tai seemed unimaginable to you. You couldn't fathom how Marcel could tolerate his presence. It was as if they were from two completely different worlds. You snorted. "I wish you the best of luck." You contuined. "Tai can be well...tai." You said. You didn't know how Marcel would take it—that you were basically badmouthing his friend; however, Marcel just gave you a light touch on the shoulder, no anger behind it as he snorted. "Oh, Tai can be difficult, but he is a good friend, and I couldn't imagine my life without him." His face rested on a smile. "Maybe with me here, I can calm the waters, as they say." You raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know I was dealing with a Tai whisperer." Marcel nodded, playing along with your game. "It is a skill that I came to possess years ago." He chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You'd be surprised at how effective it can be. Sometimes all it takes is a little understanding and patience to bring out the best in someone like Tai." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Marcel talks about tai]]</div>

''Behind The Counter Of //The Lazy Dog//'' Camila hated silence. She couldn't even sleep at night without the sound of rain playing on her phone, because she found that silence was just too loud. When there was no sound, nothing but the thoughts in her head and her breath made her mind wander, and it always ends up in the same place. //Her father.// Growing up, her house was always joyful—the sound of customers, Luis babbling when he was younger, her mom on the phone to Miss Oleander, or even her father listening to music on his large crosley. The constant noise provided a sense of comfort and security for her. However, after her father's absence, the once lively house fell into a haunting silence that echoed her resentment. The absence of his laughter and the melodies from his beloved Crosley intensified her longing for his presence, making the silence unbearable. Because when there was slience in the household, there was a fight, a fight trying to be hidden from her eyes by her mother and father, but Camila always knew, maybe not Luis since he was too young to even comprehend what his toes were that he was putting in his mouth, but Camila always saw the flash of bitterness until the moment passed and the house would come loud again, but the tension never left until finally Fancisco, her father, finally went back to Portugal, only for his phone calls to slowly become less and less. But this was a new kind of silence. The smell of something like ash filled the air, and Camila frowned at the ticking clock. Only a few more hours, and Luis would be coming through the door groaning about how annoying everything was while their mom asked about his math test, but Camila waited for the phone to ring to fill the empty shop. $Name always called her at least once in the day to talk. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>While $Name usually didn't say anything, Camila always knew that $She was listening which left Camila to talk about anything and everything. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>$Name who knew of Camila's uncomfortable fear of silence, always made sure to keep the conversation going until $She had to take care of a customer. <</if>> But there was no ringing or even a response to the morning GIF that Camila had sent, which made her feel uneasy. Or maybe it had nothing to do with $Name at all and more to do with her mom. Camila didn't ask about her "Book Club" meeting because she knew her mom wouldn't tell her anything about it, not even a little off-hand comment about the border. Everyone knew there was one. Well, not everyone, but everyone with //The Mother's// blood running through their veins could feel the angelic magic that surrounded the town like a safe blanket. Everyone could feel the border slowly starting to weaken. People were worried, as they should be. Most supernaturals came to Lockwood to be safe from the dangers of the hunters and humans; living among them like camouflage left them with a sense of relief that they didn't have before. Camila had lived in Lockwood as long as she could remember, keeping her true form from $Name and the other humans, which piled on guilt until Camila knew one day she would crack. Although it wasn't like $Name was exactly normal with //The Huntress// as $Her aunt, but for all, $Name knew $She was just some nobody. Camila looked over to see her mother come in, holding a box with a vintage candle set; however, that didn't distract her from Miss Mendoza's usually styled hair now in a messy bun and the bags that hung under her eyes somehow making the gray in the older woman's hair more defined. Camila couldn't help herself from saying "Mamá, is something happening?" Miss Mendoza put down the box and looked over at her daughter. "What, Mija?" She pinched the bridge of her nose, and Camila just looked at her. "Is something happening with the border? I can feel something is wrong." Miss Mendoza straightened her back. "Don't worry about it, Camila." She looked toward the door. "Did the Lewis family come to pick up the brown couch?" Camila felt her teeth sharpen in anger, the sharp caines drawing blood when they glazed her tongue. "I don't care about the damn arm chair." Camila's mother's eyes flashed a deep, crimson red at her tone. Camila felt a shift in the air and Camila had to mentally stop herself from submitting to her mother's dominance. "Mamá, don't change the subject. Is something happening?" Camila repeated, her voice coming out softer than she wanted. The two women stared at each other. Camila could see the debate going on in her own mother's head, which only made the hairs on her neck stand up even streighter until finally she answered Camila. "We just have some new people that are going to be visiting the town, that is all." Camila frowned. "Newcomers?" //What the hell?// "Are they like us or...?" Miss Mendoza tensed up at her daughter's words but let out another deep sigh, trying to relieve all the tension. "Not that it matters, but they are like Tai." "Tai?" Camila repeated, the conversation just making her more confused. "So...what more demons in Lockwood?" The smell of ash in the air was almost suffocating her; however, the cloud of confusion was slowly going away. Demons were powerful. While supernaturals go to visit //The Mother// after their deaths, it was more horrifying what "normal" people went through—to be judged and chosen for what sin the maker saw fit in her glorious ways—just to become demons. They are going through punishment, but somehow one of the most dangerous supernaturals in the world—one demon—could make a hunter's year. Why supernautrals usually hid away from hunters because it was the demons that made the hunters shake in fear; they had the aura of //The Mother// because no matter what anyone said, they were part of her family now. There was only one hunter that Camila knew who had a list of demon deaths under her belt and who also made the best lemon bars that Camila had ever ate. Demons were servants of their own hell, and even supernaturals knew to stay away from them, so when Tai came into Lockwood with a chip on his shoulder, it put people off, but the energy that was hidden by the naked eye made most supernaturals on edge, and they stayed away from him for a couple of months until they started to slowly trust the young doctor. It wasn't like they could kick him out for being a demon; this was a port in a storm for everyone, no matter what or who they were. But to have more demons come into Lockwood, with the weakened energy radiating off the border and the scent of something else around town, was going to make supernaturals paranoid, and her mother didn't need that kind of stress. That did raise the question of why they were here in the first place. "Why are they here." Camila's mother licked her lips and turned away from her daughter, wiping the counter. "They are just here to check the border, and then they will be gone." "So the border is weakening..." Camila said, furrowing her brows. Miss Mendoza sighed. "I will figure it out." //Not "they" or even "we" but "I". // Camila looked at her mother with concern. "But what happens if they don't figure it out in time? What if something bad happens?" She asked, her voice filled with worry. Miss Mendoza paused for a moment, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. "We'll have to be prepared," she replied, her voice steady. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect our town and keep everyone safe." Camila nodded and Miss Mendoza looked towards her daughter. "Their is something else...." Camila's eyes widened, sensing that her mother had more to say. Miss Mendoza took a deep breath before continuing. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|"MC fainted"]]</div>

Rosemary “Rosie” Brown Friend Points: $RFrP Flirt Points: $RFlP Owen O’Conner Friend Points: $OFrP Flirt Points: $OFlP Marcellus “Marcel” De Rosa Friend Points: $MRFrP Flirt Points: $MRFlP Marguerite "Margaret" Badeaux Friend Points: $MBFrP Flirt Points: $MBFlP Zane Blackburn Friend Points: $ZFrP Flirt Points: $ZFlP Tai Huang Friend Points: $TFrP Flirt Points: $TFlP

" $Name fainted last night." Camila's eyes widened in surprise; that was not what she expected her mother to say. Her brain was going into overdrive as she started to put her coat on. She had to see $Name to make sure $Hers was alright. Camila knew her mother was not lying; she wouldn't do that to her, not when it was about her best friend. Not when it was about $Name. "How?" She said it in a hushed whisper. "Does it have something to do with-" "Exhaustion ." Miss Mendoza cut in; she didn't look at her daughter, which Camila would have found peculiar if her body wasn't filled with anxiety. " $Name has been working too hard." Camila didn't hear her mother as she ran out the door of the shop. How could she be such a bad friend not to realize that $Name was tried? She mentally hit herself for not going over to //Morning Dew// as soon as that phone didn't ring. Guilt piled into Camila's stomach. How could she be so stupid? <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|MC comes back from Mr. Anderson's]]</div>

''In The Font Of //Morning Dew// Building'' You got out of the car, the sun beaming down on you preatically, begging you to stretch your limbs. $C95Per1 and $C95Per2 followed you toward the front door right after $C95Per1 parked the car with ease. You saw your aunt come into view, her smile tense as she opened the front door. " $Name , it seems that they haven't murdered you." Aunt Zinnia wrapped an arm around your shoulder, and you glanced behind her to see Tai. "Tai just finished with my appointment." Aunt Zinnia said, squeezing your shoulder as the other newcomers followed Tai out of the cafe. Tai, as usual, didn't have an ounce of emotion on his face as he came closer to you. "While I am done with your aunt's home visit, it would seem that you need my services." Tai must have seen the confusion on your face as he then said it with a mediocre tone. "Your aunt told me you fainted." * [[You ignored him and asked. "Is everything okay with Aunt Zinnia?"]] * [["You worried about me, Doc?" You winked.]] * [[You just gave him a soft smile. "I don't think it was anything to worry about, Tai."]] * [[With a nod and a shurg, you said "I guess a checkup couldn't hurt."]] * [["Oh, are you sure, Tai? I wouldn't want to keep you from your work."]] * [[You blushed. The thought of Tai caring about you made your heart beat.]] * [["Do you promise not to have a sour attitude, Doc?"]]

"Do you promise not to have a sour attitude, Doc?" Your voice was dripping with sarcasm. <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> Tai breathed out of his nose; you could feel the annoyance radiating off him. "You are my patient...even if $She $is a blockhead. " The last part was muttered under his breath. <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> You gave him a mocking smile. "Did I offend you, Doctor Tai?" Your aunt gave you a slightly disapproving look; however, behind her, Rosemary looked as smug as the cat that just ate a fat canary. You saw Tai scowl a little before going inside. "Let's go, Oleander." You just snickered as you watched Tai go inside, followed by the rest of his....friends? Aunt Zinnia frowned, and you just rolled your eyes. "What?" "What was that about, $Name ?" She asked, crossing her arms. You shrugged. "You mean putting Tai in his place?" You walkedinside,e ignoring the look on your aunt's face, and the AC hit you, which you had to admit felt heavenly on your sweating back from September's heat. Tai sat you down at a table, and Margaret followed quickly behind. You were amazed at how such different personalities worked together in such a synergistic way with Margaret and Tai. " $Name do you have a headache? Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" Tai asked, giving Margaret a flash light from his gladstone bag. Margaret fidgeted with the small flash light in her hand; her tone, however, was still soft. "You think $She has a concussion?" Tai clicked his tongue and looked over at Margaret. "You don't? Apparently, the patient fell down, hitting $Her head." You looked over their shoulders to see Owen leaning against the wall on the far side of the cafe, talking in a low tone with Marcel, a serious expression on the curly-haired man's face. You could hear the sound of movement in the back and the kettle going off as Aunt Zinnia started to make some tea. Flashes of the blonde man's face crossed your mind, as did his angry eyes, and you clenched your fist. //It wasn't real.// Margaret and Tai's voices blended together, like you were underwater. The pressure in your head that was crawling into the front of your brain since this morning was now front and center, and all you could do was stare out into space. " $Name ?" Tai's voice broke through. You blinked and saw the faces of Margaret and Tai looking down at you. Tai bent to one knee. "Are you okay?" His voice was low, which almost distracted you from his moss-colored eyes, but there was a softness in them you only saw when he was with Johnny. You took a slow breath and let a sly smile fall on your face. "With you near me, Tai, how could I be?" Tai's nostrils flared, but his expression did not change from seriousness as his moss-colored eyes stared into your own. The hard stare made you sigh before you said. "I am fine, Doc." You said it with an irritated tone, and Tai nodded his head as he made some distance between you two as he got up. "Good. I don't need you to have more brain damage than you already have, Oleander." You grimaced at his monotone voice. Your mind came up blank as you saw Tai turn around to what you guess was the kitchen to talk to your aunt. However, you were glad that he was walking away from you. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

You ignored him and asked. "Is everything okay with Aunt Zinnia?" Aunt Zinnia, you saw her give you a soft smile, but you saw a little bit of sadness and worry behind her eyes. "Don't worry about me, $Name . Trust me when I say that I am fine and dandy; let's worry about you for a change." You snorted. "Aunt Zinnia, you always worry about me; I just fell asleep on the job." A flash of black tentacles coming towards you flooded your memory, and you fought back a shudder. //It wasn't real. It was just a nightmare.// You repeated it in your head, but your aunt didn't look convinced. "You fainted, $Name ." The older woman emphasized your name to get her point across which you just sighed to. Owen looked you up and down. His tone was serious as he spoke, "You been working hard, $Lass ?" The looming redhead asked, and you just gave me an exasperated look. "Like you wouldn't believe." You didn't know if Owen was just trying to lighten the mood or just studying your reaction, but you couldn't help feeling a pang of annoyance. The nightmares, or whatever the fuck they were, had been taking a toll on you, both mentally and physically. You were exhausted from the constant battles in your dreams. You looked at your aunt's concerned face, and you couldn't help but think that these nightmares were starting to affect your waking life as well. Tai breathed out through his nose. You could practically feel the annoyance piling up inside the doctor; you didn't know if it was because you were ignoring his question or if it was some other reason. Margaret mirrored your aunt's worried expression. "Oh no!" She bit her nails. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself." Tai glanced at Margaret with a raised eyebrow. "Right. As my colleague said in her usually... positive demoinor is you shouldn't be so stupid." //Okay, wow, he ''needs'' to work on his people skills.// "All I am saying is...you should take better care of yourself." Your eyes widened a little in surprise at Tai's comment; it almost sounded like he cared if it weren't for the irritated tone in his voice. Tai paused for a moment before looking at your aunt and giving you a sharp look . " I can hypothesize it was just a momentary lapse in energy....from what I hear, you have been working long hours lately and have simply exhausted yourself." You didn't know if he was trying to reassure you, but if he was, he was doing it in a very....blunt way, but he was Tai after all. You sighed. "I am telling you I am fine, but if a little checkup will make everyone feel better.....it couldn't hurt." You said you were hoping that it would let the matter drop. However, Aunt Zinnia's worried expression remained unchanged. You saw Marcel look around the area until his eyes landed on Tai. "I think it would be best if we went inside." Marcel made eye contact with you before turning back to the young doctor. "We should get $Name out of the sun." You groaned, but Aunt Zinnia just took you by the shoulder and pulled you into the cafe. "Come on, Sugar Cube." The AC hitting you, which you had to admit felt heavenly on your sweating back from September's heat. Tai sat you down at a table, and Margaret followed quickly behind. You were amazed at how such different personalities worked together in such a synergistic way with Margaret and Tai. " $Name do you have a headache? Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" Tai asked, giving Margaret a flash light from his gladstone bag. Margaret fidgeted with the small flash light in her hand; her tone, however, was still soft. "You think $She has a concussion?" Tai clicked his tongue and looked over at Margaret. "You don't? Apparently, the patient fell down, hitting $Her head." You looked over their shoulders to see Owen leaning against the wall on the far side of the cafe, talking in a low tone with Marcel, a serious expression on the curly-haired man's face. You could hear the sound of movement in the back and the kettle going off as Aunt Zinnia started to make some tea. Flashes of the blonde man's face crossed your mind, his angry eyes, and you clenched your fist. //It wasn't real.// Margaret and Tai's voices blended together, like you were underwater. The pressure in your head that was crawling into the front of your brain since this morning was now front and center, and all you could do was stare out into space. " $Name ?" Tai's voice broke through. You blinked and saw the faces of Margaret and Tai looking down at you. Tai bent to one knee. "Are you okay?" His voice was low which almost distracted you from his moss-colored eyes, but there was a softness in them you only saw when he was with Johnny. //Pity.// You felt angry rise up in you, and through clenched teeth, you shrugged him away. "I told you that I was fine; I don't need your pity." Tai's jaw tightened just before light hit your eyes. Tai held a flashlight in front of your face. "You are so stubborn." He mumbled, but all you could do was squint your eyes at the light. Until finally, Tai turned off the flash light. "Your pupils look in order, so you didn't suffer such a bad injury." Tai put his flashlight back in his bag, and Margaret bit her lip, looking between you two. The softness in Tai's eyes was now gone and replaced with his blank expression. "Try not to be an imbecile again, will you? I will tell your aunt that you only thing that you suffer from is a little bump on the head." Margaret piqued up, her leg bouncing as she sat down in the chair next to you. "I would still be careful and take it easy." She said, giving Tai a little glance, which Tai only nodded to as he started to walk away. * [["Wait.....Tai..."]] * [[You watched him go.]]

You felt a happiness bubble in your stomach at the thought of Tai worrying about you, and you couldn't help but give the young doctor a big grin. <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> "You worried about me, Doc?" You winked. Tai breathed out of his nose; you could feel the annoyance radiating off him. "You are my patient.It is my job to make sure that you are in average or more than average health." You gave him a fake pout. "Aww...so I am just a job to you, Doc?" You saw Tai blush a deep scarlet against his pale cheeks. "Of-f-f course! Why else would I put up with someone as stubborn as you?" Tai straightened his scarf. "Meet me inside for your check-up when you aren't acting like an imbecile. Got it?" You just snickered, and a wave of warmth all the way to your toes hit you as you celebrated that you made the stoic king himself blush. "Don't worry, Tai, I can't leave you waiting for long." Tai clenched his jaw as he muttered to himself the words "fool" and "put up with," the only things you were able to hear as he went inside. You were so focused on Tai that you didn't even notice that everyone around you had a look of pure shock on their faces, except perhaps Marcel and your aunt. The former looked happy as he looked at the door that Tai just went through with a look of understanding on his face, while the latter, your aunt, just gave you a tired look. Rosemary had a look of disgust on her face, while Margaret just looked confused. Owen gave you a dumbstruck look. "What the bloody hell just happened?" You gave him a sly smile. "Just having a little fun with Tai, that's all." Rosemary frowned. "Well, can you not have "fun" or whatever that was in front of me, $Dollface ?" Rosemary followed Tai inside with a sick and horrified look on her face. Owen opened his mouth to ask you more questions, but Marcel just pulled him and Margaret inside, as you heard the faint sound of Margaret say. "What was so fun?" Aunt Zinnia just shook her head. "Never change $Name ." You just faked innocence. "I have no idea what you mean, Auntie. Now, if you excuse me, I have a checkup to go to." You walked inside, and the AC hit you, which you had to admit felt heavenly on your sweating back from September's heat. Tai sat you down at a table, and Margaret followed quickly behind. You were amazed at how such different personalities worked together in such a synergistic way with Margaret and Tai. " $Name do you have a headache? Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" Tai asked, giving Margaret a flash light from his gladstone bag. Margaret fidgeted with the small flash light in her hand; her tone, however, was still soft. "You think $She has a concussion?" Tai clicked his tongue and looked over at Margaret. "You don't? Apparently, the patient fell down, hitting $Her head." You looked over their shoulders to see Owen leaning against the wall on the far side of the cafe, talking in a low tone with Marcel, a serious expression on the curly-haired man's face. You could hear the sound of movement in the back and the kettle going off as Aunt Zinnia started to make some tea. Flashes of the blonde man's face crossed your mind, as did his angry eyes, and you clenched your fist. //It wasn't real.// Margaret and Tai's voices blended together, like you were underwater. The pressure in your head that was crawling into the front of your brain since this morning was now front and center, and all you could do was stare out into space. " $Name ?" Tai's voice broke through. You blinked and saw the faces of Margaret and Tai looking down at you. Tai bent to one knee. "Are you okay?" His voice was low, which almost distracted you from his moss-colored eyes, but there was a softness in them you only saw when he was with Johnny. You took a slow breath and let a sly smile fall on your face. "With you near me, Tai, how could I not be?" You again saw pink on Tai's cheeks; however, instead of getting a flustered mess, he remained serious as his moss-colored eyes stared into your own. There was a softness in the goldened flecks that made all the air in your lungs seem to disappear. "I...I am good, Tai." You said it in a hushed whisper, and Tai nodded his head, the pink on his cheeks fading as he made some distance between you two as he got up. "Good. I don't need you to have anymore brain damage than you already have, Oleander." You smiled at his monotone voice......with a hint of something else, which pulled you away more from the nightmarish thoughts. Your mind came up blank as you saw Tai turn around to what you guess was the kitchen to talk to your aunt. However, you were happy to note that the warmth was still there with you as Tai walked away. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

You just gave him a soft smile. "I don't think it was anything to worry about, Tai." <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>> Tai looked you up and down. "I would still like to do a checkup if you're okay with it." <<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> Aunt Zinnia gave you a soft smile. "I think it would be a good idea for a checkup, just to make sure that everything in those little heads and worries of yours is in order." There was no bite behind her words, only worry. You sighed. "Even though I think I just fell asleep on the job...I guess a checkup couldn't hurt." A flash of black tentacles coming towards you flooded your memory, and you fought back a shudder. //It wasn't real. It was just a nightmare.// You repeated it in your head, and your aunt gave you a big smile. "Good, I don't need you to be fainting on the regular." Owen looked you up and down. His tone was serious as he spoke, "You been working hard, $Lass ?" The looming redhead asked, and you just gave me a sigh. "Like you wouldn't believe." You tried your best to lighten the mood and look away from Owen's studying eyes. You didn't want to think about the nightmares, or whatever the fuck they were, that had been taking a toll on you, both mentally and physically. Everything was fine. Everything was always fine. Tai breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, I am glad that you have seen reason." <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You let surprise cross your face. "You....care?" You cringed inside at how awkward and rude that sounded<</if>> <<if $Sincerity <= 49>>You chuckled. "Aw, you do care, Doc."<</if>> Tai rolled his eyes. "You should take better care of yourself. I can hypothesize it was just a momentary lapse in energy; from what I hear, you have been working long hours lately and have simply exhausted yourself." You didn't know if he was trying to reassure you, but if he was, he was doing it in a very....blunt way, but he was Tai after all. You just shurged. "I am all yours, Tai." Tai gave you an umoving look, which you just grinned at. "Well, in the professional way, that is." Tai just rolled his eyes and went inside, while Marcel nodded his head. "We should get $Name out of the sun." His brown eyes scanned the area around you. You followed Tai with really no complaints as the AC hit you, which you had to admit felt heavenly on your sweating back from September's heat. Tai sat you down at a table, and Margaret followed quickly behind. You were amazed at how such different personalities worked together in such a synergistic way with Margaret and Tai. " $Name do you have a headache? Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" Tai asked, giving Margaret a flash light from his gladstone bag. Margaret fidgeted with the small flash light in her hand; her tone, however, was still soft. "You think $She has a concussion?" Tai clicked his tongue and looked over at Margaret. "You don't? Apparently, the patient fell down, hitting $Her head." You looked over their shoulders to see Owen leaning against the wall on the far side of the cafe, talking in a low tone with Marcel, a serious expression on the curly-haired man's face. You could hear the sound of movement in the back and the kettle going off as Aunt Zinnia started to make some tea. Flashes of the blonde man's face crossed your mind, as did his angry eyes, and you clenched your fist. //It wasn't real.// Margaret and Tai's voices blended together, like you were underwater. The pressure in your head that was crawling into the front of your brain since this morning was now front and center, and all you could do was stare out into space. " $Name ?" Tai's voice broke through. You blinked and saw the faces of Margaret and Tai looking down at you. Tai bent to one knee. "Are you okay?" His voice was low, which almost distracted you from his moss-colored eyes, but there was a softness in them you only saw when he was with Johnny. You took a slow breath. "Yeah...yeah of course. I told you I was fine." Even in your own ears, it didn't sound convincing. Tai pressed his lips together, looking like he wanted to say something, but all that came out was I should go tell your aunt that you are looking fine, but you need to take more breaks now and again." All you could do was nod as Tai walked towards the kitchen to your aunt, and all you could do was watch. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

With a nod and a shurg, you said, "I guess a checkup couldn't hurt." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> Tai just matched your stoic expression. "Good. I am glad that you have some brain in that head of yours." <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> You didn't react to Tai's comment and just looked at your aunt Zinnia, who just gave you a small smile. "Are you feeling okay right now?" You just blinked; you felt there was something else behind her words. "Besides a small headache, nothing really seems that werid." Aunt Zinnia just gave your shoulder another squeeze. "Thank the Lord, I don't need you fainting on me again, SugerCube." A flash of black tentacles coming towards you flooded your memory, and you fought back a shudder. //It wasn't real. It was just a nightmare.// Owen looked you up and down. His tone was serious as he spoke, "You been working hard, $Lass ?" The looming redhead asked, and you just gave the man a shurg, not having the energy to come up with an excuse or really any sort of response. You could feel everyone's eyes on you, and you could tell that they could see the tiredness in your eyes. As you closed your eyes, the nightmares flashed in your eyes, or whatever the fuck they were, that had been taking a toll on you, both mentally and physically. You just needed to go to sleep. You saw Marcel look around the area until his eyes landed on Tai. "I think it would be best if we went inside." Marcel made eye contact with you before turning back to the young doctor. "We should get $Name out of the sun." You followed everyone and sighed with relief as the AC hit you, which you had to admit felt heavenly on your sweating back from September's heat. Tai sat you down at a table, and Margaret followed quickly behind. You were amazed at how such different personalities worked together in such a synergistic way with Margaret and Tai. " $Name do you have a headache? Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" Tai asked, giving Margaret a flash light from his gladstone bag. Margaret fidgeted with the small flash light in her hand; her tone, however, was still soft. "You think $She has a concussion?" Tai clicked his tongue and looked over at Margaret. "You don't? Apparently, the patient fell down, hitting $Her head." You looked over their shoulders to see Owen leaning against the wall on the far side of the cafe, talking in a low tone with Marcel, a serious expression on the curly-haired man's face. You could hear the sound of movement in the back and the kettle going off as Aunt Zinnia started to make some tea. Flashes of the blonde man's face crossed your mind, as did his angry eyes, and you clenched your fist. //It wasn't real.// Margaret and Tai's voices blended together, like you were underwater. The pressure in your head that was crawling into the front of your brain since this morning was now front and center, and all you could do was stare out into space. " $Name ?" Tai's voice broke through. You blinked and saw the faces of Margaret and Tai looking down at you. Tai bent to one knee. "Are you okay?" His voice was low, which almost distracted you from his moss-colored eyes, but there was a softness in them you only saw when he was with Johnny. You took a slow breath. "Yeah, just tied. Nothing to worry about." Even in your own ears, it didn't sound convincing. "I will make sure to tell Zinnia that you need rest." Tai pressed his lips together, looking like he wanted to say something else, but all that came out was I should go tell your aunt that you are looking fine, but you need to take more breaks now and again." All you could do was nod as Tai walked towards the kitchen to your aunt, and all you could do was watch. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

You bit your lip; you didn't want to make Tai do more work over really nothing. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> "Oh, are you sure, Tai? I wouldn't want to keep you from your work." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> Tai just furrowed his brow. "You do know that I am a doctor, yes?" You matched his expression, confusion on your face. "Uh, well, yeah." "I am a doctor, and you are my patient. It is my job that I am responsible for making sure that your health is up to par." "I am just saying that you don't have to-" "If I did not want to make sure you were okay, then I wouldn't have asked. Do you understand that? All you could do was nod numbly at Tai's blunt statement, and your aunt squeezed your shoulder. " $Name , I want to make sure you are okay...me and Tai both do." The ernest look in Aunt Zinnia's eyes and the caring softness about you made you want to cry, however you held in your emotion. All you could get out was a little stutter. "I... yeah, a checkup would be great." Aunt Zinnia just gave your shoulder another squeeze. "Thank the Lord, I don't need you fainting on me again, SugerCube." A flash of black tentacles coming towards you flooded your memory, and you fought back a shudder. //It wasn't real. It was just a nightmare.// Owen looked you up and down. His tone was serious as he spoke, "You been working hard, $Lass ?" The looming redhead asked, and you just blushed under the attention. "Uh, yeah, but it really isn't a big deal." You bit your lip as the nightmares flashed in your eyes, or whatever the fuck they were, that had been taking a toll on you, both mentally and physically. You just needed to go to sleep. You saw Marcel look around the area until his eyes landed on Tai. "I think it would be best if we went inside." Marcel made eye contact with you before turning back to the young doctor. "We should get $Name out of the sun." You followed everyone and sighed with relief as the AC hit you, which you had to admit felt heavenly on your sweating back from September's heat. Tai sat you down at a table, and Margaret followed quickly behind. You were amazed at how such different personalities worked together in such a synergistic way with Margaret and Tai. " $Name do you have a headache? Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" Tai asked, giving Margaret a flash light from his gladstone bag. Margaret fidgeted with the small flash light in her hand; her tone, however, was still soft. "You think $She has a concussion?" Tai clicked his tongue and looked over at Margaret. "You don't? Apparently, the patient fell down, hitting $Her head." You looked over their shoulders to see Owen leaning against the wall on the far side of the cafe, talking in a low tone with Marcel, a serious expression on the curly-haired man's face. You could hear the sound of movement in the back and the kettle going off as Aunt Zinnia started to make some tea. Flashes of the blonde man's face crossed your mind, as did his angry eyes, and you clenched your fist. //It wasn't real.// Margaret and Tai's voices blended together, like you were underwater. The pressure in your head that was crawling into the front of your brain since this morning was now front and center, and all you could do was stare out into space. " $Name ?" Tai's voice broke through. You blinked and saw the faces of Margaret and Tai looking down at you. Tai bent to one knee. "Are you okay?" His voice was low, which almost distracted you from his moss-colored eyes, but there was a softness in them you only saw when he was with Johnny. You took a slow breath. "Yeah..." You said it meekly, and Tai just stared at you, which you couldn't blame him for because, even in your own ears, it didn't sound convincing. "I will make sure to tell Zinnia that you need rest." Tai pressed his lips together, looking like he wanted to say something else, but all that came out was, I should go tell your aunt that you are looking fine, but you need to take more breaks now and again." All you could do was nod as Tai walked towards the kitchen toward your aunt, and all you could do was watch. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

You fidgeted a little as your heart beat thumped against your chest as red dusted your cheeks. <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> "You're worried about me?" You gawked, not meaning to, but with Tai's gaze on you, it was hard to have a filter. Tai looked at you, his eyebrow raised in what you could have only guessed was confusion. "You are my patient. It is my job to make sure that you are healthy." Your eyes widened. "What! Of course! Yeah, I knew that. I just mean't it was just surprising." You rambled, everyone's eyes on you only making it worse as you ran out of breath, shutting your mouth and hoping that everyone just thought that you were just going insane and not having a small crush on the young doctor. Tai straightened his scarf as he gave you a concerned look. "Are you okay?" He studied you for what felt like an hour, but what you could only guess was that it was actually just a few minutes. "I am fine! I mean, not super fine since I passed out, although I'm not a doctor, not like you, so maybe we should just get in." You pointed to the door as embarrassment heated your body like the sun on a summer day, and you wished for the ground to swallow you up. You kept your eyes on the ground, feeling everyone's eyes on you, probably concerned as they thought you had lost it, but you felt Aunt Zinnia's hand on your shoulder. "Let's go get you checked out, $Name." You could only nod your head as you looked up to see everyone already going into the cafe; however, you did catch Rosemary's eyes on you with an incredulous look on her face. She knew. You could only hope she wouldn't make a fool out of you. You walked inside, and the AC hit you, which you had to admit felt heavenly on your sweating back from September's heat. Tai sat you down at a table, and Margaret followed quickly behind. You were amazed at how such different personalities worked together in such a synergistic way with Margaret and Tai. " $Name do you have a headache? Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?" Tai asked, giving Margaret a flash light from his gladstone bag. Margaret fidgeted with the small flash light in her hand; her tone, however, was still soft. "You think $She has a concussion?" Tai clicked his tongue and looked over at Margaret. "You don't? Apparently, the patient fell down, hitting $Her head." You looked over their shoulders to see Owen leaning against the wall on the far side of the cafe, talking in a low tone with Marcel, a serious expression on the curly-haired man's face. You could hear the sound of movement in the back and the kettle going off as Aunt Zinnia started to make some tea. Flashes of the blonde man's face crossed your mind, as did his angry eyes, and you clenched your fist. //It wasn't real.// Margaret and Tai's voices blended together, like you were underwater. The pressure in your head that was crawling into the front of your brain since this morning was now front and center, and all you could do was stare out into space. " $Name ?" Tai's voice broke through. You blinked and saw the faces of Margaret and Tai looking down at you. Tai bent to one knee. "Are you okay?" His voice was low, which almost distracted you from his moss-colored eyes, but there was a softness in them you only saw when he was with Johnny. Your eyes widened as you spoke with a crack in your voice. "Y-yeah! I mean, I am super." //Super? Oh god, kill me.// Tai remained serious as his moss-colored eyes stared into your own, and for a second, you swore that you saw concern behind those eyes. There was a softness in the goldened flecks that made all the air in your lungs seem to disappear. "I...I am good, Tai." You said it in a hushed whisper, and Tai nodded his head as the concern in his eyes didn't seem to fade. He made some distance between you two as he got up. "Good. That is…." Tai looked at you and swallowed. "Good." Tai finished with a little of a hushed whisper. Your mouth felt dry, which distracted you from your nightmarish thoughts. Your mind came up blank as you saw Tai turn around to what you guess was the kitchen to talk to your aunt. However, you were happy to note that the warmth was still there with you as Tai walked away. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

''Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew'' Zinnia bit her finger nails. Sitting around the table, the tension in the room thickened and only got worse as Zinnia and Marcel sat in slience. The phone call to Tai didn't help matters; Zinnia's shoulders sagged with guilt for lying to $Name. There was no doctor checkup, at least for Zinnia. Zinnia called Tai last night to give him a review of $Name 's injuries and the break-in. It was decided that Tai would come by tomorrow to make sure $Name was doing okay. The demons showing up a little early just sped the process along. The only sound in the room came from Rosemary, who paced the kitchen floor. "I can't believe you let Owen drive my baby." Marcel sighed, crossing his legs as he sat on a chair in the dining room. "While I understand your attachment to your vehicle, I do think we have bigger problems at hand." Rosemary rolled her eyes. "We all know the reason why we are here, Marcel, so is it really surprising that someone broke in?" Zinnia strengthened, her neves on edge, as Rosemary spoke in such a casual tone, like she was talking about the weather and not someone attacking her $Niece . Zinnia just let out a soft, "What?" in a hushed whisper. Marcel sighed. "Someone was indeed here." He sat his elbows on the table as he looked at Zinnia with kind and sad eyes. "I hoped that Tai had overcalculated the problem at hand, but it would appear that Tai was right." "I found $Hers on the ground, passed out." Zinnia gritted her teeth, reminding herself that seeing her $Niece on the ground, hurt and unconscious, sent her into a rage. If it wasn't for Triana, Zinnia would have pulled out her old gear and gone into the forest to find the bastard. Triana used her supernatural strength to pin Zinnia to the ground, which normally would have made Zinnia blush like an idiot, but it just made her curse up a storm. Luckily, Trinia called Bess, who was able to come over and fix the shop and keep $Name stable. Zinnia wondered what would have happened if Triana wasn't there; would she be able to find the thing who did this? Would she be dead, or would this problem all be over? Marcel gave Zinnia a small smile. "Well, the good news is that it wasn't //Pandemonium//. The powers were clearly from a lesser being." Rosemary tapped her perfectly manicured nails on the wooden table and gave Marcel a curious look. "Some sort of fiend?" "Your saying this was another demon? The barrier should stop-" Marcel nodded, looking grave. "The barrier is getting weaker by the day from the crack, and he has sent something in." Rosemary rubbed her temple. "We will have to tell Owen that there may be demons getting out of hell; there is no way that Lord Agate is going to be happy about this." Zinnia's mouth went dry at the sheer thought of Owen's Lord, and she stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Marcel looked toward Zinnia. "Is there some sort of blessing in this place? I can feel the angelic magic presence in the walls." "I put a blessing around the whole bakery to keep unwanted demons away when I first moved in." Zinnia mummered. "Good job that did." She said it sarcastically. Marcel squeezed Zinnia's clenched fist, which made the older-looking woman glance at him in surprise. "I believe it did more good than you know." Marcel said before letting go of Zinnia's hand. The door jiggled, and after a pause, Tai walked in, his hair unusually messy and his lab coat winkled over his dark purple sweater. Rosemary's jaw clenched, and she looked away, staring at the table. Tai ignored her and took one look around the room. "Oh, the Lords of the damned, you finally made it, Marcel. Tai said it with as much monotone as ever, but Zinnia could swear she heard a little bit of relief. Marcel's smile brightened, and he gave Tai a handshake, which the doctor returned. "Margaret and Owen are taking Rosemary's car to get checked out." At the mention of Rosemary, Tai looked at said woman, his lips pressed together in a thin line. "Rosemary." He acknowledged her with a tense tone of voice. "Tai." Rosemary spoke with gritted teeth. "As much as I would have loved to avoid you for a little longer, it seemed that fate had other plans." Tai had already moved on from Rosemary and was looking at Marcel again. "What happened to the car?" "The car seemed to not enjoy going across the anglic barrier and explode when the hell fire engine mixed." Zinnia rubbed her forehead. "The car does not matter; what matters is that $Name is out of the house so we can talk." Rosemary's eyes lit up in anger, but it was quickly extinguished by a warning look from Marcel. "This suspect couldn't have gone far; they are likely still in town somewhere." Tai drummed his fingers on the table. "We are going to have to keep a lookout; stay on guard till we apprehend this supernatural." Rosemary groaned. "I am guessing there isn't a nice hotel in town with hot towels." Zinnia's face twisted into a worrisome frown with the mention of demons staying in Lockwood, which they all ignored. "I suppose we will go hunting for a place to stay when Owen and Margaret get back." Tai sighed. "You will be able to stay with me." Rosemary's eyes widened. "Wait really? You want people in your house? Won't that get in the way of your private brooding time?" Marcel just gave the doctor a warm smile. "That is kind of you, Tai. Thank you. I promise that we will be the best guests you have ever had over." Tai rubbed the back of his neck clearly embarrassed. " I think it is big enough. It's an old house, and the mayor gave me a good price on it when I moved here." Rosemary just looked off into space. "Unbeliveable." Tai sighed when Marcel just gave Tai a knowing look. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Sitting On the Couch Of The Anderson Residence]]</div>

Tai walked towards the kitchen to your aunt, and all you could do was watch. What were you supposed to say? Your voice had suddenly deserted you, leaving you unsure of how to initiate a conversation with them. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that angry wasn't real. No she was hiding that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

"Tai....wait.." The young doctor turned around with a look that you have become so accustomed to; however, his eyes were almost... hurt? He was waiting for the final blow of your battle and for the bomb to hit him right in the chest. But as soon as you saw the emotion behind his eyes, it disappeared, like it was never there in the first place. More walls were being built. "Yes, $Name ? Do you need something?" What were you supposed to say? You didn't think this far. It didn't help that this was very awkward with Margaret right beside you, looking between you and Tai with curiosity. You could feel your mouth go dry, and all you could say was. * [["...Thank you."]] * [["......I...I am sorry."]] * [[You just shook your head and let him leave.]] * [["You're....good..." You felt your heart rate rise.]]

You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too. <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity + 1>> Camila pulled back her emerald-colored eyes, scanning your face. "What happened?" <<set $Snark to $Snark - 1>> "I was just tired, Cam; don't worry." You pulled Camila closer into another hug; everything was too much. The nightmare. The looks from your loved ones that you couldn't help but be confused by. You squeezed Camila back, hoping that all the stress that you were building up would ease. And from the way that Camila was holding you, you knew she was worried. " $She fainted," Tai said as he came back into the kitchen, followed by Rosemary and your aunt. Camila once again pulled back to look around and seemed to notice the strangers in the room; however, she only looked surprised for a second before breaking out into a weak smile, her grip still on your shoulders. "Oh, hi, I'm Camila; my family owns the antique store a few blocks down." Margaret waved, while Marcel pushed out his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you; we are Tai's friends." You saw in the corner of your eye Rosemary, who pressed her lips together. Camila examined the taller man's hand for only a second before she took his hand in a heartfelt shake. "I am Marcel, and this is Rosemary, Owen, and Margaret." He nodded to each of said people when saying their names, who all just nodded back except for Margaret, who gave a bright smile. Camila gave you a look and, after years of being her friend, said, 'We will talk about this later' before turning back to the strangers. "Are you all staying long?" Owen narrowed his eyes at your friend but relaxed when he glanced at Marcel, who gave Camila a warm smile. "It would seem like we have a lot of work to do here." You felt Camila stiffen for only a minute. "Right, well, are you all going to be staying at the Velvet Vineyard?" The Velvet Vineyard was a small bed and breakfast that old Miss González owned right in the middle of town. Lockwood didn't get enough visitors for it to be an actual full-operating motel, but you didn't know how Tai's friends would feel being surrounded by sheep-themed merchandise that seemed to litter the walls and shelves. Tai cut in. "They will all be staying with me." "At the farmhouse on Castle Road?" The young doctor nodded. "The very one." Aunt Zinnia cut in. "I offered to get them settled in tomorrow." You smiled. "Really, you are not going to be slaving away over a hot stove all day?" Aunt Zinnia grinned. "I would be in the morning, but Tai offered to get us pizza, and who was I to pass up a free pizza?" Tai rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't be free; you would be working for it, like moving furniture and helping keep them-" Tai pointed to Margaret, Rosemary, and Owen. "On track." Owen yelled in quick outrage. "Oi!" which was ignored, and Camila turned back towards you. " $Name and I were going to have brunch tomorrow, but I can drop $Her off afterward." "We were?" You couldn't remember when you agreed to a brunch, but one look into Camila's eyes made you correct your statement. "Oh, that brunch, yeah, sorry, it must have slipped my mind, but I can check on your guys progress and help if you guys need me to." That talk that Camila wanted to have with you was going to happen sooner rather than later. Aunt Zinnia came over and rubbed your head, and you blushed a little at the childish affection. "That would be great, kiddo." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Four]]</div>

You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> You felt angry rise up inside, but you forced her down; Camila didn't deserve that. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> Camila pulled back her emerald-colored eyes, scanning your face. "What happened?" "I just fell asleep on the job, no big deal.." "Fainted," Tai corrected as he came back into the kitchen, followed by Rosemary and your aunt. Camila looked around and seemed to notice the strangers in the room; however, she only looked surprised for a second before breaking out into a weak smile, her grip still on your shoulders. "Oh, hi, I'm Camila; my family owns the antique store a few buildng down." Margaret waved, while Marcel pushed out his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you; we are Tai's friends." You saw in the corner of your eye Rosemary, who pressed her lips together. Camila examined the taller man's hand for only a second before she took his hand in a heartfelt shake. "I am Marcel, and this is Rosemary, Owen, and Margaret." He nodded to each of said people when saying their names, who all just nodded back except for Margaret, who gave a bright smile. Camila gave you a look and, after years of being her friend, said, 'We will talk about this later' before turning back to the strangers. "Are you all staying long?" Owen narrowed his eyes at your friend but relaxed when he glanced at Marcel, who gave Camila a warm smile. "It would seem like we have a lot of work to do here." You felt Camila stiffen for only a minute. "Right, well, are you all going to be staying at the Velvet Vineyard?" The Velvet Vineyard was a small bed and breakfast that old Miss González owned right in the middle of town. Lockwood didn't get enough visitors for it to be an actual full-operating motel, but you didn't know how Tai's friends would feel being surrounded by sheep-themed merchandise that seemed to litter the walls and shelves. Tai cut in. "They will all be staying with me." "At the farmhouse on Castle Road?" The young doctor nodded. "The very one." Aunt Zinnia cut in. "I offered to get them settled in tomorrow." You frowned. "Really?" It was odd that your aunt was going to skip a day at work. Aunt Zinnia just gave you a shurg and a grin. "Tai offered to get us pizza, and who was I to pass up a free pizza?" Tai rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't be free; you would be working for it, like moving furniture and helping keep it." Tai pointed to Margaret, Rosemary, and Owen. "On track." Owen yelled in quick outrage. "Oi!" which was ignored, and Camila turned back towards you. " $Name and I were going to have brunch tomorrow, but I can drop $Her off afterward." You just raised your eyebrows in confusion. You couldn't remember when you agreed to a brunch, but one look into Camila's eyes made you understand. The talk that Camila wanted to have with you was going to happen sooner rather than later. Aunt Zinnia came over gently and squeezed your shoulder, and while you didn't show it, you felt appreciative of the gesture. "That would be great, kiddo." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Four]]</div>

You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me." <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> Camila pulled back her emerald-colored eyes, meeting your $EyeColor ones. "This isn't a joke, $Name ." You were taken aback by her choked-back sob, and you frowned. "Hey. hey. I am fine, Cam; I just fell asleep on the job." <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> "Fainted," Tai corrected as he came back into the kitchen, followed by Rosemary and your aunt. Camila looked around and seemed to notice the strangers in the room, wiping her eyes to clear the tears from her face. She only looked surprised for a second before breaking out into a weak smile, her grip still on your shoulders. "Oh, hi, I'm Camila; my family owns the antique store a few buildng down." Margaret waved, while Marcel pushed out his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you; we are Tai's friends." You saw in the corner of your eye Rosemary, who pressed her lips together. Camila examined the taller man's hand for only a second before she took his hand in a heartfelt shake. "I am Marcel, and this is Rosemary, Owen, and Margaret." He nodded to each of said people when saying their names, who all just nodded back except for Margaret, who gave a bright smile. Camila gave you a look and, after years of being her friend, said, 'We will talk about this later' before turning back to the strangers. You felt a pile of guilt in your stomach when you noticed her light, tear-stained face. "Are you all staying long?" Camila asked. Owen narrowed his eyes at your friend but relaxed when he glanced at Marcel, who gave Camila a warm smile. "It would seem like we have a lot of work to do here." You felt Camila stiffen for only a minute. "Right, well, are you all going to be staying at the Velvet Vineyard?" The Velvet Vineyard was a small bed and breakfast that old Miss González owned right in the middle of town. Lockwood didn't get enough visitors for it to be an actual full-operating motel, but you didn't know how Tai's friends would feel being surrounded by sheep-themed merchandise that seemed to litter the walls and shelves. Tai cut in. "They will all be staying with me." "At the farmhouse on Castle Road?" The young doctor nodded. "The very one." Aunt Zinnia cut in. "I offered to get them settled in tomorrow." You teased. "I didn't know we were a moving company. You might want to rebrand Aunt Z or people might think we are a bakery." Aunt Zinnia stuck out her tongue. "I will be in the morning running the bakery and then start our moving company, and we accept pizza as payment, by the way." Tai rolled his eyes. "You get pizza after you help move furniture and keep them-" Tai pointed to Margaret, Rosemary, and Owen. "On track." Owen yelled in quick outrage. "Oi!" which was ignored, and Camila turned back towards you. " $Name and I were going to have brunch tomorrow, but I can drop $Her off afterward." "We were?" You couldn't remember when you agreed to a brunch, but one look into Camila's eyes made you correct your statement. "Oh, yeah, the very important brunch that is life or death can't miss that." Camila gave you a light elbow hit in the side at over-the-top acting. That talk that Camila wanted to have with you was going to happen sooner rather than later. Aunt Zinnia came over and rubbed your head, and you swatted her hand away in a frendl manner a little at the childish affection. "That would be great, kiddo." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Four]]</div>

Tai looked at you, and all you could do was stare back. "...Thank you." <<set $TFrP to $TFrP+ 1>> You could see a surprise flicker on his face, but he just gave you a rare smile. "Stay out of trouble, Oleander." You could hear a little bit of softness in his voice. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You let a rare smile show on your face<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned from ear to ear; maybe Tai was warming up to you after all<</if>> Tai walked towards the kitchen to your aunt, and all you could do was watch. The fluttering feeling in your chest didn't fade even as you felt Magaret's curious eyes on you. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

\\Tai was just doing his job; the least I could have done was cut him some slack. \\ <<set $TFrP to $TFrP+ 1>> You bit your lip as Tai looked at you. "......I...I am sorry." Sorry for the bad attitude. Sorry for getting hurt? Sorry, your aunt was making a fuss. You honestly didn't know, but the guilt in your stomach told you that you were sorry for snapping at him, at least, if just a little. You could see a surprise flicker on his face. "Don't be." He gave you a little nod. "You are... Tai pressed his lips together as he cut himself off. "Just don't be getting into anymore trouble, Oleander." You could hear a little bit of softness in his voice. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You let a rare smile show on your face<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned from ear to ear; maybe Tai was warming up to you after all<</if>> Tai walked towards the kitchen to your aunt, and all you could do was watch. The fluttering feeling in your chest didn't fade even as you felt Magaret's curious eyes on you. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

Tai looked at you, and all you could do was shake your head; no words came out. The young doctor just stared at you for a few seconds, but it felt like hours. His expression just stayed the same; however, there was a battle behind his eyes, which only made the deaseart in your mouth become dryer until Tai just turned away. You could only guess that the mask was back on. Tai walked towards the kitchen to your aunt, and all you could do was watch. What were you supposed to say? Your voice had suddenly deserted you, leaving you unsure of how to initiate a conversation with them. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that angry wasn't real. No she was hiding that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

Tai looked at you, and all you could do was stare back and try to hide the flutter of butterflies in your stomach. <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> The young doctor just stared at you for a few seconds, but it felt like hours. "You're....good..." //Really? That is all I could think of to say?// His expression just stayed the same; however, you could see the curoisty peak out. "Good?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah.....you are good at a lot of things." You said, When did you become so breathless? Tai's eyes widened for just a second, and you swore that you saw the red rise on his pale cheeks as he quickly turned away, fist clenched to his side. "Get some rest, Oleander." Tai walked towards the kitchen to your aunt, and all you could do was watch. The fluttering feeling in your chest didn't fade even as you felt Magaret's curious eyes on you. The sound of the door jiggled, and you felt Margaret beside you streighten and look towards the open door, but before you could even give said customer a glance, you heard the familiar banshee scream. " // $Name // !" Camila ran towards you, and if you were not in a chair, she would have knocked you off your feet. The unintelligible rambling hit your ears, and you leaned back. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Owen step closer to you while getting something in his pocket; however, he was stopped by Marcel, who just put a hand on his shoulder. You redirected your attention back to Camila, who just hugged you tighter while you focused on what she could have possibly been saying. "Oh my god, thank the Maker that you are okay, $Name ! Mom just told me that you fainted last night! Why didn't you call me to come help you out or something?" She pulled back, and you saw a flash of blue in her eyes that you couldn't explain but could only take as anger. "What the hell are you thinking about overworking yourself? I swear to the Maker, $Name that I will lock you in a room until you are fully rested." The tone in her voice matched her eyes. Angry. But that anger wasn't real. No, she was hiding the fact that she was worried. You knew deep down that she was worried, from the way that her voice cracked to the way that her eyes roamed your body, looking for any harm that was caused by fainting. * [[You hugged Camila back, wanting to calm her down, but deep inside you, you needed comfort too.]] * [[With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my check up." You needed to calm her down.]] * [[You sighed and leaned further away. "Not you too. I am fine. I don't need to be treated like a toddler."]] * [[You let out a small laugh. "Hey, im fine, Cam, no need to go all Mama Bear on me."]]

Thank you for playing! Hello, I go by Florence (she/her), and this is my first interactive fiction; however, this world has been in my mind since I was thirteen and watched Twilight for the first time. I plan for this to be a three-book series; however, I am a full-time college student. If you want to support me, then please send me words of encouragement via tumblr or Itch.io. I want to make a series out of this story and these characters I created, but I want to make sure people enjoy this world and this story as much as I do. Please leave me any kind of feedback in the comments or on my Tumblr blog. Links to blog can be found on my Dashboard page. [[PLAY AGAIN|Start/Warning Tag]]

You opened the door, the surface of the black handle burning your skin for a quick second. It opened with a satisfying click, and with a swift motion, you climbed into the passenger seat. <<set $SecondPerson to "Margaret">> Owen was already in, his body spread out in the driving seat, one hand on the wheel. <<set $OFrP to $OFrP + 1>> "You ready, $Lass ?" Owen didn't wait for your response as he turned on the car, the ignition making a purring sound, which made you question if the car needed to go to the shop at all. You put the seat buckle on as the car started in motion. You felt a little odd in the car. Somehow the car seemed bigger, not snug like most vintage models were; there was plenty of room for your feet, and even for someone like Marcel. \\ How did they all fit in this thing? \\ You heard the click from Margaret's seat belt that pulled you away from your thoughts. You looked at her through the rearview mirror, her head towards the window. "Is this shop far?" Margaret asked, her voice softer than the sound of the engine; you almost didn't hear her. Your eyes darted away from the back of Margaret's head and to behind her as you saw the small figures of your aunt and the rest of these newcomers start to be out of view. "At the edge of town." Owen gave you a look of disinterest. "Are ye alright with drivin' with us to the shop?" * [[You smirked. "Oh well, as long as I get to sit by a hunk all day, I think I will get through it."]] * [[You simply nodded indifferently. "It really is no issue."]] * [["Oh, it is no problem at all; I was getting a little stir crazy."]] * [["It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything." You grumbled.]] * [[Your hands suddenly felt very interesting. "I...uh...yeah, no problem."]]

You opened the door, the surface of the black handle burning your skin for a quick second. It opened with a satisfying click, and with a swift motion, you climbed into the backseat. <<set $SecondPerson to "Owen">> Margaret sat beside you, her leg tapping as she didn't look at you but instead out the window. <<set $MBFrP to $MBFrP + 1>> "You ready, $Lass ?" Owen didn't wait for your response as he turned on the car, the ignition making a purring sound, which made you question if the car needed to go to the shop at all. You put the seat buckle on as the car started moving. You felt a little odd in the car. Somehow the car seemed bigger, not snug like most vintage models were; there was plenty of room for your feet and even for someone like Marcel. \\ How did they all fit into this thing? \\ You watched as Margaret put her seat belt on and your eyes met, and for a quick moment, you saw a small blush coat her cheeks. "Is the shop far?" She said it in a small voice. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You shrugged. "It is a little while, on the outside of town." <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You smiled, trying to put Margaret at ease. "It is on the outside of town, so it can take a while, but as soon as we get to the edge of the forest, we are about three minutes from our destination." <</if>> Margaret nodded her head, glancing at you from the corner of her eye as she spoke. "It is really nice that you are doing this; thank you. I don't like seeing everyone upset." You tilted your head, ignoring the urge to look at the now-small figures of your aunt and the rest of these newcomers that were now out of view. "Upset?" Margaret shrugged,whispering. "Marcel and Owen can get stressed when things don't go according to plan." Before you could ask, you heard Owen's gruff and booming voice from the front seat. "Are ye alright with drivin' with us to the shop, $Lass ?" Margaret stared at you as you answered. * [[You smirked. "Oh well, as long as I get to sit by a lovely woman all day, I think I will get through it."]] * [[With a disinterested look on your face, you said. "It really is no issue."]] * [["Oh, it is no problem at all; I was getting a little antsy at the shop anyway."]] * [["It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything," you grumbled.]] * [[You suddenly felt jittery. "I...uh...yeah, no problem."]]

You smirked. "Oh well, as long as I get to sit by a hunk all day, I think I will get through it." <<set $OFlP to $OFlP + 1>> Your flirtation only made butterflies in your stomach go crazy; however, you put on a cool face, hopefully not crossing any boundaries with this hunk of a man. Breath left your lungs as Owen laughed, his face relaxing into a small smile. "Well, aren't you a clown, $Lass ?" You frowned a little in confusion, and Owen replied like you said a funny joke more than a flirtaious remark. "Oh, I'm serious! Who could resist sitting next to you all day?" Owen chuckled again and flexed his arm. "I suppose I am one muscler fella." He turned back to the road, looking smug, while you saw a look of confusion on Margaret's face. The car ride continued in silence while you tried to figure out if Owen had intentionally dodged your remarks, but unawkwardly, you came to the conclusion that he might not have known you were even flirting with him. "Turn right up here." You were a little in awe at the insanity of someone being so blind. I mean, you were literally throwing yourself at the redhead. Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. Margaret cut through the tension with a small hum before commenting awkwardly. "Your clothes are very nice, $Name ." Margaret said in one breath that you could almost feel the tension in the car waiting for your apply. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You grimaced a little at your clothes, not really knowing what to say. "Uh....thanks."<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned. "Thanks! I got them on sale." <</if>> Owen turned and stared at you, looking at your outfit, which you replied to with a wink, which he just raised an eyebrow at, confused. <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>But you did see that Owen nodded in agreement, approving your outfit.<</if>> Owen then just turned his head back to the road, and you soon followed. You looked towards the road, pointing to the dirt path. You felt the need to feel the slience. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>It was weird in itself that you wanted to keep a conversation going. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You smiled, hopeful that you could easily smooth out the awkward tension with some conversation. <</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile.]]<<else>>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile|"I like your style"Not Edgy]]<</if>> * [[You thought about it and stopped yourself from talking.]] <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["So....you wear alot of leather." You said with a smirk.]]<<else>>*[["So....you wear alot of leather."You said with a smirk.|leathercommentNot Edgy]]<</if>>

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> You simply nodded indifferently. "It really is no issue." <<set $OFrP to $OFrP + 1>> Owen mirrored your aloof nature. "Well, good to know I'm not takin' ye away from yer important work." <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You smiled a little. "I am sure that Aunt Z has it all handled."<</if>> <<if $Sincerity<= 49>>You let out a teasing grin. "Oh yeah, well, I am sure that I can put off saving the world tomorrow, one napkin at a time."<</if>> The car ride continued in silence until you finally spoke up. "Turn right up here." Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. Margaret cut through the tension with a small hum before commenting awkwardly. "Your clothes are very nice, $Name ." Margaret said in one breath that you could almost feel the tension in the car waiting for your apply. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You grimaced a little at your clothes, not really knowing what to say. "Uh....thanks."<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned. "Thanks! I got them on sale." <</if>> Owen turned and stared at you, looking at your outfit, which you didn't bother reacting to. <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>Owen nodded in agreement, approving your outfit.<</if>> Owen then just turned his head back to the road, and you soon followed. You looked towards the road, pointing to the dirt path. You felt the need to feel the slience. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>It was weird in itself that you wanted to keep the conversation going. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You smiled, hopeful that you could easily smooth out the awkward tension with some conversation. <</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile.]]<<else>>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile|"I like your style"Not Edgy]]<</if>> * [[You thought about it and stopped yourself from talking.]] <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["So....you wear alot of leather." You said with a smirk.]]<<else>>*[["So....you wear alot of leather."You said with a smirk.|leathercommentNot Edgy]]<</if>>

"Oh, it is no problem at all; I was getting a little stir crazy." <<set $OFrP to $OFrP + 1>> Owen smirked as he glanced a little at you. "Ye sayin' ye don't fancy spen'in the day behind a counter, $Lass ?" <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You smiled a little. "It can be draining." <</if>> <<if $Sincerity<= 49>>You let out a snort. "You have no idea. I mean, this isn't how I was planning to spend my day off, but it is better than filling the staw holder." <</if>> The car ride continued in silence until you finally spoke up. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> "Turn right up here." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. Margaret cut through the tension with a small hum before commenting awkwardly. "Your clothes are very nice, $Name ." Margaret said in one breath that you could almost feel the tension in the car waiting for your apply. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You grimaced a little at your clothes, not really knowing what to say. "Uh....thanks."<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned. "Thanks! I got them on sale." <</if>> Owen turned and stared at you, looking at your outfit, which made you glance over at him. <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>Owen nodded in agreement, approving your outfit.<</if>> Owen then just turned his head back to the road, and you soon followed. You looked towards the road, pointing to the dirt path. You felt the need to feel the slience. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>It was weird in itself that you wanted to keep the conversation going. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You smiled, hopeful that you could easily smooth out the awkward tension with some conversation. <</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile.]]<<else>>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile|"I like your style"Not Edgy]]<</if>> * [[You thought about it and stopped yourself from talking.]] <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["So....you wear alot of leather." You said with a smirk.]]<<else>>*[["So....you wear alot of leather."You said with a smirk.|leathercommentNot Edgy]]<</if>>

"It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything." You grumbled. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> Owen just snorted. "Aye, I bloody hear ye." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> You raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> Owen snickered while Margaret looked nervously between us. "Ye think I want to spend my whole day in a motor?" <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> The car ride continued in silence until you finally spoke up. "Good news for you, Owen; your prolonged torture of sitting down is about to be over. Just turn right up here." Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. Margaret cut through the tension with a small hum before commenting awkwardly. "Your clothes are very nice, $Name ." Margaret said in one breath that you could almost feel the tension in the car waiting for your apply. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You grimaced a little at your clothes, not really knowing what to say. "Uh....thanks."<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned. "Thanks! I got them on sale." <</if>> Owen turned and stared at you, looking at your outfit, which made you raise an eyebrow. <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>Owen nodded in agreement, approving your outfit.<</if>> Owen then just turned his head back to the road, and you soon followed. You looked towards the road, pointing to the dirt path. You felt the need to feel the slience. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>It was weird in itself that you wanted to keep a conversation going. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You smiled, hopeful that you could easily smooth out the awkward tension with some conversation. <</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile.]]<<else>>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile|"I like your style"Not Edgy]]<</if>> * [[You thought about it and stopped yourself from talking.]] <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["So....you wear alot of leather." You said with a smirk.]]<<else>>*[["So....you wear alot of leather."You said with a smirk.|leathercommentNot Edgy]]<</if>>

Your hands suddenly felt very interesting. "I...uh...yeah, no problem." <<set $OFlP to $OFlP + 1>> Just being near this newcomer made butterflies in your stomach flutter; you could tell your face was as red as a tomato. You wished to as many deities as you could think of that Owen wouldn't notice, which probably worked in your favor because Owen's eyes stayed on the wheel. You didn't know if you were to feel happy or sad about his nonchalant nature, but seeing as he didn't completely notice you making a full of yourself, you counted it as a win. The car ride continued in silence until you finally spoke up. "Turn right up here." Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. Margaret cut through the tension with a small hum before commenting awkwardly. "Your clothes are very nice, $Name ." Margaret said in one breath that you could almost feel the tension in the car waiting for your apply. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You grimaced a little at your clothes, not really knowing what to say. "Uh....thanks."<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned. "Thanks! I got them on sale." <</if>> Owen turned and stared at you, looking at your outfit, which made another blush warm your cheeks. <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>Owen nodded in agreement, approving your outfit.<</if>> Owen then just turned his head back to the road, and you soon followed. You looked towards the road, pointing to the dirt path. You felt the need to feel the slience. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>It was weird in itself that you wanted to keep a conversation going. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You smiled, hopeful that you could easily smooth out the awkward tension with some conversation. <</if>> <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile.]]<<else>>*[["I like your style" You said with a smile|"I like your style"Not Edgy]]<</if>> * [[You thought about it and stopped yourself from talking.]] <<if $Clothes is "Edgy">>*[["So....you wear alot of leather." You said with a smirk.]]<<else>>*[["So....you wear alot of leather."You said with a smirk.|leathercommentNot Edgy]]<</if>>

"I like your style," you said with a smile. Owen looked you over again. "Aye, yer style's canny, $Lass ." Margaret looked between you two. "You guys are dressed a lot a like." <<if $Stoic >= 50>>"Eh....I guess."<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You grinned. "Great minds think alike, as they say."<</if>> Owen nodded his head. "I like your jacket. Is that real leather?" You looked down; you had this jacket since you were five, your Aunt Zinnia draping the jacket over your shoulders at the funeral of your parents. You never gave it back, and Aunt Zinnia never asked for it. "Yeah, its real leather; it was my aunts." Owen's body seemed to tense, and you couldn't help but notice Margaret's swallowing as Owen's grip tightened on the wheel. "Mm..." Owen grunted out of him. "But, uh, she gave it to me a while ago." You said you were trying to ease the tension. You wanted to ask what his problem was with your aunt, but you chalked it up to how irritable your aunt was with him in front of the store. Which was weird in itself; she acted like you were in danger, which didn't make sense; she acted like she didn't know these people, but how she acted with Owen made it feel like there was bad blood about to boil over. However, your aunt didn't really bat an eye when you got in the car with him that much. Something was going on. //God, this is making my brain hurt. // Margaret cut in before you could say anything. "Are we are here?" You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Owen should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

"So... you wear a lot of leather." You said it with a smirk. Owen looked you over again. "So do you, $Lass ." You put your hands up in mock surrender. "Hey, I didn't say it was a bad thing." Margaret looked between you two. "You guys are dressed a lot a like." <<if $Stoic >= 50>>"Eh....I guess."<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>"We could be leather twins!" You teased which Owen only raised an eyebrow at.<</if>> Owen nodded his head. "Speaking of leather, is what you wearing the real thing?" You looked down; you had this jacket since you were five, your Aunt Zinnia draping the jacket over your shoulders at the funeral of your parents. You never gave it back, and Aunt Zinnia never asked for it. "Yeah, its real leather; it was my aunts." Owen's body seemed to tense up, and you couldn't help but notice Margaret's swallowing as Owen's grip tightened on the wheel. "Mm..." Owen grunted out of him. "But, uh, she gave it to me a while ago." You said you were trying to ease the tension. You wanted to ask what his problem was with your aunt, but you chalked it up to how irritable your aunt was with him in front of the store. Which was weird in itself; she acted like you were in danger, which didn't make sense; she acted like she didn't know these people, but how she acted with Owen made it feel like there was bad blood about to boil over. However, your aunt didn't really bat an eye when you got in the car with him that much. Something was going on. //God, this is making my brain hurt. // Margaret cut in before you could say anything. "Are we are here?" You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Owen should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

"So... you wear a lot of leather." You said it with a smirk. Owen grinned. "Yeah, I do, $Lass . Some folks don't appreciate it." "Yeah, what sickos don't like to chaf? I mean, can you really have too much leather?" You chuckled a little at Owen's glare. "Hey, that is kind of what Rosemary said—about you wearing all that leather." Owen scoffed, glaring a little at Margarert. "Rosemary is a..." You didn't hear the rest as he started muttering to himself, but you heard the word 'bampot' and you could tell by the tone that he wasn't complimenting her. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You snickered a little at yourself. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You didn't even try to hold in your laugh. <</if>> Margaret looked over toward you. "I think Rosemary is really smart when it comes to fashion and all that. One time she did my makeup and she said that I looked like the "bees knees," and I am almost a hundred percent sure that she was saying that I looked good. What do you think, Owen?" The brown-haired girl asked with a smile. "How am I supposed to know, Margo? I don't know half the things that Rosemary says or what her endless chatter means." Margaret bit her lip, and you felt a little bad, but before you had a chance to come up with anything, Owen's expression softened, even if it was just a little. "Ye look fine, Lass." Margaret grinned, her smile almost blinding you. "Thanks, Owen!" <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You observed the exchange; those two acted like sibling<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>"You look great, Margaret." Which earned you a smile not only from Margaret but also from Owen, whom you saw, gave you a look of approval. <</if>> Margaret cut in before you could say anything. "Are we here?" You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Owen should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

"I like your style," you said with a smile. Owen barely glanced at you. "Thank ye, $Lass . Some folks don't appreciate it." "Is this because Rosemary said you don't have good fashion sense, or however she put it?" Margaret asked. Owen scoffed, glaring a little at Margarert. "Rosemary is a..." You didn't hear the rest as he started muttering to himself, but you heard the word 'bampot' and you could tell by the tone that he wasn't complimenting her. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You smiled a little at yourself. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You didn't try to hold in your laugh. <</if>> Margaret looked over toward you. "I think Rosemary is really smart when it comes to fashion and all that. One time she did my makeup and she said that I looked like the "bees knees," and I am almost a hundred percent sure that she was saying that I looked good. What do you think, Owen?" The brown-haired girl asked with a smile. "How am I supposed to know, Margo? I don't know half the things that Rosemary says or what her endless chatter means." Margaret bit her lip, and you felt a little bad, but before you had a chance to come up with anything, Owen's expression softened, even if it was just a little. "Ye look fine, Lass." Margaret grinned, her smile almost blinding you. "Thanks, Owen!" <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You observed the exchange; those two acted like sibling<</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>"You look great, Margaret." Which earned you a smile not only from Margaret but also from Owen, whom you saw, gave you a look of approval. <</if>> Margaret cut in before you could say anything. "Are we are here?" You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Owen should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

Starting a conversation just felt like too much work, and with a headache coming on, you thought better of it. You kept thinking about your aunt Zinnia. She acted like you were in danger when Owen was talking to you, which didn't make sense. She didn't know these people, but how she acted with Owen made it feel like there was bad blood about to boil over. However, your aunt didn't really bat an eye when you got in the car with him that much. Something was going on. // Stop making a big deal of this....maybe I am just being dramatic. // But you couldn't help but hear the nagging voice in the back of your head, wondering why they were in Lockwood at all. Margaret cut in; you almost didn't hear her as you were so deep in your thoughts. "Are we here?" You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Owen should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>><<set $WTAH to "Locked">> "So what brings you to Lockwood?" Owen snorted. "What? Ye didn't believe that we were here to visit Tai? Shockn'." <<if $Stoic >= 50>>"No." You said it in a curt tone. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>"Uh....yeah...It just seemed a little off." You said it with a nervous smile. <</if>> "Well you are right. Ah mean, Tai is an ok lad, but we cam here for somethin' else." "Something else?" Owen glanced back at you. "Aye, something else? We done here?" "You can't honestly think that I am going to leave it at that, did you?" Owen squared his shoulders. "I was kinda hopin'." Owen sighed. "We're here as a wee favour for Tai." You gave him a confused tone. "Is it some kind of doctor thing? Are you guys in the medical field?" You couldn't really see Owen in a white coat, but that was the only reason you could think of. The redhead's shoulders shook as he laughed. "No, I don't know anything about medicine or shit like that. No. We are huntin'." * [[Your eyes widened a little. "Hunting?"]] * [[You just crossed your arms and waited for him to continue.]] * [["So do you like hunting bambi or something like that?"|So you like huntingOwen]]

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>><<set $SAT to "Locked">> "So you know....Tai...how is that?" Owen snorted. "Ye mean, knowing someone with a stick so far up his arse that he couldn't find it even if he tried?" <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>"Well I wouldn't have put it like that." <</if>> <<if $Sincerity <= 49>>You laughed. "For a doctor, he really has a hard time removing it." <</if>> "Tai is a good lad, even if he is as serious as a dead man." Owen didn't say anything more; it was like pulling teeth with this guy to get information. "Are you close with Tai?" You asked, crossing your arms. Owen pressed his lips together, looking a little sleepish. "Aye, like, he's a decent pal, I reckon; he assists Marcel in keepin' everyone together, ye ken." The "everyone" you put together had to be the group as a whole. You never heard of these newcomers, and while you and Tai were not really close, you kind of felt like you should have heard about these people. Although this was Tai we were talking about, he kept his cards to his chest. * [[You felt your heart beat in your chest as you blushed. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?"|Your heart beatOwen]] * [[You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends."|You couldn't helpOwen]] * [[You huffed. "I wish you the best of luck."]] * [["Well, you seem like a good friend to have."|Well, you seemOwen]] * [["I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" You said Tai's cute face popped into your mind.|I am guessingOwen]] * [[You raised an eyebrow at Owen. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?"]]

Owen sighed, a glint of sweat on his forehead. "Do you have any more questions?" You shook your head. "Nope, you're free from my wrath." You joked. Owen's smile turned dangerous again. "Wrath? Know those words I can get behind." Your question was cut off by an engine. The redhead gave a breath of relief. "At long last, the old man's done with the daft motor. Let's get ye home. $Lass , I don't need yer auntie comin' at me with pitchforks 'cause I got ye home late." You nodded and looked at the clock. "Than, let's get going." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Behind The Counter Of The Lazy Dog]]</div>

Your eyes widened a little. "Hunting?" Owen shrugged with a joyful smile on his face that made you want to back away from the larger man. The redhead looked at you, furrowing his brows, before he spoke again. "We are hunting for a flower." It felt a little scripted, like Owen didn't really remember what he was supposed to say, but under his dispassionate attitude, you didn't know if he just didn't care or was covering up his lies. It wasn't like you had any evidence to question him; you felt lucky just to get this bit of information out of him. "A....flower?" Owen leaned against the counter, selling his nonchalant attitude. nodded. "We are hunting for some violet; it is an endangered species, and Tai wants us to be looking for it in some woods around here." Owen muttered under his breath a little, and you couldn't catch anything. "Tai wants to find this flower. Why?" "Ye ask a lot of questions, don't you, $Lass ?" He just cracked his knickles before answering. "For some sort of doctoral paper." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close....// You mentally battled with yourself; however, Owen just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

You stared at him blankly, waiting for him to continue. <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> Owen just gave you a surprise look, but it quickly turned to amusement. The redhead furrowed his eyebrows. "We are here to help some sort of flower." <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> It felt a little scripted, like Owen didn't really remember what he was supposed to say, but under his dispassionate attitude, you didn't know if he just didn't care or was covering up his lies. It wasn't like you had any evidence to question him; you felt lucky just to get this bit of information out of him. "A....flower?" Owen leaned against the counter, selling his nonchalant attitude. nodded. "We are hunting for some violet; it is an endangered species, and Tai wants us to be looking for it in some woods around here." Owen muttered under his breath a little, and you couldn't catch anything. "Tai wants to find this flower. Why?" "Ye ask a lot of questions, don't you, $Lass ?" He just cracked his knickles before answering. "For some sort of doctoral paper." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close....// You mentally battled with yourself; however, Owen just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> "So, do you like hunting Bambi or something like that?" <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> Owen's eyes glinted in amusement. "I bloody wish. I haven't been on a good hunt in ages." Something dangerous passed over his eyes, and you had to fight the urge to gulp. "So...what are you hunting?" The muscled man's eyebrows furrowed as if trying to remember something before he snapped his fingers in celebration. "Some sort of flower." "A....flower?" You asked, not quite believing it when Owen's tone didn't even sound quite sure. Owen shurged. "Some purple violet, there isn't enough of them or something." It felt a little scripted, like Owen didn't really remember what he was supposed to say, but under his dispassionate attitude, you didn't know if he just didn't care or was covering up his lies. It wasn't like you had any evidence to question him; you felt lucky just to get this bit of information out of him. "So they are endangered, and you are trying to...locate them?" "Aye, that seems about right." "Okay....but why?" "I think for some doctor stuff for his paper." "Paper?" "Ye know the stuff that comes from trees?" Owen snickered at your glare. "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself; however, Owen just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

You remembered Margaret, mentioning that she at least heard of me from Tai. Did Tai talk about you? Tai had to..... if Margaret knew you just by name and description, that thought brought a blush to your face. <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> You felt your heart beat in your chest. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?" You, of course, could already guess the answer, but the little voice in the back of your mind would not shut up until Owen gave your lovestruck brain some sort of relief. <<if $TFrP <= 0>>Owen gave you a confused look. "The bloke said ye were a pest." You tried to not let the hurt show on your face, but before you could swallow the hurt down, Owen continued. "Although he did talk about ye a lot, more than he really had to." Owen furrowed his eyebrows as if he had just realized something about Tai's behavior. <</if>> <<if $TFrP >= 1>>Owen furrowed his brows. ".....he said you were a pest, but ye got your point across." Owen almost looked at the awe on his face, probably from the almost-compliment you got from Tai. You couldn't blame him; you were also shocked. That was probably one of the nicest things Tai has ever said about me, and it wasn't even to your face.<</if>> You couldn't help but feel a surge of both embarrassment and curiosity at Owen's response. The mention of Tai's thoughts about you made your heart flutter with a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was clear that there was more to their conversations than you had initially thought, leaving you eager to uncover the depths of Tai's true feelings. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $TFrP to $TFrP+ 1>> You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends." <<set $OFrP to $OFrP + 1>> A blush coated Owen's cheeks, and he let out a grimace. "Well, I guess that it is good that Bawbag has some good mates like us." "Oh, Tai and I aren't close, but thank you, Owen." You couldn't help but imagine Tai's scowl in your head. You had a feeling that Owen would stick up for the doctor when it really counted; maybe, with a little time, he would do the same for you. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

The thought of being even closer to Tai was so far out of reach in your mind. How did Owen stand him? The mere idea of being in such close proximity to Tai seemed unimaginable to you. You couldn't fathom how the redhead could tolerate his presence. Although they did seem to be both a bit....prickly? You huffed. "I wish you the best of luck." You contuined. "Tai can be well...tai." You said. You didn't know how Owen would take it—that you were basically badmouthing his friend, but no emotion crossed his face; however, you saw him tense up. "Aye, Tai can be a bawbag." Even though he said it in a gruff manner, there wasn't any real anger behind it. "Marcel can reel him in." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $OFrP to $OFrP + 1>> "Well, you seem like a good friend to have." <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You couldn't help but give him a genuine smile.<</if>> <<if $Sincerity <= 49>>You didn't know what came over you to say that, but you couldn't help the awkward, genuine smile that crossed your face.<</if>> A light blush crossed Owen's face, but it was replaced with an uncomfortable grimace, and his eyes seemed to soften. "Uh, thanks, $Lass ." His body relaxed a little. "I am sure you'll start asking me stuff like those scroungers." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

"I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> Owen gave you a raised eyebrow but nodded his head "I don't really chitter with the bloke that often, and when I do, he's always natterin' about ye." You grinned. "Anything juicy that I can use against him?" You really wanted some good flirting material, or even just some dirt on the doctor. Tai's cute face popped into your mind, and butterflies fluttered in your stomach. The muscular man just gave you a questioning glance but spoke again. "Ah, I heard Marcel sayin' that Tai said ye were a pest." He drummed his fingers on the table, giving you a smirk. "I wonder where he got that idea from?" You bit your tongue to stop it from sticking out at him and shrugged nonchalantly, although your mind was still lingering on Tai. The young doctor has seemed to always be on your mind recently, and you inwidly groaned when your heart squeezed in hurt that Tai didn't say anything really positive about you. You couldn't help but wonder if he even cared about you at all. "He did mention ye a lot" Owen said, as if it didn't send you into a spiral of hope and confusion all over again. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

You raised an eyebrow at Owen. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?" Owen cracked his knuckles and just snorted. "He can be a tough bugger, but he's a braw lad. " You saw the respect and loyalty in his eyes as he spoke. You shrugged. "I am just surprised you can stand him." But deep down, you felt a sense of admiration for Owen's unwavering loyalty. But did Tai deserve it? That was the question that lingered in your mind. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Owen talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>><<set $WTAH to "Locked">> "So what brings you to Lockwood?" Margaret bit her lip. "We are here to visit Tai; that's what Marcel said." You frowned a little as she said it more as a question than a statement. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You ran a hand down your face. "You can't honestly think I would believe that, did you?". <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You gently put a hand on her arm. "Are you telling the truth?" You pulled away to give her more space<</if>> Margaret just nodded her head, looking at the floor before looking back at you. "Well, we are here for Tai. It was good to see him, but we are also here to do a favor." "For Tai, am I gussing?" You asked, and Margaret only answered with an anxious finger tapping on the counter. You gave her a confused look. "Is it some kind of doctor thing? Are you guys in the medical field?" Margaret looked too young to be a doctor, but so did Tai, and he didn't even have bedside manners, at least not with you. Margaret nodded her head. "Well…" Before she shook her head in a "no," "I know a lot about healing from my work, but I think I am more of a botanist than anything." //I can see that.// "So, what are you actually here for?" Margaret just nodded her head, looking at the floor before looking back at you. "Well, we are here for Tai. It was good to see him, but we are also here to hunt." * [[Your eyes widened a little at Margaret. "Hunting?"]] * [[You just crossed your arms and waited for Margaret to continue.]] * [["So do you like hunting bambi or something like that?"|So you like huntingMargaret]]

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>> "So you know....Tai...how is that?" <<set $SAT to "Locked">> Margaret smiled brightly at the mention of her friend. "Tai is great! It was so good to see him again." You really didn't know how Tai and Margaret were friends? Or at least Margaret saw Tai as a friend. They were totally different, but they said opposites attract, and you suppose that meant friendships as well. Maybe Margaret could handle Tai's black cat energy. "Are you close with Tai?" You asked, crossing your arms. "Oh yeah! He is one of my best friends!" "…really?" You asked, not meaning for your tone to sound so in awe. Margaret practically jumped up and down in excitement. "We have been friends since the 30's-" Margaret stopped herself abruptly before talking again in a more hurried tone, which made you raise an eyebrow. "We have known each other for a very long time." The "us" you put together had to be the group as a whole. You never heard of these newcomers, and while you and Tai were not really close, you kind of felt like you should have heard about these people. Although this was Tai we were talking about, he kept his cards to his chest. * [[You felt your heart beat in your chest as you blushed. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?"|Your heart beatMargaret]] * [[You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends."|You couldn't helpMargaret]] * [[You rolled your eyes. "I wish you the best of luck."]] * [["Well, you seem like a good friend to have."|Well, you seemMargaret]] * [["I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" You said Tai's cute face popped into your mind.|I am guessingMargaret]] * [[You raised an eyebrow at Margaret. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?"]]

Margaret twirled her thumbs, looking at the floor. "D-D-Do you have a-a-any more questions?" You shook your head, trying to ease her anxiety. "No, I think I am all questioned out." Margaret sighed in relief. "I just-" The sound of an engine cut her off and made her jump. She rubbed the back of her neck. "I guess that Owen is ready to go back." You chuckled. "I guess we shouldn't keep him waiting." Margaret skipped towards the door, and you soon followed her. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Behind The Counter Of The Lazy Dog]]</div>

Your eyes widened a little. "Hunting?" Margaret frowned at your reaction. "Yes, we are hunting for the Viola Brittoniana!" She said with an an exicted tone. "I do hope we actually see one in person; I haven't seen one in years." So they weren't hunting for animals—at least not any you have ever heard about. "So, uh, what is Viola Brittoniana?" You asked with a little awkward confusion. "Oh! It is an uncommon blue-flowered violet with acaulescent blooms that grows on New England's larger coastal plain. Its leaves are unique, featuring deep sinuses and small lobes." "So... that, but in English?" Margaret bit her lip, giving you an apologetic look. "Uh, it is a flower called the Britton's Violet, which has a lot of medical properties that Tai is trying to study for a paper." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself; however, Margaret just asked. "....is there anything else?" She said it quietly. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

You stared at him blankly, waiting for her to continue. <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>><<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> Margaret didn't seem to notice your reaction. "We are hunting for the Viola Brittoniana!" She said with an an exicted tone. "I do hope we actually see one in person; I haven't seen one in years." So they weren't hunting for animals—at least not any you have ever heard about. "So, uh, what is Viola Brittoniana?" You asked with a little awkward confusion. "Oh! It is an uncommon blue-flowered violet with acaulescent blooms that grows on New England's larger coastal plain. Its leaves are unique, featuring deep sinuses and small lobes." "So... that, but in English?" Margaret bit her lip, giving you an apologetic look. "Uh, it is a flower called the Britton's Violet, which has a lot of medical properties that Tai is trying to study for a paper." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself; however, Margaret just asked. "....is there anything else?" She said it quietly. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

"So, do you like hunting Bambi or something like that?" <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>><<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> Margaret frowned. "Bambi?" "The Movie? You know, like the baby deer from the-" The woman in front of you widened her eyes. "A baby, dear? No! We aren't hunting a baby deer? Why would we do that?" "Wow, it was only a joke; I didn't think you were actually hunting deer." That was sort of a lie; you didn't know what the hell these people were into, but as Margaret wiped her eyes, you were pretty sure that it was the truth. With her eyes rimmed with red, she laughed a little. "Uh, sorry, just, no, we are tracking the Viola Brittoniana!" She said with an an exicted tone. "I do hope we actually see one in person; I haven't seen one in years." "So, uh, what is Viola Brittoniana?" You asked with a little awkward confusion. "Oh! It is an uncommon blue-flowered violet with acaulescent blooms that grows on New England's larger coastal plain. Its leaves are unique, featuring deep sinuses and small lobes." "So... that, but in English?" Margaret bit her lip giving you an apologetic look. "Uh, it is a flower called the Britton's Violet, which has a lot of medical properties that Tai is trying to study for a paper." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself; however, Margaret just asked. "....is there anything else?" She said quietly. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

You remembered Margaret, mentioning that she at least heard of me from Tai. Did Tai talk about you? Tai had to..... if Margaret knew you just by name and description, that thought brought a blush to your face. <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> You felt your heart beat in your chest. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?" You, of course, could already guess the answer, but the little voice in the back of your mind would not shut up until Margaret gave your lovestruck brain some sort of relief. <<if $TFrP <= 0>>Margaret bit her lip. "He said that you liked sugar." With a glance at your expression, Margaret seemed to see something. "But he did say that you were trying your best even if your best wasn't great." <</if>> <<if $TFrP >= 1>>Margaret stared into your eyes, and for a moment, you saw a look of confusion. "He said that you were one of the "good ones" or something along those lines." <</if>> You couldn't help but feel a surge of both embarrassment and curiosity at Margaret's innocent response. The mention of Tai's thoughts about you made your heart flutter with a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was clear that there was more to their conversations than you had initially thought, leaving you eager to uncover the depths of Tai's true feelings. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends." <<set $MBFrP to $MBFrP + 1>> Margaret smiled so brightly that it reminded you of the sun. "It is really nothing." Margaret said, blushing a little as she moved a piece of her hair behind her hair to get a clear view of her face. "We are both friends with Tai, so that makes us friends." <<set $TFrP to $TFrP+ 1>> You didn't know if that was how it worked, but you didn't argue with Margaret as she was practically swimming with praise. //I will let her have this. // With Margaret around, maybe her sunny disposition will help get rid of Tai's rainy-cloud attitude. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

You rolled your eyes. "I wish you the best of luck." The thought of being even closer to Tai was so far out of reach in your mind. How did someone as sweet as Margaret stand him? The mere idea of being in such close proximity to Tai seemed unimaginable to you. You couldn't fathom how Margaret could tolerate his presence. It was as if they were like oil and water. "Tai can be well...tai." You said. Margaret frowned. "What do you mean?" You raised your eyebrow. "You know he is Tai... an asshole." "Tai is just a little prickly-" "Like a cactus." You mumbled. "But he cares a lot." Margaret smiled brightly, and you couldn't help but believe her, no matter how wild that sounded. "I mean, if you say so." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

"Well, you seem like a good friend to have." <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You couldn't help but give her a genuine smile.<</if>> <<if $Sincerity <= 49>>You didn't know what came over you to say that, but you couldn't help the awkward, genuine smile that crossed your face.<</if>> Margaret gave you the most sincere smile you have ever seen which made you want to match her smile. "Thank you! That is so sweet of you $Name !" Margaret brushed her hair out of her face, letting you get a view of her bright eyes. <<set $MBFrP to $MBFrP + 1>> <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

"I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> Margaret opened her mouth in surprise. "Who is the "stunning beauty?"" You chuckled. "Wow, my ego is deflated." The brown-haired woman's eyes widened in realization. "No! I didn't mean you weren't—I mean, you are beautiful. I wasn't thinking—" You tried to hold back a smile; you weren't really offended, but you stopped Margaret's suffering, cutting her off. "It is fine, Margaret; I mean, not everyone can see perfection clearly, and I just have to accept that." You said it with a teasing smile, trying to lighten the mood. Margaret gave a sigh of relief. "I really didn't mean to offend you." Which you only waved off. "Again, it is fine, Margaret; I am not offended." You bit your lip as you asked again. "So... did Tai ever mention me?" You tried to sound nonchalant as Tai's cute face popped into your mind, and butterflies fluttered in your stomach. Margaret tapped her finger on her chin, thinking. "He mentioned you often, especially when we had a meeting." "Meeting?" Margaret gave a nervous giggle. "Ah yeah, we…uh…hang out." The words "hang out" sounded foreign on her tongue. "We talked about our work, and you came up a lot." "Oh? What did Tai say?" Tai mentioning you at all was very confusing, but you couldn't help but feel a blush on your cheeks. Margaret looked uncomfortable. "Uh, I can't really remember." "He said I was annoying; didn't he or did he call me subborn?" From Margaret's look, you gussed both, and even though it wasn't the best thing, you couldn't help but feel excitement go through your body. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

You raised an eyebrow at Margaret. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?" Margaret frowned. "What do you mean?" She asked with a small pout. A look of surprise crossed your face. "Well, you know, I mean, how can you stand him?" Her eyes lost some brightness, and she bit her lip. "He is a good guy... I am sorry that you two don't get along very well, but he is one of my good friends." With a frown, you moved the conversation a lot, trying to make the tension in the room release its pressure. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Margaret talks about tai]]</div>

You smirked. "Oh well, as long as I get to sit by a lovely woman all day, I think I will get through it." <<set $MBFlP to $MBFlP + 1>> Your flirtation only made butterflies in your stomach go crazy; however, you put on a cool face, hopefully not crossing any boundaries with this shy beauty. Margaret seemed to freeze up, giving you a wide-eyed stare like a deer caught in headlights, and you had to fight the urge to laugh. However, Owen just gave you a once-over in the mirror and a look on his face, deciding if he should laugh or put a stop to your flirting. However, Owen lost the battle and let out a snort while you tried to give Margaret your most charming smile. "I…uh..lovely?" Margaret asked, a blush coating her cheeks that made you grin in victory. "Well, yeah, who wouldn't want to sit beside you all day?" Margaret's blush deepened, and she shyly thanked you for the compliments. However, you saw how surprised Margaret was, so you backed off a little, trying to ease the tension as Margaret bounced her leg up and down. "Turn right up here." Owen turned right on the road, raising an eyebrow. "Well, isn't this place just chipper?" the redhead said sarcastically while Margaret glanced out the window nervously. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. You glanced at Margaret, who was staring at you. When your eyes met, her face became red. "Your poison!" Owen swerved the car out of surprise, which threw you against the window, your seat belt catching you. "What's the matter with ye?" Owen yelled. Margaret yelled out. "Sorry! I am so sorry." She muttered as she put her head in her hands, her face a bright red all the way to her ears as Owen grumbled in the front seat; however, his tone was softer than it was before. "I…excuse me?" That was all you could think of saying as you tried to not let your taken abackness show on your face. Margaret looked up from your hands. "Your last name... Oleander is a poison. Nerium oleander, most commonly known as oleander or nerium, is a shrub that is extremely toxic, and a single leaf may kill an adult." "Ah…" You chuckled awkwardly. "I actually did know that; my dad mentioned that once or twice." Margaret nodded, her face still red, and you tried to get her to look at you. "I am guessing you have a fondness for plants." You asked softly, trying to let Margaret know there was no need to be embarrassed. Margaret smiled a little, shy. "Yeah...." * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>*[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionStoic]]<<else>>*[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionNice]]<</if>> * [["I can't say that I know a lot about plants, but it is cool that you do."]] * [[You shrugged, leaning against the window and closing your eyes.]]

<<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> With a disinterested look on your face, you said. "It really is no issue." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> Owen gave you a small nod, but Margaret kept giving you a small glance, making you turn towards her. <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You smiled a little. "Is everything alright?"<</if>> <<if $Sincerity<= 49>>You let out a teasing grin. "Do I have something on my face?"<</if>> Margaret bit her lip, stared at the floorboard. "I, uh, just thank you for doing this, is all." She mumbled, and before you could think of a response, you noticed you needed to give directions. "Turn right up here." Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. Margaret cut through the tension with a soft voice. "I like plants." You looked at the brown hair woman in surprise before you caught on to the fact that this was her way of starting a conversation. * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionStoic]]<<else>>*[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionNice]]<</if>> * [["I can't say that I know a lot about plants, but it is cool that you do."]] * [[You shrugged, leaning against the window and closing your eyes.]]

"Oh, it is no problem at all; I was getting a little antsy at the shop anyway." <<set $MBFrP to $MBFrP + 1>> Margaret frowned. "You're not overworking yourself, are you?" You looked at Margaret, her dark blue eyes meeting your own, staring at you in worry, which you only returned in surprise. <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You smiled a little. "It can be draining." <</if>> <<if $Sincerity<= 49>>You let out a snort. "You have no idea. I mean, this isn't how I was planning to spend my day off, but it is better than filling the staw holder." <</if>> The car ride continued in silence until you finally spoke up. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> "Turn right up here." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. Margaret cut through the tension with a soft voice. "I like plants." You looked at the brown-haired woman in surprise before you caught on to the fact that this was her way of starting a conversation. * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionStoic]]<<else>>[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionNice]]<</if>> * [["I can't say that I know a lot about plants, but it is cool that you do."]] * [[You shrugged, leaning against the window and closing your eyes.]]

"It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything," you grumbled. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> Margaret just winced and mumbled a little "Sorry." <<if $Stoic >= 50>>You just breathed through your nose in annoyance, but you felt a sting of guilt at looking at Margaret's hurt face. <</if>> <<if $Stoic <= 49>>You sighed, but gave Margaret a small smile to let her know that you weren't mad at her.<</if>> The car ride continued in silence until you finally spoke up. <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> "Turn right up here." Owen turned right on the road, and Margaret looked out the window again. "This is a little....-" "Creepy." Owen finished, and Margaret only nodded meekly. <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> Owen's feet became lead as the car went down the road. Again, you began to question if the car was really in that bad of shape, even though you literally saw it on fire only a few minutes earlier. * <<if $Stoic >= 50>>[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionStoic]]<<else>>[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionNice]]<</if>> * [["I can't say that I know a lot about plants, but it is cool that you do."]] * [[You shrugged, leaning against the window and closing your eyes.]]

Your hands suddenly felt very interesting. "I...uh...yeah, no problem." <<set $MBFlP to $MBFlP + 1>> Just being near this newcomer made butterflies in your stomach flutter; you could tell your face was as red as a tomato. You wished for as many deities as you could think of that Margaret wouldn't notice, but you suspected that it didn't work because Margaret seemed to look at you, noticing your blush and her skin seemed to mimic your, turning a bright red, and you had to fight the urge to hide your head in your hands. Instead, you focused on Owen, who was looking you up and down in the mirror, apparently seeing something in your eyes because all he did was give you a smile that you could almost see as soft as he looked between you two. "I…uh…" Margaret tried to talk, but instead it came out in a mumble, and she fanned her face a little with her hand. "Are ye gettin' hot, Margo?" Owen said with a teasing smirk, and you sent him a small glare through the mirror. However, you couldn't help glancing at Margaret, who let out a nose that sounded like a squeek as her blush deepened, and she shyly shook her head. Wanting to move the conversation along, you were thankful that you expected to give directions. "Turn right up here." You said it in a soft voice. Owen turned right on the road, raising an eyebrow. "Well, isn't this place just chipper?" the redhead said sarcastically while Margaret glanced out the window nervously. The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Margaret cleared her throat, and your attention went back to her, which you didn't mind at all as she matched your soft tone. "….I like plants." Margaret meekly said, putting her hair behind her as she stared at the floor board. You caught on to the fact that this was her way of starting a conversation. <<if $Stoic >= 50>>*[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionStoic]]<<else>>*[["I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning.|I have a passionNice]]<</if>> * [["I can't say that I know a lot about plants, but it is cool that you do."]] * [[You shrugged, leaning against the window and closing your eyes.]]

You smirked. "Oh well, as long as I get to sit by such a charming man all day, I think I will get through it." <<set $MRFlP to $MRFlP + 1>> You were taken aback at how Marcel's eyes lit up as he gave you a genuine smile. "Well, I am glad that I can be of service to a $Lady such as yourself." A blush coated your face, and you stuttered. "I-well." You shook your head somehow, making your jumbled thoughts get back into place. "Well, I can certainly use your services." You purred. Marcel's eyes widened in surprise before letting out a little chuckle, staring into your eyes, and you started to question who was seducing whom. However, the moment was broken by Rosemary's laugh. "Oh, well, aren't you cheeky? I think we are going to be getting along great, $Dollface ." <<if $Snark >= 50>>You met Rosemary's eyes through the mirror and winked. <</if>> <<if $Snark <= 49>>You rubbed the back of your neck and couldn't help but feel the blush on your cheeks becoming more prominent. <</if>> "Turn right up here." You said, looking at the road through your window. Rosemary turned right on the road about to say something but Marcel cut in before she could say anything. "What an....unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Rosemary mumbled. "Oh yeah...for a serial killer maybe." Marcel sighed at Rosemary, pinching the bridge on his nose but smiling at you. "So…do you enjoy living in Lockwood?" You raised an eyebrow while Marcel went on, not seeming phased. "I have never grown up in such a quaint town, but I always wondered—" "You got to be razzing me, Marcel." Rosemary let out a giggle. "This place doesn't even have a nail salon; it seems as fun as a flat tire." Marcel shook his head, rolling his eyes, which he succeeded in making look graceful. "Not everything is about luxuries; some times simplicity is best, and then there is the community aspect of it all." * [["My life is just too busy for me to consider moving."]] * [["I am from this town, and I will never leave."]] * [["Do you know of a place? I am just itching to get out of Lockwood."]] * [[You shrugged. "I mean, I am fine in Lockwood for now."]]

You just gave an indifferent nod. "It really is no issue." <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>><<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> Marcel frowned at that. "Are you sure?" You looked out the window and just shrugged. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Rosemary laughed. " $Dollface if I were you, nothing could get me out of bed, not even a stiff drink, and let me tell you, I love me some giggle water." You frowned at the word "giggle water" but shrugged at the weird pharasing, looking at Marcel, whose eyes were scanning over you like you were hurt. "Turn right up here." You said this, looking at the road through your window. Rosemary turned right on the road, about to say something, but Marcel cut in before she could say anything. "What a unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Rosemary mumbled. "Oh yeah, maybe for a serial killer." Marcel sighed at Rosemary, pinching the bridge on his nose but smiling at you. "So... do you enjoy living in Lockwood?" You raised an eyebrow while Marcel went on, not seeming phased. "I have never grown up in such a quaint town, but I always wondered—" "You got to be razzing me, Marcel." Rosemary let out a giggle. "This place doesn't even have a nail salon; it seems as fun as a flat tire." Marcel shook his head, rolling his eyes, which he succeeded in making look graceful. "Not everything is about luxuries; some times simplicity is best, and then there is the community aspect of it all." * [["My life is just too busy for me to consider moving."]] * [["I am from this town, and I will never leave."]] * [["Do you know of a place? I am just itching to get out of Lockwood."]] * [[You shrugged. "I mean, I am fine in Lockwood for now."]]

"Oh, it is no problem at all; it is good to get out once in a while." You said it with a smile. "It really is no issue." <<set $MRFrP to $MRFrP + 1>> Marcel smiled so brightly that you couldn't help but match. "Well, thank you, $Name; that is so kind of you." <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> You blushed at the praise. "You don't have to thank me." <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> Rosemary gave you a small smile. "You are a good egg, $Dollface ." You saw Rosemary and Marcel's eyes meet through the review mirror, and something passed between them that made you frown. "Turn right up here." You said it awkwardly, breaking the moment between them too. Rosemary turned right on the road, about to say something, but Marcel cut in before she could say anything. "What a unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Rosemary mumbled. "Oh yeah, maybe for a serial killer." Marcel sighed at Rosemary, pinching the bridge on his nose but smiling at you. "So... do you enjoy living in Lockwood?" You raised an eyebrow while Marcel went on, not seeming phased. "I have never grown up in such a quaint town, but I always wondered—" "You got to be razzing me, Marcel." Rosemary let out a giggle. "This place doesn't even have a nail salon; it seems as fun as a flat tire." Marcel shook his head, rolling his eyes, which he succeeded in making look graceful. "Not everything is about luxuries; some times simplicity is best, and then there is the community aspect of it all." * [["My life is just too busy for me to consider moving."]] * [["I am from this town, and I will never leave."]] * [["Do you know of a place? I am just itching to get out of Lockwood."]] * [[You shrugged. "I mean, I am fine in Lockwood for now."]]

"It is not like I had anything to do on my day off or anything," you said with an irritated tone. <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> Marcel just pressed his lips together and looked down with a grimace. <<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>> Rosemary just laughed, ignoring or not caring about the tension you created in the car. "Well, aren't you a riot, $Dollface ?" She said it with a fake smile, her face still looking at the road. <<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> You just rolled your shoulders, not saying anything, just sitting through the tension. <<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> "Turn up here." You said. Rosemary turned right on the road, about to say something, but Marcel cut in before she could say anything. "What a unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Rosemary mumbled. "Oh yeah, maybe for a serial killer." Marcel sighed at Rosemary, pinching the bridge on his nose but smiling at you. "So... do you enjoy living in Lockwood?" You raised an eyebrow while Marcel went on, not seeming phased. "I have never grown up in such a quaint town, but I always wondered—" "You got to be razzing me, Marcel." Rosemary let out a giggle. "This place doesn't even have a nail salon; it seems as fun as a flat tire." Marcel shook his head, rolling his eyes, which he succeeded in making look graceful. "Not everything is about luxuries; some times simplicity is best, and then there is the community aspect of it all." * [["My life is just too busy for me to consider moving."]] * [["I am from this town, and I will never leave."]] * [["Do you know of a place? I am just itching to get out of Lockwood."]] * [[You shrugged. "I mean, I am fine in Lockwood for now."]]

Your mouth suddenly became dry. "I...uh...yeah, no problem." <<set $MRFlP to $MRFlP + 1>> Your eyes met Marcel's, and a blush coated your cheeks when you saw his eyes give you a look of understanding and something else you couldn't quite place, but it made your body tingle. "Well, again, thank you, $Name; it means a lot to me that you would do this." You opened your mouth to say something, but nothing came out as Marcel's smile grew. "Are you okay, $Name ?" Rosemary giggled. "I think she is more than alright, Marcel." She purred with amusement in her tone, which made you hide your head in your hands. <<if $Snark >= 50>>"Alright that is enough embarrassment for me today." You said you were trying to joke. <</if>> <<if $Snark <= 49>>You followed through, put your head in your hands, and let out a groan, which made Marcel give you a look of what felt like pity as he told Rosemary off. <</if>> You streightened you back, moving on as you looked out the window. "Turn right up here." Rosemary turned right on the road, about to say something, but Marcel cut in before she could say anything. "What a unique place for a shop." The trees loomed over the road, and even though you knew it was a nice day out, the trees seemed to think otherwise as they offered you more shade. Rosemary mumbled. "Oh yeah, maybe for a serial killer." Marcel sighed at Rosemary, pinching the bridge on his nose but smiling at you. "So... do you enjoy living in Lockwood?" You raised an eyebrow while Marcel went on, not seeming phased. "I have never grown up in such a quaint town, but I always wondered—" "You got to be razzing me, Marcel." Rosemary let out a giggle. "This place doesn't even have a nail salon; it seems as fun as a flat tire." Marcel shook his head, rolling his eyes, which he succeeded in making look graceful. "Not everything is about luxuries; some times simplicity is best, and then there is the community aspect of it all." * [["My life is just too busy for me to consider moving."]] * [["I am from this town, and I will never leave."]] * [["Do you know of a place? I am just itching to get out of Lockwood."]] * [[You shrugged. "I mean, I am fine in Lockwood for now."]]

"I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning, although you quickly wiped the grin off your face. You tried to keep the excitement from your face and tried to mimic your neutral expression. You didn't want to come across as overly enthusiastic, but your love for botany was undeniable. You knew if you spoke about your passion, your eyes would light up with genuine excitement, betraying your attempts at a neutral expression. Margaret smiled. "Really?" "Yes, really." You said it in an apathetic tone. Margaret's eyes didn't glance down from intimidation like most people did, but instead tension eased out of her body. "I haven't seen any bush honeysuckle around here." Unable to help yourself, "The mayor doesn't let it get planted around here; it would take over all the other green life in town." Margaret looked thoughtful. "That makes sense with bush honeysuckle. Birds and small animals eat the berries and deposit the seeds elsewhere." You and Margaret exchanged words about plants. The brown-haired girl talked more than you do, but you didn't mind much, catching yourself smiling through it before Owen cut in with a gruff voice. "We're here" You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Owen should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

"I have a passion for bontany." You said it, grinning, You felt jittery at the thought of someone else liking plants as much as you. Margaret smiled. "Really?" "Of course! My aunt bought me all these books when I was little, and I guess I never really grew out of it." You felt Margaret's hand touch your own, giving you a small squeeze in excitement. "I completely understand; my father did the same thing when I was a little girl." You gave Margaret a warm smile and squeezed her hand back as she asked a question. "I haven't seen any bush honeysuckles around here." She said this as Margaret pulled her hand away. You perked up. "Oh! Well, the mayor doesn't think that it is the best idea for it to be around here since it can spread everywhere." Margaret looked thoughtful. "That makes sense with bush honeysuckle. Birds and small animals eat the berries and deposit the seeds elsewhere." You and Margaret exchanged words about plants for the rest of the ride. "We're here" You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Owen should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

"I can't say that I know a lot about plants, but it is cool that you do." Margaret's eyes widened with a smile. "You really think it is….cool?" You gave her an akward look with a hint of confusion in your smile. "Uh, yeah, I mean, it is cool that you have a passion." Margaret's lip quivered. You thought she was going to cry, but instead she looked at you with a bright smile that reached her eyes as she looked out the window again. Slience filled the car for the past few minutes; however, it wasn't as suffocating with tension as you would have believed, but comfortable. "We're here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

You shrugged, leaning against the window and closing your eyes. Through the window, you saw that Margaret bit her lip in defeat and looked at the floorboard. Slience filled the car for the past few minutes, and your eyes started to close until Owen cut in, ruining the silence. "We're here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

With a small smile, you patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Cam, I just got done with my checkup." <<set $Friendly to $Friendly + 1>> You gave as much comfort as you could manage. Camila was worried, and you didn't need her to be stressed about your health, of all things. <<set $Stoic to $Stoic - 1>> Camila pulled back her emerald-colored eyes, scanning your face. "What happened?" "I guess I have just been tired lately and fell asleep." "Fainted," Tai corrected as he came back into the kitchen, followed by Rosemary and your aunt. Camila looked around and seemed to notice the strangers in the room; however, she only looked surprised for a second before breaking out into a weak smile, her grip still on your shoulders. "Oh, hi, I'm Camila; my family owns the antique store a few buildng down." Margaret waved, while Marcel pushed out his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you; we are Tai's friends." You saw in the corner of your eye Rosemary, who pressed her lips together. Camila examined the taller man's hand for only a second before she took his hand in a heartfelt shake. "I am Marcel, and this is Rosemary, Owen, and Margaret." He nodded to each of said people when saying their names, who all just nodded back except for Margaret, who gave a bright smile. Camila gave you a look and, after years of being her friend, said, 'We will talk about this later' before turning back to the strangers. "Are you all staying long?" Owen narrowed his eyes at your friend but relaxed when he glanced at Marcel, who gave Camila a warm smile. "It would seem like we have a lot of work to do here." You felt Camila stiffen for only a minute. "Right, well, are you all going to be staying at the Velvet Vineyard?" The Velvet Vineyard was a small bed and breakfast that old Miss González owned right in the middle of town. Lockwood didn't get enough visitors for it to be an actual full-operating motel, but you didn't know how Tai's friends would feel being surrounded by sheep-themed merchandise that seemed to litter the walls and shelves. Tai cut in. "They will all be staying with me." "At the farmhouse on Castle Road?" The young doctor nodded. "The very one." Aunt Zinnia cut in. "I offered to get them settled in tomorrow." You smiled. "Really, you are not going to be slaving away over a hot stove all day?" Aunt Zinnia grinned. "I would be in the morning, but Tai offered to get us pizza, and who was I to pass up a free pizza?" Tai rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't be free; you would be working for it, like moving furniture and helping keep them-" Tai pointed to Margaret, Rosemary, and Owen. "On track." Owen yelled in quick outrage. "Oi!" which was ignored, and Camila turned back towards you. " $Name and I were going to have brunch tomorrow, but I can drop $Her off afterward." "We were?" You couldn't remember when you agreed to a brunch, but one look into Camila's eyes made you correct your statement. "Oh, that brunch, yeah, sorry, it must have slipped my mind, but I can check on your guys progress and help if you guys need me to." That talk that Camila wanted to have with you was going to happen sooner rather than later. Aunt Zinnia came over and rubbed your head, and you blushed a little at the childish affection. "That would be great, kiddo." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Chapter Four]]</div>

You shrugged. "I mean, I am fine in Lockwood for now." Your thoughts drifted befly to your aunt and the shop. "But for now, I'm happy here." Rosemary snorted. "I wouldn't blame you for leaving this place." "I simply let things happen to me, going with the flow and all that." If that means leaving, then I'll leave. But for now, it means staying." Marcel frowned. "That doesn't seem very stable." Rosemay grinned. "That is the point, the open road, no worries or doubts." "I believe we are here." Marcel rolled his eyes. You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

Your shoulders dropped a little at the notion, and you groaned. "My life is just too busy for me to consider moving." Rosemary snorted, although she still seemed to make it graceful, which you questioned. "Busy? Working at that cafe?" Marcel interrupted with a chuckle, quietly to himself. "Trust me, you wouldn't want to leave your home behind." Rosemary sighed. "Come on! Seeing new places and the free will on the open road." "$She is talking about moving to a new town, not into $Her car." The idea of moving into Old Bertha made you curl your lip, but you kept your eyes on Marcel. "Is moving something you don't enjoy?" "I hadn't really thought about it since I di- moved to my current residence." Marcel attempted to divert your gaze from his nevous smile with a half-shrug. "I would think it is nice to live in such a close knit town where everyone knows each other." Marcel's eyes lit up. "Think of the Sunday dinners; you could have pot luck." You allowed a smile to fall onto your lips at Marcel's enthusiasm. Marcel looked out the window.. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

"I am from this town, and I will never leave." You said it with no shame. "Lockwood is my home." Your mind went back to your aunt and the Mendozo's and how they were always there for you, even Luis. "I can't ever imagine ever leaving this place." Rosemary just rolled her eyes; however, you didn't pay attention to it as Marcel's smile was bright. "This town is special, you know?" Marcel nodded, a look of understanding in his eyes. "I completely agree that this town feels like it inspires people." "It inspires them to be in each other's business, maybe." Rosemary grumbled; however, neither you nor Marcel paid much attention to her. Marcel glanced out the window. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

Your shoulders dropped a little at the notion, and you groaned. "I wish I could get out of here. I am just itching to get out of Lockwood." Rosemary let out a soft laugh. "Sorry, $Dollface but I haven't looked at the housing market in some time." You gave her a smile in the mirror. "Don't worry about it; in this economy, I am surprised if I ever get my own place." Marcel frowned with a small pout on his lips. "Think of the potlucks and the closeness-" Rosemary rolled her eyes. "Everyone in everyone else's business, oh, who would not want to live like that?" She said it sarcastically. You looked between the two until your eyes fell on Rosemary. "I am guessing you don't like small towns?" Roseary chuckled. "I grew up in one before I moved to the big city. Mama almost had a heart attack, let me tell you-" "Just because you had a bad experience with small towns doesn't mean they are all bad, Rosemary. It's about supporting one another that you just can't get in big cities." Marcel muttered. "Trust me, I would know." Rosemary just pressed her lips together and gripped the steering wheel. Before you could ask, Marcel spoke again. "I believe we are here." You looked back at the road, and indeed, the looming trees started to be further apart, and you saw a familiar metal building in front of a small house. In front of the mechanic shop was Mr. Anderson in this work jump suit, some sort of black goo on his collar, pointing to where Rosemary should park the car. <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Rosemary">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew]]<</if>></div> <div style="text-align: right"><<if $C95Per1 is "Owen">>[[Next|Sitting In The Dining Room Of Morning Dew(R+M)]]<</if>></div>

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>> "So you know....Tai...how is that?" <<set $SAT to "Locked">> Rosemary scoffed. "How do you think? Tai is as friendly as a rattlesnake caught by its tail." You smiled a little at the description, but you disagreed a little. You saw Tai as more of a cat with sharp claws. "I am guessing you are not close with Tai?" You said, studying the woman in front of you. "Ha! We have all known that man for years, and he has always had a stick up his ass that he could never seem to reach." The "we" you put together had to be the group as a whole. You never heard of these newcomers, and while you and Tai were not really close, you kind of felt like you should have heard about these people. Although this was Tai we were talking about, he kept his cards to his chest. Maybe he didn't say anything since one of those people seemed to want to tear his head off, but so did almost everyone else in town. The grimace graced Rosemary's face as she continued. "I don't know what Marcel puts up with it when he acts like a-" She shook her head, cutting herself off, her grimace turning into a tense smile. "Is there a reason you want to know?" * [[You felt your heart beat in your chest as you blushed. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?"|Your heart beatRose]] * [[You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends."|You couldn't helpRose]] * [[You let out a snort. "I wish you the best of luck."]] * [["Well, you seem like a good friend to have."|Well, you seemRose]] * [["I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" You said Tai's cute face popped into your mind.|I am guessingRose]] * [[You raised an eyebrow at Rosemary. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?"]]

<<set $LocationQuestionsMarcel to $LocationQuestionsMarcel + 1>><<set $WTAH to "Locked">> "So what brings you to Lockwood?" Rosemary snorted. "You don't think we are here for Tai?" You raised an eyebrow. "You aren't?" She looked at her nails, her face turning sour. "I'm not, but I can't speak for Marcel." She said it in a grumble. "Marcel and Tai are close?" "Those two have been friends for years, not that the bluenose would ever admit it." Rosemary studied your face before speaking again. A small wall was put up as her face became closed off. "We are here to help Tai with his job." "You are all doctors?" You were surprised. You couldn't really see Rosemary in a lab coat. "I didn't think that Tai was that swamped at the office-" Rosemary laughed. "Oh my god, I am too much of a bearcat to have a job like that." Her eyes flash towards you, making you feel like praying. " We are hunting, $Dollface ." * [[Your eyes widened at Rosemary. "I am sorry, what?"]] * [[You stared at Rosemary blankly, waiting for her to continue.]] * [["So do you like hunting bambi or something like that?"|So you like huntingRose]]

Rosemary drummed her nails on the countertop. "Do you have any more questions, $Dollface ?" "Yeah, that's all I had to ask." You heard the sound of an engine. "I am guessing the old man finally got done with my baby." She smirked at you. "I think it is time to get you out of this place before your aunt has our heads." You nodded and looked at the clock. "Than, let's get going." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Behind The Counter Of The Lazy Dog]]</div>

You remembered Margaret, mentioning that she at least heard of me from Tai. Did Tai talk about you? Tai had to….. If Margaret knew you just by name and description; that thought brought a blush to your face. <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> You felt your heart beat in your chest. "Did Tai...uh...ever mention me?" You, of course, could already guess the answer, but the little voice in the back of your mind would not shut up until Rosemary gave your lovestruck brain some sort of relief. <<if $TFrP <= 0>>Rosemary grimced. "$Dollface sorry to tell you, but I don't talk to Tai, much less know what he thinks about you. <</if>> <<if $TFrP >= 1>>Rosemary studied you for a minute before narrowing her eyes. A flash of understanding and something like pity crossed her eyes, which made you shrink back. "Sorry, $Dollface , but I don't talk to Tai." <</if>> You shrunk back in embarrassment and felt your eyes get hot before clearing your throat. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

You couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that Tai has some friends." Rosemary had a look of surprise on her face before she scoffed. "Sorry to tell you, $Dollface but Tai and I aren't pals." <<set $TFrP to $TFrP+ 1>> You frowned at the thought that maybe Tai wasn't close to anyone, but why was Rosemary here if she didn't like Tai? <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

The thought of being even closer to Tai was so far out of reach in your mind. How did Rosemary stand him? However, by her attitude towards the young doctor, you had a feeling they weren't really friendly. <<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> You snorted. "I wish you the best of luck." You contuined. "Tai can be well...tai." You said. You didn't know how Rosemary would take it, but you were pleasedly surprised that she laughed. "Trust me, I am going to need all the luck I can get with Tai." You grinned. "So I am guessing you two aren't that close?" Rosemary snorted. "There would never be enough distance between us." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

"Well, you seem like a good friend to have." <<if $Sincerity >= 50>>You couldn't help but give her a genuine smile. <</if>> <<if $Sincerity <= 49>>You didn't know what came over you to say that, but you couldn't help the awkward, genuine smile that crossed your face. <</if>> Rosemary blinked after a beat, and she smirked. "Oh, trust me, darling, I am a very good friend to have... I am not afraid to get my nails dirty." She purred as she moved a little closer to you, saying that you had moved away out of surprise with a blush coating your cheeks. <<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> The woman in front of you backed off a little. "Just call me if you need a favour... I can see what I can do to fulfill your desire." She looked you up and down before waiting for you to continue. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

"I am guessing that Tai never mentioned a stunning beauty who works at a bakery?" <<set $TFlP to $TFlP+ 1>> Rosemary raised an eyebrow, staring at you, making your resolve crack before relaxing. "Sorry, $Dollface but I don't talk to Tai, and even if I did, I promise you that nothing he said about you was proably good." She stared at her nails. "Not that it has anything to do with you, more that Tai is a snob with a complex." You bit your lip, trying to let the disappointment show on your face. <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

You raised an eyebrow at Rosemary. "I am surprised Tai has friends; how do you put up with him?" <<set $RFrP to $RFrP + 1>> Rosemary let out a chuckle. "I wouldn't call Tai and me friends." She smiled at you. "I don't put up with anything, especially anything from Tai." You gave her a grin. "Maybe you can give me a few pointers on how to deal with him." "Then we need some duck tape to shut him up." <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

You took a step back in surprise. "I am sorry, what?" Rosemary gave a nonchalant shurg as she looked at her nails. She must have heard something in your tone because she looked at you. "Oh, don't look so scared. $Dollface hunting was a bad word to describe." She leaned on the countertop. "We are here for a violet." "Violet? Like a flower?" Rosemary nodded, not looking at you, as her eyes found her nails more interesting. "Some sort of flower for Tai's medical paper because it is endangered." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close.// You mentally battled with yourself, however, Rosemary just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $Sincerity to $Sincerity - 1>> "So, do you like hunting Bambi or something like that?" <<set $Snark to $Snark + 1>> Rosemary smirked. "And break a nail? Oh no, $Dollface I leave all the heavy lifting to the big guy." You guessed the "big guy" had to be Owen. You chuckled. "So what? Are you hunting some sort of animal?" "Hunting was a bad word to describe." She leaned on the countertop. "We are here for a violet." "Violet? Like a flower?" Rosemary nodded, not looking at you as her eyes found her nails more interesting. "Some sort of flower for Tai's medical paper because it is endangered." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself, however, Rosemary just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>

<<set $Stoic to $Stoic + 1>><<set $Friendly to $Friendly - 1>> You stared at her blankly, waiting for her to continue. Rosemary smirked. "What? Not surpised?" You shrugged. "Is it?" The darked-haired girl started to laugh. "I don't lie, $Dollface…well unless it's fun, but hunting was a bad word to describe." She leaned on the countertop. "We are here for a violet." "Violet? Like a flower?" Rosemary nodded, not looking at you, as her eyes found her nails more interesting. "Some sort of flower for Tai's medical paper because it is endangered." "I didn't know Tai was even writing a paper." //Why would I? It isn't like me and the man are close?// You mentally battled with yourself, however, Rosemary just asked. "Any more questions?" <div style="text-align: right">[[Next|Rosemary talks about tai]]</div>