#touchofar

[cecebishop-blog]

A Trip to See the Family || Solo (POTW)

Spending so much time in a state like Maine can really throw a girl off her game. She had been so used to forests, mountains and wild life that when Cecilia stepped out of her car and smell of salt and sounds of waves crashing against the sand overwhelmed her. She took it all in, inhaling deeply to take in every last scent. The scents that had been her childhood. She took a breath and began stretching, raising her arms high above her, as far as they would reach. It had been a long car ride, one that she had no interest in repeating anytime soon. Maybe she would take a nice little vacation here in California for a couple weeks. Soak up the scene, get a natural tan instead of the tanning beds she had been reduced to back in Maine. Cecilia wondered if that old burger joint was still open that was only a few blocks from where she had grown up. Lilly and Tanner could undoubtedly handle the business for a few weeks could they not? She might have a few choice customers that might be unhappy to not have Cecilia around to help them should the need arise, but they would get by if one of the other witches had to help them in Cecilia’s place. After all, they would have to at least respect that Cecilia had some business of her own to take care of right here.

The place looked exactly as it did ten years ago. The only noticeable difference was the tree that once stood tall next to the end of their driveway had now been cut down. The tree that Cecilia had backed right into the very first day after getting her license. The damage to the tree was minor, some stripped bark that refused to grow back. The bumper of their car had seen better days however. Unsurprising that the two would try to erase any memory of their former daughter from their lives. Undoubtedly because they didn’t want to relive the fact that once upon a time they had actually treated her like a human being instead of kicking her out to live on her own. Who could live with themselves unknowing what had become of the girl whom they had raised for eighteen years before just throwing her out on the streets?

A quick knock on the door was followed by a man, tall in stature though thin, answering it. Jimmy was the kid’s name, when he first joined Arabella’s coven he was just fourteen years old, maybe the youngest kid to ever join. Back then he had little to no training and an affinity for picking up high winds when he got pissed off. Arabella had never really given the kid a chance before she kicked the can, but Cecilia found some valuable use in him. Fast forward six years later, Cecilia considered him one of the most trustworthy members of the coven. He wasn’t as high up as Lilly or Tanner were, but she was busy putting Jimmy through school anyways, so he would rarely have time to help run an entire business. Still, Jimmy had become pretty talented with his elemental magic and his age made him sort of an unexpected ace in the hole. She often used him for smaller, more personal jobs that Tanner and Lilly would be too busy to do for her. His job this time was simply to keep the Bishops occupied until Cecilia made her appearance. “Go study or do something productive. I’ll be quick.” Cecilia dismissed Jimmy and took a moment to glance around the house she had spent so many years in. The front hallway had remained unchanged minus a few family photos taken off the walls. An opening in the wall lead into the kitchen where Cecilia used to beg her mom to help her cook. Just down the end of this hallway would lead into the living room. She ran her hand across the wall as she made her way down it, pausing only very briefly to hear the sound of the heavy breathing and sobbing coming from the couch before a wicked grin split across her face and she made her way in.

“Mom and Dad? How crazy to run into you here of all places? It’s been too long, it’s felt like ages.” Her parents both had tears streaking down their face as they sat unmoving on the couch, yelling out pleas to be free or for others to help them. The look of pure shock and terror on their faces as they watched Cecilia walk into the room was enough satisfaction to last two life times. “Cece oh my god Cece it’s you!” her mom cried, though through the tears it wasn’t obvious whether or not they were tears of joy or sadness. Typically, this part made Cecilia chuckle. The begging for their lives portion of the evening. A nice appetizer to set up the rest of the evening, sure, but it was hardly filling. This time however, Cecilia was overcome with annoyance and a dash of rage. “Don’t you ever call me that” she spat at her mother, stopping a few feet from the couch and looking down at her parents. Just as things should be.

“Love what you guys have done with the place. You wouldn’t even be able to tell that you used to have a daughter. What did you do with my bedroom? Turn it into a work out room?” They didn’t answer her, instead the two began crying even harder and her mother- no Mary Bishop threw her arms around Harry. “Please, Cecilia whatever you’re doing- just it’s okay. We’re sorry okay? We didn’t know what to do!” Harry called out against her.

“Well kicking your daughter out of the house wouldn’t have been my gut instinct, but to each their own.” Cecilia tried shrugging it off as if the situation at hand wasn’t bothering her in the slightest. Usually, things like this didn’t bother her. But this was different, more personal than anything else. “But don’t worry. I survived! Here I am in the flesh. I’m sure the two of you stayed up countless nights worrying about my safety.”

The two continued to beg. To plead. Harry had even once tried to jump from the couch and tackle Cecilia. That hadn’t worked in his favor. Yet Cecilia still wasn’t pleased. She needed more. “Please can we just talk? I don’t get why you’re doing this.”

“You want to talk things through? Okay, let’s have stroll down memory lane!” Cece yelled out, listening as her voice echoed across the walls and up the ceiling. “Remember when you used to let me help you cook? We were preparing for a friends night, you both had some friends from work coming over and I just had to help you. You gave me two jobs. Peel the potatoes and put them in the boiler. Only I hadn’t realized how hot the water had already gotten. I reached down to put the potato in, just a teeny tiny bit too far. I had never known any pain like that. I almost spilled the whole pan on the floor because the burn hurt so badly. You took me to the fridge, grabbed out some ice and put it in a baggy. Then you held it against my hand and you told me that everything would be okay. Funny how things change right?” So much anger, disgust and contempt was saturated in Cecilia’s voice, changing the very way she spoke. Typically she stayed calm and collected the entire time, but she couldn’t help herself. Not here, and not with them. “Tell me. Have you ever been burned like that before Mary? Have you ever felt your blood boil?” In an instant, Mary was screaming at the top of her lungs, Harry grabbing onto her in panic in confusion as he tried to figure out what was going on. “Scream all you want Mary! We soundproofed the place. Just one of the many things the magic you kicked me out for can do.” Cecilia waved her hands frantically and paced across the room.

“What- What the hell are you? What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Harry yelled from the couch, still gripping onto Mary as she screamed away in agony. Cece came closer this time, ducking down to match their height from the couch and holding her head only inches away from the two of them. Her voice was barely more than a whisper at this point. “I’m exactly what you made me Dad. This is what the two of you did to me when you kicked me out. This is what I had to do to survive.” She grabbed onto Mary’s face forcefully and then gave a caress across the cheek, “But don’t worry mom. Just like you had the ice for my burn. I can take the sting away too.” She began sucking all of the heat into her own fingertips, watching as her mother’s skin went from flushed to a ghostly pale. Cece’s mouth split into a malicious grin and she turned her attention towards Harry.

“Don’t think I forgot about you. You were there for me just as much as she was. You taught me how to move on from pain, how to suck it up. Remember when I broke my ankle during cheerleading? They rushed me off the field, and the next thing I knew I was being carried off in an ambulance. But you and mom were right there for me. You told me, ‘crying’s not going to fix the pain. Don’t be such a whimp.’ Remember that?” It wasn’t hard to snap her father’s leg. The crunch was almost satisfying to hear, more satisfying than it had ever been with anybody back in Ashford River. He was the one screaming now, Mary was still too choked up from the cold to move. She really needed to conserve any heat that she could right now.

“Well don’t cry dad! That’s not going to fix the pain!” Another flick of the wrist and there went his arm. It was really too easy. To think, not every witch had telekinesis, what a shame. “Don’t be such a whimp now.” She grabbed him by his throat and pushed him back against couch, holding him there for a long moment while she gripped as tightly as she possibly could onto his neck. Then, just as suddenly, she let go.

She took a few steps back away from the couch and glanced at the watch on her wrist. “You know, this has been real fun guys, but you know how quick these wintry nights come on right? I’ve only got about an hour of sunlight left, and I really want to check out the beach before then.” She smiled at them, this time the smile was the same as the one she used to give them before she would hop out of the car to leave for cheerleading camp for a week. Or the year that she went to Disney World with her high school for a long weekend. The kind that told them it was going to be a while before she saw them again.

“By the way, I didn’t eat for almost two weeks after you kicked me out. The only money I had ran out quickly. I resorted to eating leftovers out of dumpsters behind restaurants. I lost almost ten pounds. I was starving, like my insides had been completely hollowed out. Do you two know what that feels like? To feel like you’re withering away?” Cece gave a cold, sarcastic laugh, “Of course you two don’t. But you will.” She pulled a bottle from her purse and tore the lid off, rubbing the mixture onto their flesh before muttering a quick incantation. Then she was recapping the bottle and slipping it back into her purse. Before she even left the room, she could see the skin getting tighter on their faces and a sickly green color washing over them.

Cecilia barely glanced up at Jimmy, who was sitting on the steps in the hallway that lead up to the second floor. “Help me clean that mess up will you? I’m really cutting it close to get some real sun today.”

[brett-tharp-tos]

VERSION: AR version

NAME/NICKNAMES: Brett Tharp

SPECIES: Human

HOMETOWN: Washington, DC

TOWN STANDING/JOB:  Brett is a scribe as he is in the AC version. His father is also a scribe in the AR chapter and is well known. Brett’s normally the go-to guy for languages and often finds himself being asked many questions on a daily basis. Unlike the AC version, people in the scribes don’t think he’s the son of a traitor as his dad never betrayed him. He is well respected amongst the scribes and has been one for quite a while now.

SUPERNATURAL INVOLVEMENT: Brett is a scribe so knows a lot about the supernatural, but his strengths lie in languages. He’s relatively neutral but has been known to be more on the human side than the supernatural side, much like his father.

PERSONALITY: Brett here is the same as AC Brett: intelligent, intuitive, curious, detail-orientated. However, unlike AC Brett, he’s had a lot more socialising in his life due to being in the scribes from a young age and being around people who like the same sort of things as him. He is a lot better at reading people definitely. He also doesn’t have a strict rule about never lying as his father never betrayed the scribes and he has no reason to consider it. He’s not a major fan of the supernatural, finding them to be quite vicious and anti-human, despite what the scribes have done to help them so he can be anti-supernatural.

FAMILY: Brett’s family in AR is a little different. His mother still died of a heart attack linked to a Barghest, but his father never died and never left his family. His family moved together to AR and lived together until his mother passed away. He is still an only child but his family unit is a lot less broken.

BACKSTORY SUMMARY: Brett was born the only child of Emily and Clint Tharp. He grew up with tons of love, affection and books, always finding himself lost in another world and a fascination with the supernatural. His father was offered a job in London with the Scribe Chapter there, taking his family overseas with him. They were there for a few years before they moved over to Ashford River when Brett was around 16 years old.

He grew up surrounded by scribe literature, his father teaching him what he could so he would be ready to join the scribe chapter when he was old enough. He excelled in languages and it took no time at all for him to be top of the field within the languages department of the AR Scribe Chapter. But, having lost his mother to a Barghest and a number of attacks from the supernatural, he is starting to become bitter against the supernatural world, taking away his family and making his life hell.

CURRENT CONFLICTS: None

DIFFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: 

Brett is very much more sociable, always chatting with people and them coming to him regularly. He’s never really seen on his own if he can help it, most often talking with his father.

He is able to lie and does often if he doesn’t like who he is talking to. He doesn’t want to be mean but sometimes that means he has to tell a little white lie or ten.

He doesn’t really like the supernatural so tends to spend more time helping humans, hunters, wardens and slayers rather than other species.

[frogmanphd-blog]

Pixies & Frogs|| AR Lark & Tad

Snow was falling steadily outside the truck's window as Tad drove towards the University. The truck itself was Uni property, and he had permission to rent it out when he needed to move a lot of things at once, like if an experiment went wrong and needed to be disposed of. Tonight, Tad had such a need. Everything was going just as he wanted it to, and with a little luck, things would continue that way. This morning, one of his subjects had died (they had previously been a hunter), nearly breaking his record for the longest time spent in his lab. Not that it really mattered. Everything about their death was recorded in his notebook, and the lab had been scrubbed clean of any visible evidence. The hunter was safely hidden in plastic trash bags and bundled up into plastic boxes, all neat and ordinary looking and ready for transport. Tad had left his assistant, Daniel, a text message asking him to come help move the boxes. Hopefully the man would be there waiting, he thought as he pulled into the lab's parking lot and parked the truck, or he would be very upset. He opened the car door easily and hopped out, making a neat trail of footprints as he made his way inside.

The past few months had not been kind to ​Daniel​. On top of ending up in another universe, one where the supernatural existed apparently, he simply didn’t exist here. The university gave Daniel’s math research and TA position to someone else and the only people who knew him were the pixies in the forest, but they didn’t know him. They knew someone named ‘Lark’, a person that Daniel didn’t seem to live up to as they expected him to know what Lark did and do what Lark did such as round up those weird armadillo creatures that infested the forest. Thankfully, though, Daniel had found some normalcy with Professor Jones. The other was a lifesaver, offering to give him the job of his assistant when he heard him trying to get his degree back. Professor Jones had offered to help him get his mathematics degree back if Daniel helped with calculations for some of his experiments and taught some of his classes in the meantime. While biology wasn’t one of Daniel’s best subjects, it wasn’t his worst, and he was just grateful to be back in the world of academia to complain about the subject matter. He, also, helped Professor Jones move boxes and equipment from time to time whenever he needed it for a bit more pay. It was why he jumped whenever he received a text from him, less time in the crazy land of the Fae and more time in the real world along with pay was more than enough for him. Daniel was already waiting inside in the outer parts of the lab. Professor Jones didn’t allow him in the restricted sections, but it wasn’t as if Daniel exactly minded. “Hello, Professor,” Daniel greeted him as soon as he saw him. “I’m ready to be of assistance. I, also, have those calculations you asked for, and graded those teaching assignments, just like you asked.”

"Already?" One of his favorite qualities about Daniel was his promptness. "Good man. Were the calculations as we expected? I hope so, otherwise I'm going to have to rethink my hypothesis." The calculations he'd asked the other to run were to see if he could continue to dip into the school's budget to fund his experiments without risking someone noticing, not that he would tell him so. Everything was so much easier with this particular person, because he didn't ask questions, he didn't stick his nose where it didn't belong; he wasn't a liability. Odds that he'd discover something suspicious were slim. Tad had very little to worry about with him. It was one of the reasons he'd promised him his degree back. He wouldn't be able to do it in the physical realm, but a few visits to the president while he slept would change his minds fairly quickly. Normally he wouldn't even consider following up on the promise, but Daniel seemed fairly lost here, and as long as he kept performing well on his assistant duties, it would be an option for the future. "Are you up to help me lift? There are some boxes full of junk I need to get loaded into the truck, and I could use a hand."

“Yes, well, I didn’t have much to do last night,” ​Daniel​ said, digging through his messenger bag for the papers that Professor Jones had given him. He set them down on the nearest counter for him to look over later, not that he would need to since the math he did was always right. “Not entirely, but I did make some adjustments that should yield better results given the way that the accounts are divided, anyway.” While he did think his talents were a bit wasted on banking, Daniel didn’t say as such, knowing that if it wasn’t for the profess then he’d still be back at the pixie village trying to collect vermin in his free time. He’d rather do calculations that were beneath him rather than roll around in the snow like some animal. “Oh, yes, of course, I can,” he said, with a nod of his head. Daniel didn’t like the idea of manual labor, always thinking that they had someone to do it for him, but Professor Jones was very secretive about his research, which was understandable given what happened to Daniel’s math calculations. The world was a competitive place, unfortunately, so he didn’t blame the professor for guarding his secrets. “Just point me to them, and I’d be happy to help get them into the truck for you.”

Tad nodded along, making a mental note to go over the figures before tomorrow. "If you like, I can introduce you to a few of my single colleagues. I hear they have math parties once a month, where they gather and talk about math or science and get drunk. I've never been to one myself, but it sounds like something you might like? It seems like something for young people like you. And it never hurts to have friends in the department you're bothering for your degree." As he talked, he waved Daniel into the next room to where the boxes were, picking one up and shifting it so it was easier to carry, then headed back towards the truck. They weren't that heavy, but the boxes could be bulky and difficult to wrangle. He made sure his tone and posture didn't change as he did. Daniel wouldn't be suspicious if he didn't give him anything to be suspicious over. "They're over here. It shouldn't take long."

“Well... I’m not really interested in meeting people,” ​Daniel​ confessed. He went over to the boxes, lifting it with a little strain since he wasn’t used to doing labor like this. Still, he didn’t complain as he carried the box, following Professor Jones towards the van. “Not to seem ungrateful, since I do see your point, but I’ve never been that into parties. They’re always a bit loud, and when people get drunk, they tend not to want to talk about academics. I would like to get in good with the people who would be in that department, but I want them to see that I’m working hard and that I earned it, not that I brown-nosed my way into it.” Daniel bit at his lip, hoping that he didn’t offend him. It wasn’t that he wasn’t grateful for what the professor was trying to suggest, and he hoped that he could see it that way since he had really come to look up to the other man in the few months that he worked under him.

"I understand. I think you're more like me than I realized," Tad mused, setting the box down in the truck's bed, "I've never been one for those kinds of events either. You have the makings of a good, pure academic. That's a very admirable trait to have." A few friends in the department might have made a good distraction for Daniel, but it wasn't something he really wanted to force. Besides, he hadn't shown any inclination to nosiness so far, and Tad was confident he wouldn't in the future. "With that attitude, you'll have people's respect in no time. I'm sure of it. But, do you think that your assistance to me is brown-nosing?" He let the question come out more amused than anything else, heading back into the lab to grab another box.

​Daniel​ set his box down onto the truck bed alongside Professor Jones’ box. “Thank you, Professor,” he said with a small smile. “You don’t know how much it means to hear you say that. It’s been awhile since- Actually, I don’t think my old professors ever gave me such a compliment. I’m very honored by it.” Following the professor back into the lab, Daniel frowned at the question, though, trying to pick apart what he meant by it. Did this mean that Professor Jones’ thought that he was a stuck-up? No, his previous statement disproved that. He thought that Daniel deserved respect, which he did. No one back home had given him any. “It’s not as if I’m working for free. You pay me. It’s my job to assist you. In addition, I don’t try to get involved with you personally, as a party would with the others. This is different, more professional.”

"Professors tend to only give compliments to themselves, even if they aren't well deserved. But I'm confident that you deserve this one. Tell me, are you close to anyone right now? Your family, maybe an old friend, or someone on the internet?" Flattery was another good way of disarming and blinding a person. But a part of Tad was actually curious, since Daniel had many of the same traits as him, he wondered about his social life. And all the other aspects of his life. Not enough to use the methods he used on his patients, but enough to ask. He was pretty sure he was carrying the head out to the truck, judging from its weight. "That's correct. Although, I wish you could be my assistant for longer. It's nice someone I can trust to share the workload with."

“Thank you, Professor Jones.” The question struck ​Daniel​ as a bit odd, before he realized that it wasn’t at all given that he had dropped everything to help him move boxes without even needing to check about the time. “Well, I was taken in by this exchange family when I moved here, and there is this one boy that I have been talking with, but other than that, I wouldn’t say that I’m exactly close with anyone. That must seem extremely sad, doesn’t it? Even when I was back home, I didn’t speak with my parents and didn’t have any friends.” It made him wonder if anyone had reported him missing. No one but the Fae creatures seemed to notice that Lark was, so maybe no one had reported Daniel missing, either. “That actually means a lot to me, professor. If I was better at biology then I would probably consider taking you up on a more permanent assignment.”

"I see," Tad said. "It doesn't seem sad at all. Some people don't need as much socialization as others. It usually indicates a high performance in other areas of life, and a smarter individual." There were only two more boxes to be moved onto the truck, and then he would be home free. He hoisted one, giving Daniel a bright smile. "That's a nice thought! But your passion lies with math, so that's what you should do. Although if you ever change your mind, I trust you'll know where to find me."

“You really think so? Because I’ve always been told that you can’t get by with antisocial behavior. I don’t see why you can’t, since most people are in fact idiots, but it’s good to know that I’m not the only one with this ideology.” ​Daniel​ grabbed the other box with a bright smile at Professor Jone’s words. They were almost done, which was good. It meant that he could possibly get some more of his work done when they were finished. “Thank you, Professor. That means a lot to me. Even if get back on track with my degree, I’d be happy to help you move boxes or anything else that you might need when I’m free, though.”

"I do. Although if you ever meet someone who isn't a complete idiot, you hold onto them as much as you can." Tad smiled back, pleased to have such an effect on Daniel; his ego was only too pleased with the other's reaction to him. It may have also been predatory, reflecting how smug he was to get away with it. But, he always got away with it, so he kept his face in check and patted Daniel on the arm. "You're a good boy. I'm sure you'll get your degree back in no time at all, and thank you for coming out to help me with this. I appreciate it. You have a good night." Unhurriedly, he left the other behind and shut the truck's back end securely and climbed into the driver's seat. He waved at Daniel once through the window before he was driving away.

[blythewonder]

Good Girls Go Bad || Bridget & Molly [AR]

A sampling from the other side...

In Ashford River, Molly and Bridget deal with a deal gone somewhat wrong.

ft. the AR Boyfriends (aka Xavier and Jonas)

Molly was lying on the grass with one earbud tucked into her left ear as the other laid uselessly in the grass next to her head. The headphones had become a permanent accessory for Molly it seemed, and even at work the older Scribes didn't say anything to her about her headphones any longer. Not that they held much hold over her to begin with. Her father and grandfather held pretty high positions in this chapter and basically gave Molly immunity from any of the other Scribes that might have a problem with her or what she wore to work daily. But today wasn't a work day. Today she was just waiting for whoever Bridget had set up to buy some information to show up. Molly used to just supply the information for Bridget and let her handle the physical deal, accepting her cut afterwards. But she grew tired of sitting in the background and requested to start coming along just because she had grown bored. But waiting for this buyer to show up was equally as boring. "Is this a repeat customer? If so he sucks." Molly groaned from the ground, looking over at Bridget. She had been to a few meetings with her by now, but none that she had to wait outside in the cold for.

Bridget was sitting up, legs crossed as she scrolled through her phone, only half-paying attention to the buzz of the town around her. Her hair hung around her face in perfect curls. Her contact was supposed to arrive now, and she hated waiting. Always had. It was part of why she'd straight up applied early decision to college -- and even that hadn't been fast enough. "Where the fuck is he?" She glared at her phone, typing out a quick message. "He's repeat, but he's usually ​quite​ prompt." She glanced over to Molly. "You haven't heard anything, right? Because he's running on fifteen minutes late now and I'm ready to move on with my day." Her phone buzzed and she looked down. Someone else, not the guy they were supposed to be meeting. "What are you listening to?" She nodded at Molly as she pulled a package of gum out of her purse and unwrapped a piece. "Want one?" She held it out to her friend.

"He's quite late today," ​Molly​ pointed out the obvious, shaking her head at Bridget's next question. "Nope. I don't even know who the guy is. You made me promise not to hack into your stuff remember?" Molly had made it a habit of reading every file of every Scribe member that worked in Ashford River. Including Bridget's. And sometimes Molly took it a little further by adding a backdoor into their computer systems, especially if Molly thought it might be useful to her in the future. But the closer that her and Bridget became, the quicker Bridget became aware of just how capable Molly was with computers. She made Molly promise not to look into her personal things soon after that. Being the good friend Molly was, she had decided to respect that wish. "Avril Lavigne of course." A true pioneer of her generation and severely underappreciated. "Don't mind if I do" she popped the piece into her mouth and chewed for a bit before blowing a big bubble and letting it pop.

"So I've noticed." ​Bridget​ rolled her eyes. "I do remember, but I don't know, maybe you heard something from him." She tapped angrily at her phone again, red manicured nails clicking against the screen. "This isn't him, FYI." She said, chewing on her gum. "Some bullshit trainee Scribe wants to talk to me and ask about all my studies, just because one of my dads published that paper about fae languages. Like I give even one shit." She sighed. "Avril Lavigne? Not bad. A little dated, but hey, I like a girl who can appreciate the classics." She giggled, before blowing a bubble with her gum and sucking it back in. "I swear, if I get frostbite I'm going to kill somebody." She tugged her jacket tighter around her body.

Molly shrugged from her spot on the ground, barely doing anything except wrinkling her leather jacket. "I let you handle the people stuff I just steal the information." Molly had purposely built a login system into the Scribe server she created, specifically created as a security system for purposes exactly like how Molly now used it. The irony killed Molly too. All information logged or pulled up was kept under a specific Scribe number assigned to each person. That way she could keep track of who used what. Luckily Molly knew the only way around that. It's what made her so valuable to Bridget. "Have you told him that he can just look the stuff up on the computers and read the files for himself?" Molly suggested, a small part of her still acting in defensive of the to-be Scribe. She didn't care enough to actually get involved with it though. She glanced over at her phone, which currently had the camera feed from the park pulled up on it, to see a figure approaching the entrance. "Hey this dude looks shady is this your guy?" Molly asked, tossing her phone at Bridget.

Bridget nodded. "I'm aware, I'm quite a people person, funny enough. Thanks daddy and papa, at least you did something right." She made a face. "You know that I'm forever totally grateful to you for that, right?" She smiled over to Molly. It was true, she had grown incredibly fond of the other girl. Her job was possible to do solo -- she'd done just that back in Salem -- but having someone else made it all the more enjoyable. "I have. He says, and I practically quote, 'Oh, but Bridget, I want to talk to you.' Though he used the letter 'u' for 'you', but whatever." She glanced over to Molly's phone. "Mm-hmm, looks like him." She pushed herself off the ground, stuffing her own phone into her jacket pocket and crossed her arms over her chest. "Remember, he's curious about ashrays, right? He's just a warlock or something. Should be no problem-o at all."

Molly sat up and smiled widely at Bridget, "I know." She had been pretty thankful for the two finding each other. Before Bridget Molly had only ever stolen one file from that Scribes, and that was for Jonas. But that had been it. She had basically done nothing in her entire life wrong and had grown so incredibly bored of it. She needed something a little more flavorful in her live. "Maybe he has a crush on you. How adorable." Making a heart symbol with her hands and finally getting to her feet also. "Right. I got the flashdrive right here." She fished the flashdrive out of her jacket pocket and waved it around before stuffing it back into her pocket. "Ooh here comes the broody warlock right now. Work your magic Blythe."

"Well, so long as you know." ​Bridget​ grinned back to Molly. At least there was somebody else in the stifling place that was Ashford's HQ who she could stand to talk to. She made a face as Molly continued. "Oh I hope not. I mean, I am hot, but I don't think Xavier wants to share me, at least not with the boy who's been begging for the chance to talk to me. But hey, maybe I'll do it anyhow, wear an extra nice outfit, make his year." She let out a soft giggle. "Thanks a load." She nodded. "Don't call him that to his face, but I'm on it." Bridget fluffed the ends of her hair and made her way over to the man -- tall -- not as tall as Xavier, she noted with pride -- hair with way too much gel, a tattoo on his neck. As if he could become anything more of a stereotype. "We've got what you asked for," she smirked, making sure to keep the grin on her face as she stared up at him. "Every. Last. Detail." Bridget took a few steps closer to the man, relishing in the moment. "We don't disappoint," she cracked her gum, "so now all you've got to do is tuck that check of yours that I know you've already written," Bridget winked, "right into my pocket and my friend here'll give you just what you asked for, and then all of us can be out of this frigid weather." She blew out, her breath crystalizing, as if to make her point all the more clear. "Well, this'll be of good use." He replied. "But I wanna see what I'm getting first." He looked over to Molly. "Not given, just a view."

With a sort of astonished amazement, ​Molly​ watched as Bridget seemingly flipped a switch around different people. In front of the other Scribes Bridget was seemingly a perfect Scribe, living up to her legacy just as Molly was. And yet when she was with Molly she did almost a 180. Sarcastic, making fun of any Scribe that had dared to talk to her that day. She seemed real. Then in front of this man is was all business, with just a bit of fun tucked into it. Bridget was so good at playing others that she actually started to wonder just if the Bridget that Molly saw was the real one or just another mask. Whether or not that was the case, Molly couldn't help but like Bridget even more. Then the warlock turned his attention onto Molly and asked for the information. A preview at least. Right. Confirmation of the goods. People were good for this. She pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket and found his phone rather easily. Searching for Wi-Fi out here in the middle of the park? Not the wisest decision. She hacked into his phone easily and then pulled out the cord that connected from her phone and allowed someone to transfer a Flashdrive's information onto a cellular device. "Check your phone" she said, just as his phone began chiming. "Take a good luck now dude. Because that file will delete itself in about thirty seconds." As the grumbled and became distracted looking at his phone Molly grinned at Bridget and gave her a nonchalant thumbs up.

She almost wished Xavier could be here to watch her. But ​Bridget​ thoroughly enjoyed everything she did on her own. Without her sister around -- like her fathers had attempted to force upon her when she was a little girl. No, this was all on her own, and she'd gotten a true friend out of it in Molly, and so really, what was the harm? She could detail this to Xavier later when she went to his apartment. He'd said that he had a special surprise for her. She hoped it was new clothing. As the warlock -- Garvey -- spoke, Bridget chanced a glance over to Molly, watching in awe and appreciation as she worked her magic, before she turned back to Garvey. "I -- we -- don't disappoint." She winked at Molly. "This is good." Garvey said, voice gruff. "But I don't know, you're only two little girls, should I really pay you the full amount? This'll just be used for one quick viewing -- after all, that boy should be exposed for what he is, after all, and you two are charging quite the steep price." Bridget took a step forward, lips in a straight line. "We deliver, you pay." She glanced over at Molly. "My friend's done a fucking brilliant job, here. Also last I heard, you weren't doing this for any sort of bullshit exposure. I thought it was to gain some of their water or whatever. What gives?"

Excuse this creep, ​Molly​ was above average height for a female. She rolled her eyes at the man from a few feet back and began looking through his phone. Bridget even sounded a little confused as to his motives. Not that the two generally cared much for the reason behind wanting something from them, only caring about the highest bidder. But when those bidders went back on the money, Molly became a little more curious. She started going through his text messages, searching for anytime he used the word 'Ashray'. She flicked through a few messages that he had exchanged with a man who popped up in his phone as bae. Original. "Bridge. He's trying to expose a Scribe" She questioned out loud. Very clear, the name of a man that the two worked with at the headquarters who was clearly a an Ashray according to the file Molly had read when she started, was splattered all across their messages. "Our files detail how to kill an Ashray." Molly didn't care for the Scribes in any way, but she had worked with the guy. It wasn't like she wanted him to die. Molly took a deep breath, knowing that showing weakness was only going to make things worse. Instead, she did the next best thing she could think of. "Tsk tsk. You told your banking app to save your password?" She looked down at the phone dramatically, "And it's just your birthday backwards? Gotta do better than that dude." She tapped away at the phone, making sure to be extra loud with it. "You bitch" He growled, inching forward, but she held up a hand. "It'd be a lost cheaper to just give us the check than let me transfer out as much money as I can type in a second. Spoiler: It's a lot."

"Hm?" ​Bridget​ stepped away from the man for a minute, casting her eyes over to Molly. She'd had a bidder back out once before, or try to, until Bridget got him to change his mind. But this was different, and during that time she hadn't had Molly around to see if something else was up. Until now. "I don't--" ​care​, she wanted to say, but the words caught in her throat and she let out a sigh before flashing a glare over to Garvey. Damn Molly and her still mostly-present morals. At least when it came to caring about their co-workers. Not that Bridget advocated death, but she just wanted the deal cut and down with now, before her whole body froze. "Fuck off, Garvey." She moved away from Molly again. "You told me it was just so you could have fun with a bothersome one. You know I don't" -- ​usually​ "sell out my coworkers. That's some bullshit you're trying to pull on us." She crossed her arms. "My friend's not shitting you, so you better do what we say." Garvey took a step towards Bridget and she felt her body stiffen just slightly. "No can do, sweet-heart." He blew a kiss at the two of them. "You said you'd deliver, I never made you any kind of promise. So give me the file and all'll be well and good."

Molly could transfer all of the money out of his accounts in seconds, but that didn't seem to bother him. And without being able to threaten him electronically, what could Molly even do against the man? He was a warlock after all. Even if he was just a regular man she wasn't sure if the two could fight him off. Molly knew she couldn't. She inched backwards almost instinctively, letting a wave of fear wash over her. They could run right? Maybe they could. Could he stop them with some kind of magic? She played with the flash drive in her jacket pocket and thought about just handing it over to him. But before she could pull it out she saw a ridiculously tall figure approaching from behind the man. Next to him was a slightly shorter man and Molly was overcome with relief. "This douchebag giving you a problem?" The taller man called out curiously. The boyfriends were here.

Bridget wasn't sure exactly what do do. She had half a mind to grab the flashdrive from Molly and step on it, but what good would that do? Garvey didn't seem to be the sort to let things like that go lightly. Or maybe she could grab the flashdrive and just give it to him. One fewer scribe for the world to have to deal with. "I--" she'd began, before Xavier and Jonas appeared and Bridget let out a sigh of relief, flashing a grin over to Xavier. "He is." She pouted, just slightly. Not enough for it to be whinny, but just enough that he came over and pulled her closer to his body. "Dude, what gives?" Xavier said, his voice slightly gruff. "Breaking promises can lead to other broken things, let that sink into your mind." Bridget glanced over to Jonas, wondering if he'd speak up or if he and Molly were going to let her and Xavier do all the talking. She almost hoped he'd speak up. The two of them had shown up, the least they could do would be provide some use to the situation.

"What do you want me to do with him?" Jonas whispered into ​Molly​'s ear s he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind her. She stood just a few inches short than he did, just enough for him to rest his chin on her shoulder. Molly grinned. "Well a few broken bones wouldn't hurt too bad would it?" She asked out loud, mostly to the four of them. With all four of them here, this warlock did little more than annoy Molly. "What do you two think of some broken bones?" She called out to Bridget and Xavier.

"I wouldn't be opposed to a little of that, how about you?" Xavier pressed his lips against ​Bridget's​ head. "I haven't done that in a long while." He glanced over to Jonas and back to Garvey. Bridget found herself straightening up a little taller. Not that she would have let someone like the warlock ruffle her, but having both her and Molly's boyfriends here just made everything all the more thrilling. Especially when Garvey was at least four inches shorter than Xavier. "It might be a proper response, given how gosh darn disrespectful he's been to us, don't you think?" Bridget blew a bubble with her gum and let it ​pop!​ against her lips, sucking it in. "What goes around comes around, huh? In all sorts of funny ways."

"Fuck you guys," The warlock growled, pulling the crumpled check out of his pocket and practically throwing it at Bridget and Xavier before scampering off across the grass and out of their line of sight. Molly and Jonas both immediately busted out laughing. "What a fucking prick" Jonas laughed, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket, popping it in his mouth, and then lighting it, "Should let me go after him. I could catch him." Molly shook her head and shrugged his suggestion off. "Don't worry. The ARPD are going to realize that they actually have an open warrant for arrest on Garvey for attempted murder soon." She beamed from her phone, then pulled herself free from Jonas and made her way over offering a high five to both Xavier and Bridget, "We crushed that deal I think?"

"I love you." ​Bridget​ giggled, blowing a kiss toward Molly. "Best to let him go," Bridget began, glancing up at Xavier, "you can beat something up later, okay?", she bent down to pick up the check, pulling it tight between her hands, "we got paid and didn't even have to give him anything!" She gave a high-five to Molly. "I think this calls for extra celebration, if I do say so myself. Not every day you just get money and an afternoon off, hm?"

“I say we got get some drinks" ​Molly​ suggested. She was still underage, but Jonas had an in with more than a few of the bars here in town. And all of the owners knew Molly now by association. They didn't mind letting her drink when Jonas was with her. "I could really go for a cheeseburger right now" She laughed, wrapping her arms around Jonas in a hug before falling into pace with him, walking alongside Xavier and Bridget. "Maybe you'll get lucky and some drunk guy with start a bar fight Xavier. Then you can break some bones." Nothing was better than making some money on the side then spending her day off with her four best friends.