torcst-blog

[torcst-blog]

devilwcman‌:

      "yes - those ingredients. silly me,”  andy responded with squinted eyes and pursed lips. her face shifted into one more playful, one more willing to put aside their past. not that it seemed to be a shared one between her and the witchy reincarnation. funny, the vampire thought bitterly, i didn’t take you for someone who wanted to live forever. part of the reason why the blonde had been hesitant to convince francesca to join her in the afterlife. 

      one where she wasn’t completely dead. but apparently, that was a choice more fitting for her old lover. 

       "so how’d that happen, huh?“ she asked with a curious bounce of her brow, leaning an elbow on a stack of books at the head of the desk,  "your aunt’s a witch, with a shop like this, and you wind up a skeptic?” maybe someone had erased her memories. her coven was capable, even if francesca had always been their strongest link. wasted potential. all wasted when she decided to die. and an eternity with her one true love was wasted, too. “i just got into town. everyone else seems to think this place is cursed or something. i guess believing you can protect yourself with some deer tears is worth it to some?" 

      no deer tears could keep her out though, but real magic could. andy smiled despite wanting to rip everything to shreds. years of practice. straightening again, she reached into her purse to pull out a twenty dollar bill. handing it over, her fingers barely brushed frances’, and she wondered if the mere contact alone might jog the mortal’s memory. like electricity. although, she knew, her touch was a cold one, given her species. 

      "i know we didn’t get off to the right start,” she optioned to try for, teeth grazing her lower lip, “but since i’m so new, i don’t really have anyone around town to ‘show me the ropes.’ and i could use some of these-” she wiggled the potion vial with a charming smile gracing her fair face, “under the counter. considering they’re so expensive.”

                      "mm, those ingredients," frances replied in the same tone, mirth and sarcasm mixed together to create the perfect playful tune. add boredom to that, because the ever repeating question had just been fired at her for the umpteenth time since the beginning of her career as her aunt's storekeeper. she's resigned when she answered, "my aunt's a human -- a ... well, an eccentric human who has a thing for magic and mysteries and potions. she probably learned about the kink and decided that it'd be a good idea to indulge some people's fantasies. bless her heart. she takes it way too seriously, hence her absence and my presence in this store." 

                       if her aunt hadn't been so dedicated in her little shop, maybe frances would be in a place that wasn't vernon — a place where she could do what she really wanted to do. instead, she's stuck here, watching over a family pride. 

                       she rolled her eyes, mostly at her own thoughts, but also at the hint of this stranger biting on rumors of curses and some other shenanigans in vernon. "listen, whatever you heard? it's not true. people like to make up stories to keep kids and adults inside their homes at night to lower down the crime rate in this town. it's always been an effective scare tactic, isn't it?"

                      and yet, there's the list of missing people; of voices never to be heard in the quiet streets of vernon; of names forever engraved on cold stones. 

                      frances clenched her jaw, eager to disregard the possibility of them being involved with anything remotely supernatural. humans were just as scary, if not more. they did say that humans were scarier than ghosts. 

                      pulling herself out of her straying thoughts, frances came to just in time as the woman handed over the bill, a chilling shiver zipping down her spine at the brief contact between their fingers. she frowned, so unused to such reaction when touching other people (and frances was a tactile person). 

                      frances would blame it on the woman's cold fingers later on. it's still the winter season after all. 

                       curling a shaky smile on her lips, she shook her head slowly and scrunched her nose as she spoke, "well, since you apologized for your rudeness earlier. hm. yeah, i can give you a second chance." she pushed an open palm, her smile shifting into one that's more at ease. "i'm frances." 

[torcst-blog]

[torcst-blog]

frances isn’t new to deidre being a protective mother duck — which isn’t a very pleasant comparison, given their colourful history. the point is, she’s unfazed by it. very much used to it, so on a regular day, she would have dismissed by simply saying, “okay, i got you.” but today is no regular day because frances, above everything else, is curious as to why deidre talks about the woman she’s only met once in her life as if she’s known her for years and more. with squinting eyes, she looks up from her book and tilts her head to the side, “i’ve only met her once, dre, so you can relax. i won’t go riding in horses and cars with her any time soon. also? you always tell me to be careful of everyone who enters this store. i get that they’re a group of ... special people, but doesn’t that make you one, too?” she chuckles softly, shaking her head as she goes back to the last page she’d been reading. “you’re working here, after all. you gave into my aunt’s sales talk and found yourself stuck here with me.” she’s quiet for a bit after that, finishing the last few sentences on the particular page, before deciding that she’s done for the day. maybe she should start helping out with whatever deidre is doing. “what’s your deal with her, anyway?” she asks, joining the other near the crystals. “you seem... particularly – uh – more disapproving of her.”

deidre sorted through various crystals and gems, organizing them by colour and purpose on the shelf. for the most part, deidre is unfazed – things don’t bother her, and she’s used to living by her own rules, but with frances it’s different. in this particular circumstance there is no magic at play but deidre felt as though she owed frances a debt perpetrated by a spellful bond. she was eager, which promptly caused her to give in to her own curiosity and desire to keep frances safe. “andy came in the store the other day. i think she was looking for you, but she ended up having a chat with me.” she stated flatly, then twisted an amethyst crystal so its more polished side faced outwards.”i thought i told you to be careful around her. there’s just something off about her, okay?” deidre could only hope her intentions read clearly. she knew that she was treading dangerous waters by acting protective, but it was her duty. @torcst

[torcst-blog]

devilwcman‌:

      vernon was certainly an odd place, since her dead lover was standing mere feet away from her. andy’s humanity might have been shut off, but she felt rage. and in her rage, she knew, there was grief. why did you take your life? when i pulled the mask away, was the monster so terrible then? well, she is now. but words like that fell on deaf ears.      

      people mistaking others. a hint. the original vampire was not an idiot, after all. how could frances not be francesca though? here she was: raven-haired, pale skin, plump limps, green eyes. a witch. there was no way in seven hells the woman standing before her wasn’t the woman she had loved to death - most literally.      

      even when frances’ attention was elsewhere, andy couldn’t peel her gaze away. the one person in her life that sent her fast and hard down the rabbit hole. the only person she was ever, completely, truly, weak for. and vulnerability was not in a vampire’s best interest. especially not an original, whose enemies stacked in mile-long piles after the death toll she had racked up. you’re put off by my behavior. you’re being sarcastic. i can’t blame you.

      but she didn’t say anything of the sort. “i think i get the point,” she replied with a sheepish laugh, a hand placed purposely behind her neck. scrunching her nose, she smiled, “i got the wrong person, didn’t i?” play it off as easy as any human would, andy, and maybe you could figure out what the fuck is actually going on. or murder the woman who could be playing her a fool. “i’m sorry,” the blonde said, sobering up, “it’s just- you look so much like a…friend i used to know.”

      friends didn’t get the kind of reaction you gave her. “someone i fell out of touch with. she lived in europe, so it was weird thinking she could’ve up and moved so soon to vernon of all places.” rolling her eyes, conveying as casual tone as she could muster, andy refocused her teal blues on seafoam greens. “clearly my eyes could use the help, so i’ll take a bottle of that…squatted deer…herbs?” she had heard exactly what frances said, but she figured a joke could ease the mortal woman into better company. or a more pliable one. 

                      it was a little unnerving, standing before this fascinating specimen as it bore its eyes into her very soul - at least, it felt like it. some other person might have buckled under the weight of her stare, mumbled some excuse to go back behind the counter and get away from her very inquisitive eyes, but not frances. not in her own home. this was her territory, to put it simply, and whoever she was, all brave and thick-faced, coming in her aunt's store, spitting shit - accusations - at her — well, frances didn't give a single fuck for succumbing to her. 

                       frances was still glad for the woman's remorse, and it was enough to calm her down; to feel a little less alert. for now, she ignored the fact that there was someone out there who looked like her and turned around to seek the relative safety of her space behind the counter. 

                       placing the vial down on the countertop, she gathered the usual packaging materials, unable to help the soft, little chuckle from leaving her lips as she put everything together for her one and only customer. "squash skin, deer's tear and exotic herbs," she repeated, indulging the woman's seemingly clueless state. "my aunt made it - all of them, really." she pointed at the shelves where all potions were displayed, smiling knowingly at the blonde. "though, i wouldn't be surprised if they're just a bunch of alcoholic beverages mixed in little bottles. i mean, it's 2019, and yet, people still think that supernatural beings exist." 

                       she rolled her eyes just as she's tying the last ribbon around the vial's short neck, placing it carefully near the edge of the counter, before clasping her hands beneath her stomach. "that'll be twenty dollars. don't ask me why it's expensive. apparently, it's very effective and the efforts given into collecting these ingredients should be paid off."

[torcst-blog]

a burst of barely audible laughter spilled from frances’ lips as she traced the rim of her own glass, suddenly missing the presence of scotch in them now that the fact that she needed more had been brought up. now, she wasn’t one for refusing kind offers, so she ordered a new glass of her favorite drink and turned to her new company with a muted, yet still grateful smile. “won a case, you said? a lawyer, then. what brought you to the little bar, when you could be comfortable in a booth?”

“Now you look like someone who could use a drink,” Contessa chuckled, as she gracefully slid into a seat a the bar, “I just won my case this morning, so I’m feeling pretty chipper– next one on me?” she offered, turning towards the person beside her, tossing them the slightest of winks.

[torcst-blog]

originalqueens‌:

     noel was worried about this, but she laughed it off as much as she could when everyone was running about. “JUST ACT NORMAL! you can DO THAT!” she calls out and looks out the window to see her friend pulling up in the driveway. sighing, she shakes her head and grips onto the door-handle and pulls it open as soon as the doorbell rang. “hello, frances… come in. don’t… mind the crazies. it’s a bit crowded this evening.”

     the older witch gives her husband a look before she’s guiding the other female into the kitchen. “do you prefer tea or coffee? i also have wine, but i didn’t know if you wanted that since you have to drive back to town afterwards.” noel would ask her if she wanted to spend the night under different circumstances, honestly, because they had enough room.

                  outside, the area was quiet. only the chirping of the birds and the rustling of leaves as they danced to the wind’s music could be heard but — frances paused, squinting as she looked up the tall door. was that... noel?

                  she didn’t have much time to think about it as the door opened to reveal her friend from behind its massive frame. “hey,” she greeted on behalf of noel, who seemed to be too uncalm -- a word frances thought she’d never associate with her. “i’d appreciate coffee right now more than anything. this chilly weather’s making me drowsy all the time.” she removed her scarf and jacket as she crossed the threshold, shivering briefly before adjusting to the temperature inside the house — the ridiculously, massive house. “wow... how many people do you have in here? this is insane.”

[torcst-blog]

                 frances should have thought it weird from the very moment noel said she lived in the outskirts of town. then again, what was wrong with that? she’d once dreamed of leaving vernon too, but family ties and responsibilities weighed heavier than anything else. at one point, she did let go of her ambitions of having a small, little house surrounded by tall trees and beautiful flowers. now, as she stood before the very manifestation of that ambition, she wasn’t sure why she thought it was even a good idea. 

                   “oh, god, i am so rude,” she mumbled to herself as she stopped by the front door, taking a few seconds to gather herself, before reaching up to press the doorbell. 

@originalqueens

[torcst-blog]

             frances bade her goodbyes to mr. drew as he turned to leave the store, heaving out a soft sigh for finally being alone in the quaint space again. her days were slow for the most part, and it was something frances was always thankful for. she’s working in a halloween store, after all, and business would usually only pick up during the halloween season or at night when tourists were more susceptible to believing things that go bump at night.

             it’s still a silly thought, but aside from her books, the store was all she had. if she had to talk about vampire blood and witch hair mixed in a vial to a vengeful ex, then she would — which was why she had a smile ready to grace her face when another person came into her shop, only for it to drop gradually as they spoke to her as if they’d known her for years or more.

              way too familiar for frances’ comfort.

              “things are doing well,” she started slowly, eyes narrowing slightly as she placed two vials back on the shelf. “you see, vernon is an odd place. people usually mistook other people for someone they know, but i still love it. it has its charms, like little trinkets and books of spells and potions that could help...” she trailed off, taking her moment to scan through the labels wrapped around the little bottles, before picking up and continuing, “...you see a little more clearly.”

               she took the bottle, faced the honestly unpleasant, albeit gorgeous, woman, and smiled. “grated squash skin, a deer’s tear, and some unnamed herbs found in the middle of nowhere. that should help you realize that i am not whoever you thought i was, miss.” 

   Eyes sharp and narrowed, the vampire watched as her old lover paced the store - finding whatever product her newest customer had inquired about. 

   But it couldn’t BE her could it? The image of her body, once full of life and then so painfully hollow, haunted Andy’s mind in ways she had not fathomed over the centuries. Turning off her humanity had been the cure to the disease. Grief. Who knew an Original could feel things so intensely she wished not to feel anything at all?

   Frances, she heard the customer call her. Is that what you’re going by now? Fists unfurled as Andy took the counted steps to the store, passing by said customer just as he was leaving. Good. Gave them time alone to address their demons. 

   “I never expected to find you here in Vernon, of all places.” Her words were smooth but deadly - like a glass dagger pointed in the brunette’s direction. Or a snake whose skin had peeled and peeled and peeled, and its scales practically glowed. “Not that I expected to find you anywhere, really. How are things, mm?”

@torcst

[torcst-blog]

         frances lives in a small apartment above her aunt’s store.          she loves small spaces because, weirdly enough, it makes her feel          safe if she’s close to solid things.          is there an antonym for claustrophobic? that would be her.

[torcst-blog]

katie mcgrath, cisfemale, she/her, witch, storekeeper. | i think i spotted frances quinn out in the town square. isn’t that the thirty three year old who’s been around vernon her entire life? from what i see they seem to be fairly accommodating and loyal but they can also be very impatient and skeptical. when i see them i think of potions, deep forests and earthy smell of old books. 

erright erright. lol that was lame. anyways, hello! i’m han (22, gmt, she/her) and this is my trash, frances. i haven’t seen a lot of supernatural shows, but i’m very confident to aNNOUNCE that i have seen three seasons of The Originals before i stopped when they announced the very early end of it. we were robbed. shame. it was better than tvd. pls don’t kill me. okay, on to this trash.

she’s born and raised in vernon, but her fam actually originated from some place in ireland. they didn’t necessarily stay there forever. her ancestors were a bunch of tourists... who’d stay in one place for a couple of years or so, leave descendants everywhere.... yeah, that kind of fam. just spreading the love everywhere. 

i’m not gonna go into full details regarding the witchy stuff of her fam, but basically, she belongs to a family of powerful witches, a little, very personal coven of their own. nameless, though, just to be a little safer.

aaaaaaaanyways, at one point, francesca, one of the witches that basically keeps the balance of their coven’s power, committed suicide, hence causing an imbalance and basically causing havoc in their little coven because wtf, francesca, why. over a vamp, really? it’s not as easy as recruiting a new witch, too, bc who would have the same mastery/strength as an Elder witch (aka francesca) so wtf @ francesca.

erright, so the general idea is, they got her body, but they need her power to restore the balance, so they didn’t put her body to rest just yet. they cast some freaky spell that allows her body to remain as it did from the moment she died, which then also allows her power to be stuck in there somewhere. 

so, over the years, they tried and tried to incorporate her powers into every descendant born in her family. it was not an easy task, obviously, as it took them centuries before finally succeeding to incorporate the power in lil babe frances. it was only then that they finally put francesca’s body to rest and buried her in a cemetery just outside of vernon.

for fear of history being repeated, the elders in her coven cast a cloaking spell on frances, not only on her existence/whereabouts but also the power inside her. it doesn’t necessarily erase it. it’s there. it’s present. it keeps the balance, as it should, but cloaking it resulted in frances reaching the age of thirty-three without her power manifesting ever. their coven doesn’t really have enemies who could hunt them down, but they’re witches. people will always have ulterior motives once they find out they’re witches, so they basically hid frances among the supernatural beings (logic, amiright) to lessen the chances of her dying because of reasons other than old age.

so she’s an oblivious bean. she currently works as a storekeeper for her aunt’s hex shop. it’s nothing as big as du pon’s, obviously, but they basically sell the same things, and frances thinks it’s just a gig lol. like, she’s watching over a store where people could go buy potions and spell books during halloween. well, she’s wrong af. 

oblivious bean actually wants to be a reader for a publishing company. whatever that job is called (ref to about time, 2013; kudos to those who know that movie). simply because she loves books and reads a bunch of them. she tried reading some grimoires in the shop, but didn’t last long and placed it back in the shelf bc pft witches don’t exist. 

sure, jan.

anyway, she can’t because her fam insists that she should stay in vernon and just watch over their little shop and they’re rich bc of old money and she doesn’t have to work and all that. 

we all know why, tho. 

okay soooooooo. there’s that. i know. too long. whatevs. I HAVEN’T GOT A LIST OF CONNECTIONS I WANT, BUT JUST KNOW THAT SHE’S HELLA GAY AND WOULD LOVE SOME EX GFS. lol. or a best friend. or a gal pal. she’s not that picky. 

but jokes aside, if someone’s willing to take up the role of her aunt, hmu. we can discuss more about their connection. her aunt will back to vernon once frances’ powers manifest bc her aunt will feel it lbr. all the way from australia, let’s just say. she loves going aroun the world.