antoinettefms

[antoinettefms]

before antoinette could even say anything, elodie has dragged her away from potentially, unwantedly being heard by people who shouldn't be hearing whatever has happened to potentially a few of them. it immediately gives her the impression that the younger mcneil knew something, and hopefully, she's got answers than more questions, because the dancer was starting to really get sick of it. "y-yeah, i did..." she eyes the business card in elodie's hand that was pressed against her chest, prompting her to fish the one she got out of her pocket.

"what did you get?" antoinette couldn't resist but ask, wondering what item of kayla's her sister has gotten, besides the business card of whatever the fuck the eternal brotherhood is, whoever those people are who took those bowling alley employees and kayla. could this be a sign that she was still alive? antoinette didn't want to think any other possibilities than that. kayla is alive, she should be, she hopes that she is. "i'm planning to meet alfie tonight." she tells the other. "i'm also thinking of who else has possibly received anything other than us." she looks at the card in her hand again, frustrated that this situation had only pushed them just ask even more questions. "wait...have you told anyone else, or it's just...us, right now?"

elodie's nostrils flared in response, lowering the metaphorical weapon she had been holding towards the other and, instead, threading her arms across her chest. she released a hefty sigh, glaring off past toni's shoulder, trying to plot an escape route to get out of this conversation but also realizing that . . . maybe it needed to happen. she was trying to show everyone she was the superior mcneil, shouldn't that notion extend to her sister's friends ?? even the ones that gave her headaches ?? " let me guess, " elodie mused, lowering her voice, grabbing the other's arm and tugging her to the side and around the corner so they weren't blocking the entrance to the bar ( or in a position to be easily eavesdropped ).

glancing around, elodie then reached into her sister's breast pocket, withdrawing the card that had come with the little gift SHE received that morning. the very jacket in which she wore despite the glaring summer heat burning through the dark, denim material. " you get one of these with it ?? " elodie inquired, pressing the card to the other's sternum using pointer and middle, as if trying to pierce through flesh and snap the bone lying beneath. kayla's boot . . . ?? what the fuck were they doing, just giving out her clothes ?? " whoever sent us this shit, they know where she is. how else would they have gotten her fucking clothes ?? if you got something . . . and i got something . . . others had to have gotten boxes too, right ?? have you talked to anyone about this besides me ?? "

[antoinettefms]

"i know, i know..." of course, antoinette knew how this goes, though sometimes, she just couldn't help but play with fire when it comes to audrey, threaten to touch a certain button they're told not to press, though she wouldn't dare to. it was just...the thrill of it. "i can erm...finish counting these, and maybe, can we go up to your office?" antoinette looks up at her boss, giving her these big, innocent doe eyes, as if they weren't hiding any agenda to as why she was being like this. "please?"

"And I know that you know that being out of the floor in booth where just about anyone can see us, is not the place for that line of thinking." Audrey wasn't an idiot, she could see what was happening here, what path Toni was currently going down, but she also knew that getting too close to any of her dancers would start rumors that she had no energy to try and dissuade them. "Now, if you want to finish this conversation later, in my office, that might be something I can make time for."

[antoinettefms]

"percy, do i need to remind you that i do prefer either people my age or older that me? because you don't fit in either of those categories, babe." antoinette uses the pet name on him this time, just to soften the blow. though she couldn't help but hide her concern at what he's just witnessed moments before this. she's heard whispers, of how everything just went down, and could only imagine the horrors they're going to live with for the rest of their lives. "alright, we're going to have drinks, nothing else, percy. that's all i can do for you, then...maybe, just maybe, find someone who's got the hots for you as you have for them, maybe?"

“Eventually you’ll get tired of this act, I’ve seen the way you pretend not to look at me.” Percy smirked at her. He was entertained by their back and forth, though it usually got him no where — it was always fun. “Unfortunately — you think you’re going to have a fun night out and instead you find yourself on google trying to figure out how to get the smell of burnt flesh out of your nose.” His face scrunched up at the thought, it’d taken several days. “Kind of a mood killer.” He frowned dramatically, the expression only growing as she dismissed him. “On the contrary, everything going on right now is why it’s the perfect time for shenanigans.”

[antoinettefms]

audrey has this kind of presence that just sends shudders to antoinette's spine whenever they get to be this close, it was a feeling that gives her this pull, perhaps especially whenever they're at the den, where inhibitions are gone, at least for the dancer herself, and she just feels...freer to give in to such presence. "audrey..." antoinette pouts, fluttering her eyes at the club owner. "i know that you know what i meant when i asked you that question..."she whispers, gaze flickering between audrey's eyes and lips, in a way, testing the waters, how the older woman would react.

Audrey could send the way she moved closer, the air warm between them the longer she sat with her at the booth. There had always been and would always be some tension there, the woman was used to that and the effect she often had but she also wasn't shying away from it. Maybe not the smartest move but Audrey was a selfish woman, not an incredibly intelligent one. "Yourself, Toni....via the club, of course." Audrey mused with a smirk, leaning back in the booth as she crossed her legs.

[antoinettefms]

"i know, i know, i'm just--that's the bet way i can describe how tonight went..." antoinette giggled along the club owner, moving close this time, her thigh now resting on top of the other whilst they continued to speak. it was almost rare to have nights like this, not deal with people think that they can just touch whatever or whoever it was in front of them. though, one word from the dancers, from antoinette, and audrey just knows how to deal with it. "yeah?" she couldn't resist but bite her lower lip, staring at audrey, studying her features, somehow an attempt to read her thoughts. "and who...to who does this belong to, audrey?" she whispers, taking a deep breath as she waits for her response."

"Buy me a drink? You know I own this place, right?" Audrey pointed out with a laugh, knowing that people loved to come in here and buy her drinks as though that would curry some kind of favor. Not that Toni needed to worry about that since she was already a part of the team. But she appreciated the offer. "Good, good it's going well. People have been getting bold recently." As though anything going on in this town excused bad behavior at her club. "And I don't like when people think they can touch what isn't theirs."

[antoinettefms]

the news didn't help the worry antoinette already was having which was amplified by the package she's found outside her apartment a couple of days ago. she's always had the business card with her, the eternal brotherhood, the quote, the initials, how could she use it all to connect the dots, and find the answers to everyone's question this whole time, where all these missing people are, where kayla is, if she was still alive, antoinette was still holding on to that hope. she was walking by the coffee shop, toying with the said card in hand, with her thoughts being cut off by a familiar voice, crumpled paper rolling by her feet. the dancer couldn't help but look, bellamy, despite their history, she never stopped caring for the other, even from afar. staring longer than she should, she realizes that she was trying to figure this all out as she was. "where uhm...what've you covered so far? i mean, when it comes to your research?" she couldn't resist but ask. "i'm sorry, i--i'm trying to figure this out myself, too."

status: open [ @helltownhqstarters ] location: rook coffee [ outdoor table ]

Bellamy's thoughts were racing faster than her hands could tap against the keyboard of her laptop. "What the fuck..." She whispered aloud as she stared at the screen, the envelope she received tucked safely under the notebook she brought along with her. "This doesn't make any sense..." She continued, ripping out a page and crumpling it up in her hands. Her mother had been missing since she got back into town and the blonde would be lying if she said it hadn't been on her mind — among other things, but she couldn't wrap her head around all these people randomly disappearing. It was clear Bellamy was frustrated, especially now with an the mail she'd received — she needed to know what happened.

[antoinettefms]

[antoinettefms]

just visiting. that's what antoinette was doing when she finds herself coming to the bowling alley. she wondered why and how the business still kept running despite of...those employees that went missing. the dancer contemplated even coming here in the first place, knowing its history these past couple of years, regardless of the fact that this used to be the place she spent some time in with her friends, back when everyone was...still here. somehow she realizes she was standing in front of one of the lanes as she was deep in her thoughts, when a voice snaps her out of it. "oh...i'm just..." what was she doing here anyway? killing time, recalling memories, maybe looking for something that can help with kayla? where were they going to go from those couple of days ago? "i'm really, really bad at playing." she lets out a light chuckle, shaking her head. "though i am curious." she says in a attempt to distract herself from her own thoughts, focusing on the man before her. "what happens if you win?"

LOCATION: bowling alley

FOR: anyone! @helltownhqstarters

Sometimes when he's bored, he likes to go to the bowling alley to have some fun. But it's not always that he can find someone to go with him. He did have plenty of friends, he was an easygoing person, and he was far from shy, so it was easy for him to get to know people and to get close to them, but it wasn't always that they were free, however, that didn't stop him from going alone. He had just got a strike, and noticed someone else who was also alone in the alley by his side, "Hey, you're up for a challenge?" he smiled widely, "If you win, I will pay for whatever drink and food you want to eat," he offered his hand for the other to shake in case they were up for it. He was enjoying himself, but he really wanted something a little harder and more exciting, and that would work just fine.

[antoinettefms]

"no. you're the first person i've talked to." and perhaps one of the few people she trusts most right now. as far as she knows, she and alfie got the boots, and it wouldn't be impossible for more people to get other things of what she believes are kayla's, she just wondered who else got a package outside of them homes. "do you think kayla would be working with whoever the eternal brotherhood is?" knowing kayla, would she have any reason to work under said group willingly? "if that's the case...i don't think she'd be doing it voluntarily. and if she is...what message are they are trying to send us?" it felt like as if they opened a bigger can of worms this time, instead of getting answers, they just got more questions. "i'm honestly...just waiting, who else got something. who else do you think got something besides us?" she says as she thinks of the people who possibly had something of kayla at their doorstep, too. "i don't have a good feeling about this, alfie."

"No, have you? "Alfie shook his head, his ever-changing irises softening into a deep blue in the dim lighting of the gentlemen's club. It was his truth. He hadn't spoken with anyone about the package, at least not yet anyway. That, and he didn't have any reason to lie to Antoinette despite their past turmoil, let alone any answers for her. Just a sickening feeling that welled in the pit of his abdomen, urging him that now was time to take action. "You think Kay, might have been involved with them or worked with them... this brotherhood..." Alfie trailed, glancing down at the card again, the words tasting foul on his tongue. "Might not be a bad idea to see if any of her other friends or family got shit like this, too. Maybe they might know more."

[antoinettefms]

antoinette couldn't help but be extra vigilant as of late, always looking behind her back more than she used to, especially with what she has gone home to a few mornings ago. her trust for everyone was at a threat, especially with how getting more serious than even this is. even at the grocery, she has been watching her back, maybe a little too much that she almost bumps into someone--someone who knew her more than anyone else, someone who knew the truth past her denial if he was to ask if she was okay.

"mhmm...whatever you say, vicente." she hides her worry underneath her smile, slightly teasing the other, a tiny bit of hope within her hoping he doesn't notice anything different at all. "i was just doing some groceries for the next couple of days--i've been busy..." her eyes lands on the last thing he puts in his basket. "those again? vic..."

LOCATION: grocery store ?? FOR: @antoinettefms

He'd run in to get a few things for dinner, tired of all the fast food he'd been eating lately, all of his free time spent on connecting clues that didn't seem to exist. The more time that passed, the more desperate Vicente was to figure this out; the person behind all of this, they were likely to strike again, soon, and he needed to figure out how to be in the right place at the right time... or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on how people looked at it. Dropping the last item in his basket, a pack of chow mein noodles, he turned to find himself face to face with his ex. For a moment he just stared, unsure what to say. "I... swear I'm not stalking you." Maybe not that.

[antoinettefms]

antoinette had decided to take some a couple days offsince that morning , thinking that maybe it was a good idea that she does it, that it had the potential to affect other aspects in her life. she had to think, perhaps, focus on the card she received along with kayla's boot, what it could mean and how it is connected with kayla missing. though, tonight is the only time she decides to take a break, not wanting to push herself to her limit, not seeing it yet, understanding how all was just tied with each other.

as she sits down on the couch, she hears a knock. the dancer isn't really expecting any visitors, resulting to her being so cautious at first, which is something one cannot blame her for, especially with what has been going on lately. but that feeling changes the second she sees who was standing outside her apartment. " brax--" she stops, noticing how inebriated he is. she immediately, gently grabs him by his arm and takes him inside. "braxton..." she says his name this time, figuring out which question felt right to ask. "let's sit you down, okay? talk to me."

LOCATION: antoinette's FOR: @antoinettefms

He wasn't sure where else to go. Braxton felt like his (already quite small) list of people on his side in this town was dwindling, and he had no one outside of town to reach out to, either. There was his sister, but he hated to bother her when she was busy, to bring her down with him. It was only fair one of them escape the angst that life had thrown at them. Knocking, Braxton stumbled half a step back, his gaze falling to his shoes as he waited for an answer, unsure if it was better she wasn't home but desperately needing her to be. He felt guilty, for going to Kayla's friend, guilty that it wasn't the first time, but he felt worse about being alone. A rare day off from the bar, he was already past tipsy, and surely drinking himself into oblivion in his living room was a worse idea than this.

[antoinettefms]

perhaps it wasn't helping at all, the pacing antoinette had been doing all morning, still thinking about the things she and her friends have received, where could the minds of whoever these people are leading them too? was this kind of a sick game? somehow, either maybe setting them up, or luring them into a trap where kayla had been. is she...is she still... her thoughts were then interrupted by a knock on her door. maybe, in some funny, sick way, this was making her throw all the awkwardness out of the window with people whom she used to spend time with in this town until most of them left, leaving her behind. "yeah, uuhh...come in." she lets amara inside her apartment, leading her to her kitchen. "now...what did you get?" shouldn't help but ask. "and you got the same card too, right? is there anything else?"

LOCATION: antionette's apartment.

FOR: @antoinettefms

despite their awkward reunion; when amara received a box with kayla's jeans in it the first person she texted was toni. she didn't reveal why she wanted to meet but something told amara the she didn't have too. this felt like a stupidly dangerous thing to do but she was done feeling crazy. she came back to helltown to find comfort after kayla's disappearance not be a crime suspect. any hope that kayla was still alive was dwindling when she received the package. shoving the jeans into a ziplock bag and into her bag she found herself almost running towards toni's apartment. knocking impatiently, knowing damn well she looked like a crazy person right now. when the door opened, amara took in a small breath, trying to offer a friendly smile despite the anxious weight in her stomach. "mind if i come in?"

[antoinettefms]

"so...we've got these fucking boots...did you talk to anyone else besides me?" antoinette couldn't help but ask, curious about what alfie knows. not one would expect for a situation like this would have their awkwardness thrown out of the window to figure out what's happened to kayla, but...here they are. given with what's happening to this town, should one really be surprised? "the eternal brotherhood...what kind of sick fuckery is this..." she lets out a huge sigh, of course it's a question that remained in antoinette's mind the whole day. "do you have any idea what could that...i don't know, that card means?" she knew of kayla's escapades with her work, but only understood of it a little. though, at this point...it looks like she was going to be forced to really learn.

"I know. I know. I got one, too." Alfie explained, cool, calm, and collected as he slid into the booth beside his old friend. A deep breath pulled between his lips while he nodded along. Leave it to Kayla to get them talking again even from beyond wherever the hell she was. "Did yours come with this, too?" He continued, pulling the business card he couldn't seem to let out of his sight from his pocket. There was an odd sense of comfort in knowing that he wasn’t the only one who had received such a mysterious package this morning, and he leaned in towards her to compare notes. "Seems like a place to start."

[antoinettefms]

"i did, elodie! i swear on my mom's soul i tried. but when you're someone who has their walls fuckin' up, do you really think i can go through that?" antoinette takes another deep breath, she wanted to stay calm, not match elodie's state, as it would just make things worse. the dancer didn't want to press it on anymore, though it seemed like it was too late, in the end, she just decided to be on the receiving end of elodie's tirade, perhaps too exhausted to defend herself, antoinette just lets it happen. "wish i tried harder, but i really did my best, i'm doing my fuckin' best with everyone, elodie. so don't--" she stops herself once more. "just don't."

"i came home to something that was left outside my door this morning, it's--" she lets another deep breath out, staring at the younger woman this time, as she continues to speak with a hushed tone. "they left her boot for some reason." she explains, now with her arms crossed. "and i just want to know what the actual fuck is going on."

" don't call me that, " elodie snapped, biting the tail ends of antoinette's words with a venomous his; EL was a reserved nickname. for people elodie actually liked. . . which was a small and dwindling list, at this point. at all points, really. adjusting her bag on her shoulder, practically standing guard at the bar's door, the last thing she wanted was for toni to go in there and shit talk elodie to braxton. call her crazy, question her aggression, make a comment about her attitude. toni could go join kayla for all the younger cared.

" YOU'VE have a long night ?? " elodie pressed, disbelief in her expression, a mocking laugh sounding past grin-split petals as she shook her head. " seriously, you're unbelievable. i can't believe you're telling me, ME, that you've had a long night. for fuck sakes. . . then to follow it up saying you tried to talk to me ?? please. . . " the amusement fell, face turning to stone, stepping forward to lessen the distance in hopes the other could hear the fury-fed pulse of her heart. " well, you might as well spit it out, " elodie quipped, patience as thin as the space remaining between them. " you've already said enough stupid shit in the last minute, so what's another stupid thing ?? "

[antoinettefms]

antoinette honestly couldn't blame elodie reacting to her this way, come to think about it, her sister has been missing for months, and as someone who just wanted her sibling in her life, she somehow knew how it felt. "el, listen--" she was then cut off by her words. perhaps she was wrong that elodie had received something of kayla as she did, too. though, why wouldn't she? she is her sister, for fuck's sake. she did her best to listen to every single word that the younger mcneil has uttered, even though it has been clouded by the thoughts that have invaded her mind all most.

"i'm sorry, okay?" she pinches the bridge of her nose as she takes a deep breath, eyes shut tight. "i had a long night..." she admits, though holding herself back from what could've been the reason that she was still up and on her feet when she should be resting, given that she had been out almost the whole night. "us not talking for months weren't exactly my choice, el. trust me when i say i tried to talk to you." though she didn't really know how to approach it, elodie, so antoinette just gave up, somehow. "i was going to ask something, but...nevermind, s'probably stupid."

elodie stared at toni, her wide and borderline dumb-struck gaze framed by a swirl of deep violet and burgundy staining her under eyes. the younger couldn't remember the last time she slept; plagued by paranoia and borderline psychosis as she spent more time pacing back and forth across her and kayla's formerly shared apartment, thinking about all the way things could go wrong should she either find her sister, or not. seeing toni, as beautiful as ever, only seemed to deepen her hatred for the other . . . and her hatred for the way the elder was looking at her.

" please don't tell you what, exactly ?? " elodie pressed, playing dumb. there was no chance the other recognized the fact she was wearing her sister's jacket . . . and not just any jacket but, the one she had gone missing in. in some odd way; it made her feel closer to her ( as did wearing everything else in her closet . . . ). at least, that's what she'd tell other people. " you don't talk to me for months and the first thing out of your mouth when you bump into me is an interrogation ?? for fuck sakes, toni — i got a lot going on right now, okay , i don't need whatever theatrics you're about to hurl at me. "

[antoinettefms]

♡ samantha logan via tiktok ( samanthalogan )

[antoinettefms]

LOCATION: the hellcat's den FOR: alfie maddock @legcndsnvrdie

"they've got to be fuckin' with all of us." antoinette says the second alfie sat in the booth with her. she had been distracted by it the whole day, though she had been trying her best not to let it get to work. she knew she had to talk to someone though, tell them what she had gone home to this morning. alfie seemed to be the best option, as he could help her out with how to approach all this. "i...got this thing this morning, her--" she pauses to hush her voice. "one of kayla's boots, and some other things...i don't--i don't know what to do."