jofms

[jofms]

these past few years had felt entirely bizarre to the woman. josette had always been well-off, a child born into a family that had enough money that her parents didn't know what to do with it and even still - she had ended up like this. the blatant ignorance to their daughter's behaviours that exhibited mental illness had caused her to supress, to make sure it was embedded deep down until the pressure had been so much, it had resurfaced so much worse than before. maybe her mother had a point about her, how she'd always ridicule her in front of every partner she'd brought home yet that was insecurity talking... that was what was apparently talking now as the other stared at her wine selection, josette knowing full well it wasn't the best of the best and yet... she had tried to defend it. "if you're not talking about wine, you're not talking about croquettes." an eyebrow raised and them as she attempted to shrug off something. "i'm okay, thank you for asking. though, that's what you'd expect." the to and from therapy and work was sending her dizzy, just as this keeping up appearances act she'd adopted seemed to do as well. "there is always a lot, it's a lot-" that i caused... suddenly amelia was in her head as everyone had seemed to just move on from it all. "you know - why don't i upgrade the wine, seen as you're joining me." josette smiled, shrugged and her eyebrows raised without a care in the world - it wasn't like her losing money actually mattered now. no doubt if she was ever broke, her mother would give to her as she withheld what she'd need most... "what's your choice?"

IF THERE WAS ONE ASPECT OF ZELIHA THAT could be agreed upon that made the podcaster such a fit for their career, it was their severe unwillingness to never once hesitate over their unrelenting determination in getting whatever answers they could. Their insistence pushed to being a flaw, as the string of personal relationships that didn't receive the same level of importance in comparison could prove nor the missing finger they were sporting instead of the ten majority of others had. And yet, the brunette couldn't say they regret any of it, as their podcast was flourishing despite the lack of internet and partially thanks to the radio station. "Everyone always does boast about having a house wine that's more impressive than most, and yet," They'd stick to their pricy bottles where they knew exactly what they were getting; as much as Zeliha tried to distance themself, figuratively and physically, from their mother as much as possible, the ability to subtly yet casually pass judgement with one's words was a clear pass down from the parent they hated the most. There was a plethora of places to initially begin to prod when it came to Josette, that much wasn't lost on them, and almost had the normally so self assured investigator pausing in between their words. "I'm not here to talk about the wine, though. Actually, it's their croquettes de courgettes that always have me returning but that's here nor there." Gingerly, their hands came together in their lap to intertwine their own fingers, pleasantly looking over the table at the woman they knew commonly from the research they were familiar with, but on a more personal level as the person who had, at once, had their godson, quote unquote, "kidnapped," if only for a couple hours. "How have you been lately? So much going on in this town, as always."

[jofms]

josette hadn't helped her image when she had quickly unravelled - she'd tried hard to get herself just the right amount of calm, enough to hold down her job well until heejin had said goodbye to her as a friend, for forever - then eliana followed and she... was a murder suspect? it hadn't been the first time since something like this happened, when josette had been there, been one of the last ones to see someone - it had been the same when she'd rejected her own daughter. however, the woman never expected to become a murder suspect. eliana was someone who was really trying to hold her up, that never complained about her turning up when she needed support (she knew it was better than the alternative) yet people would jump to conclusions... see her as capable of something like that. perhaps she was...

'That the kind of shit that my old man was into?' it echoed around in her mind. he had liked to see her upset - it was easier for him to swoop in the make her quit her head of department role out of town when she'd had doubts, to comfort a struggling young professional who thought she was out of her depth; matthew alcott required that for their relationship. towards the end, he'd loaded her with alcohol and what was the end result every time? she was upset. it had always been there within her it had just never been addressed and somehow had got so, so much worse as the years went on. "and like him, you enjoy it." her eyes narrowed as she stared towards cyrek. "i've not-" she shut her eyes as she took a deep breath and shook her head. "i've done a lot of things i'm not proud of, not proud of in the slightest but i did not kill eliana. she was kind, the only one that-" tears filling her eyes, josette shook her head.

She looked at him as if she'd seen a ghost — and at once, he hated it. If he had better excuse, he would have torn her to shreds without a second thought and demanded that she should leave. Maybe it would be tolerable, a hundred different times a hundred different ways he had been compared to the spitting image of a sibling he'd never met, that they shared exacting features down to the mismatched set of eyes. One was a fruit and the other a poisonous pit. That perhaps, he'd managed to give Caleb every scrape of noxious cells and share it, or maybe the brine they'd grown in was too toxic and overflowing, because one wasn't there now and the other had tried a thousand methods to take the road most traveled and follow after. But she wasn't looking at him because he looked exactly like Caleb Alcott — she was looking at him like he had his father's eyes, and his mother's bleeding heart.

It made him fucking sick.

The drink stuttered when he plonked it down on the counter after making it, and he probably could've managed it with his eyes closed; the sight of her crescendo of tears didn't inundate him with contrite or masochistic pleasure, just contempt. "Y'know, you got a knack for makin' a bad look for yourself, then you got those doe eyes like you expect sympathy. That the kind of shit that my old man was into?" Ech. He didn't really give a shit. He didn't care to know Matthew. Heather's playbook of horrors was satisfactory that he wasn't missing out on a damn thing, and that it wouldn't be any different than the step-father he'd already suffered over growing up. A fresh piece of celery laden in the drink, he occupied himself by wiping down the bar after stuffing the cash into the pocket of his shirt, his mouth pulled into a thin line of barely restrained irritation. "Can't you just... stay out of anythin' that involves my bloody family? My sisters don't get a mum now, 'cause of you. Homewreckin' one family just isn't enough, though, is it?"

[jofms]

josette nodded in agreement, a soft smile gracing her features. there may have been a time when she'd be rather impatient but was attempting to get less worked up about everything. she had been putting the work in to be able to try control her emotions a little better and once she had stopped thinking everything that happened was the end of the world or a punishment, she had begun to move forward. the woman did feel better and she had been dedicated to keeping up a routine that worked for her - though she had to be strict with herself, the positive benefits were undeniable. some days were better than others, that was inevitable but she was determined to move forward so that she could eventually leave here and leave everything behind with it - it wasn't running, people moved all the time.

"fate." she repeated before nodding. "i suppose it has been a while since i've heard it, something i don't really talk about." if everything was up to fate, why was she even trying? "but i suppose it didn't want me to be alone in this moment. eating alone isn't that bad, really, especially when it's a treat and you get to eat some nice, fancy food." a slight chuckle escaped her. "it's hard not to be nervous but i've come to enjoy it. tell me, is there a certain occasion that brought you here tonight?" a brow furrowed as josette leaned in, looking engaged in the conversation.

“the hostess must be new—” the observation rolls off their tongue with the lethargic air of someone too exhausted by the world to feign surprise. the ivy was one of their preferred haunts, a place of quiet indulgence and predictable comforts, where they had long since established a first-name rapport with the hostesses who had endured the whims of the schedule. the fresh ones, however, were afforded a learning curve, an ephemeral grace period before their incompetence became indefensible. a double booking was an inexcusable blunder, though abraxis, ever the master of restraint, swallowed their irritation whole. “though if i had my son, or my significant other with me, i would have asked you to politely seek assistance from a manager.” a measured remark, delivered without inflection, but with the unmistakable weight of unspoken censure. their presence here was, for once, unencumbered—edgar was safely ensconced with his other parent, alice preoccupied with the suffocating demands of work. josette, well… josette was an element of chaos, a fickle current against the stillness of ritual, hardly the sort one invited to share in the quiet solace of a well-prepared meal.

“oh.” the word lands flat, an exhalation of breath more than an expression of interest. fate. abraxis had a complicated relationship with fate, especially in the early years, when the notion of a benevolent force guiding the world felt like a cruel joke at their expense. what mercy, what grace, had ever been extended to them? if fate had a hand in their life, it was the hand of a sadist, pressing its thumb into every tender wound, setting them adrift in misery while others sailed smooth seas. and yet, they had never been the sort to wage war against the inevitable. no, they bore it—again and again, swallowing down that breaking point like bitter medicine. subservient. composed. “when’s the last time you heard it?” the question is perfunctory, a conversational placeholder until he manages to ruin things by asking of matthew's well-being.

they shake their head, this time allowing the faintest trace of sentiment to color their voice, a ghost of something almost—almost—human. “please, join me. i hate eating alone.”

[jofms]

it was all fake, all of it. josette was trying to get better, to get back to where she was before but she would associate her achievements with him and without him, she'd never get back to that point. everything had got far too much and those things should have never happened. she still loved matthew but she was scarred about what he had done to her - yet she would always do best with him by her side. the relationship was far from perfect but comparing it to now was painful because she had missed so much. jo knew it was fucked up, that she shouldn't feel this way after how much he had hurt her, in more ways than one but what made anyone else any different with their comments of ridicule and venom?

the woman couldn't stop her eyes from welling up as the realisation came she was simply pretending - that was what her life was going to be like... "sorry. i've probably had too much wine." she pointed to the bottle as she leaned back on the sitting booth and wiped her eyes. it was a quick dismissal on her part but a greater example of her inner turmoil that truly affected her actions. "the high hopes. maybe i had them once but-" she shrugged as she wiped her tears. "-maybe that's just all they were, back then. definitely not now. can i be honest with you?" she sighed, not really giving room for an answer. "i've not been well in a long time and i don't think i can-" everything in anchorage pushed her in the wrong direction, it didn't help with her negative feelings and only spurred her on. "i want to leave but after i didn't work for over a year, all the money i saved up, well, it's not what it used to be." she shook her head, unsure why she was disclosing it but it was pre-emptive to the other emotional events she would face.

He waved it off being her fault. He already planned on taking some of those responsibilities from her shoulders. In the end, the rancher was perfectly capable of taking himself out from behind the stove, or tucked within the wooden walls of his cabin, and exposing his spirit to the real world. Asking after those he considered to be friends, or even acquaintances; instead, he shut up within himself and believed it to be enough. These days, nothing resonated as enough. He did his best to keep the melancholy from seeping through every day interactions, and being near Josette was one such interaction. The last thing he wished to do was drag her down into the dark lamentations eking throughout his mind.

"Nah, don't worry none about that. We're speaking now, and that's what matters. We'll do better about it in the future." The small sliver of optimism to which he clung included there always being a brand new tomorrow, one where he could try again. "I just glad to hear you have those high hopes. It's not easy to keep the faith." It was a bit easier to lose it, and Dani understood this was something he didn't necessarily have to say aloud. It permeated everything they did; he believed firmly it was part of the reason he and Jo considered each other friends. "I need to get back to getting to everywhere and anywhere. I been stuck in the same two places for months." And it foreshadowed that it might last for other months.

[jofms]

it felt like she was a number one suspect in her mind and no one was willing to give a character testament that said otherwise. how did she sleep through everything? from what she remembered, she was in such a state as the crumbling of her friendships and the realisation of her dead career piled up on her. maybe she had drank, maybe she'd mixed it with meds - she couldn't give a straight answer to that because she didn't know and that was terrifying. josette had been trying so hard to get back on track with a job and regular therapy but she'd somehow landed right in the center of all the tragedies of anchorage. the police were asking questions, treating her like a criminal and it had majorly set her back. everyone would pin everything they had on her if they could - that was her view.

flinching slightly at the sound, josette widened her eyes as they locked on the other. the familiar facial features were haunting but for once she wanted to stand her ground, even if she was breaking. wiping her tears, she averted her eyes and walked towards the bar to take a seat. however, josette wasn't in the space to execute the push back very well no matter how hard she tried. there was a huge part of what had happened that she'd tried to completely shut out because she hoped there was a chance that she'd be with matthew again - everything felt easier with him but she couldn't see how he had eroded her whole being. "bloody mary, please." saying it made her close her eyes and tears roll down her cheeks - the blood bride, willow - amelia, it was all her fault and now the imagery wouldn't stop even through the most mundane establishment set ups. drawing out some cash from her wallet, jo slapped it down on the bar, now a soggy note, but there was a certain intensity in her eyes.

Cyrek was already having a shit evening. For one, the machine that dispensed the ice cream for the Cremia cones was fucked, and considering Stella was the only fucking soul in the bar that knew how to fix it when Khadroma didn't pop in, he had been socking it a few times to try and clobber it back into a working state to no avail. That, and he'd already yelled at a couple dozen of a sports team that had piled in after a hockey game when one of them kept throwing their beer glasses on the ground every time he couldn't hear them, to the point he'd been ignoring them out of pure spite, if he were being honest. Only once he had carved out a moment of actual solitude where he could hear his own, equally unpleasant thoughts pounding the sides of his head from the throbbing fucking headache the awful shift had given him, of course, the last person he really wanted to see ( second-last, maybe, as there was really no contest against Stella's ex ) walked right through the double doors, and the cherry on top, stood there like a bump on a log with a hand on her head.

"Order or get the fuck out, Josette," he reserved no politeness for her, job or no job, snapping his fingers impatiently. What scarce virtue of it he had for the night had been long gone, away out the window with his hope for sneaking out the back for a smoke break. There was no paucity of vitriol in his voice as he threw in for good measure, "You want a Bloody Mary?" No one said he was a nice person, as he was the same person who'd quit jobs after one day before he had children of his own because he couldn't fucking stand management. "C'mon, I don't got all night. I got tables to serve 'cause the only waitstaff just fucked off on me."

[jofms]

it was as if the colour in josette's face had been sucked out at the mention that amelia could be here with her as she was seemingly drinking her sorrows when it was supposed to be an uplifting treat to herself. "unfinished-" the woman was about to interrupt the other but then the last words left her mouth, the words that mentioned him. amelia turning up had certainly been a catalyst for matthew, the reason why he had lost himself in a way he'd never done with josette before and it had left her in a bad physical state and even worse mentally. however, she didn't think that he had ever thought she was his daughter after he had been the one to interact with her first. the woman squinted her eyes; she could have sworn she had just seen the lights of the establishment flicker in their entirety but no one else flinched.

"unfinished business?" was her biological daughter now haunting her because her death had been so extreme and what she could only imagine as horrific? it had taken a second for the younger woman to get her to unravel in the ivy. it no longer felt cosy, it felt like a trap. "don't mention his name, please. people will hear and he'll get upset with me." it was clear that josette was still terrified over his capabilities despite having moments when she wished she was still with him. a chill at the side of her makes her jump but she turned to see nothing. desperate eyes looked back at the unexpected company. "what are her questions?"

Grabbing people's attention in unsavory manners was nothing new to Salem; she'd never touted an immaculate image as prima ballerina, though she could put on a good show to assuage the newsprint that she was suitable for the image that they'd like to project. Fine arts of the dance world were a subject of astute scrutiny, after all. But now she had nothing holding her back — or the gift she had estranged to keep to herself. Salem's thumbs wrestled together as she sat across from the other, a vague smirk resting upon her visage, her eyes darting in the direction of the empty seat as if listening to another unseen party at the table with them. "Well, that's rude to ask when she's sitting here with us, isn't it?"

The inflamed denigration from the other was not paid mind, looking away from the empty space to Josette's hands, saying bluntly, "You won't hurt me." If you know something — "I only know what she's telling me right now. That she has unfinished business with you and... I think his name is Matthew?" Black fingernails tapped against the tabletop, eyes as dark as coal gauging the movements and reactions she was garnering from the former therapist. "I think you probably already know the answers, right?"

[jofms]

as tempting as it was, josette had kept herself away from podcasts and even the newspapers after willow, or amelia, had gone missing. people loved passing off theories as facts and although she had no problem with most of the people that put the ideas forward, they seemed to take issue with her. she would try to be polite as she'd hate someone to be short with her, especially in such a public setting. there had been multiple occasions over the past year where josette leighton had lost it with others out in public, either screaming or completely beside herself but she was trying to face the new year with a new outlook and trying to build back her image. she had once been a respectable and caring professional - she couldn't pin point the exact moment when it had all fallen apart but her demise was slow up until she had fallen and then spiralled down. "the house wine?" she raised her eyebrows. "well, i was by myself she didn't really see the need to try anything different, and to be fair, it's quite a nice house red wine." why was she feeling so embarrassed by it? perhaps it was because this was all simply a facade of hers that she hoped would steer her back onto the right path; if she treated herself as more than then maybe she would start to believe it. "i was going to ask if you wanted a glass but can see now, it isn't quite to your standard." josette brought the glass up to her lips, almost in a defiant nature as she finished it and then topped herself up.

WHILE IT WAS OBVIOUS FROM THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSION that their interests leaned towards all things unexplained, mysterious, and, as some would say, spooky, their lifestyle boasted a juxtaposing preference for the finer things in life. In times like the current when they were struggling to gather enough credible resources to put together the next episode of their podcast (and Zeliha hated the idea of padding one out with nothing but filler chatter, lest it ruin all that they had built it up to be), a day that was dedicated to treating themselves was in order, on the dime of one of their more generous clients, of course. With a preference for a table that left their back against the wall so the rest of the restaurant was left entirely in front of them and in view, magenta-painted lips pressed into a line at the sight of someone already seated exactly there. "I did, and I would have thought a place of this caliber would have more organization to keep track of such reservations." The brunette couldn't be placated by a comped drink, either, as they weren't the one footing the bill in the first place. "I'll be taking a seat. Don't worry, I'll make my complaints known as soon as the waitress returns, but I refuse to be seated elsewhere." The heavy ego they carried on their shoulders left no room for the care that the implication floated that they weren't above making the other move with their statement. A hand adorned with a freshly done manicure plucked the wine list from the center of the table, slight judgment present as they asked, "Is that the house wine?"

[jofms]

josette's eyes widened at the familiar face - the kind individual from the cinema. it had been the night that the empty vhs case had been left at the kiosk for her and in her panic, alice had been the one to calm her down. she herself had been touch and go mentally throughout their shared coffee but that only made the older woman more appreciative of the gesture. when she was losing her friends so quickly, the other had been a perfect example of how there was still good in the world; at least that was what she believed from the moments she'd spent with the other brunette. a lost cause, a black hole, there were many excuses and reasons as to why people didn't want to stick by josette, a list longer than one side of paper, but the other had put in an effort with her when she was vulnerable and oh, so desperately needed it.

"alice-" her eyes lit up as a wide smile graced her small features. then it had dawned on her that the other had been in the hospital and she'd failed to follow up. "how are you doing? i heard that you had quite the ordeal? it's really good to see you though." her smile was genuine and that was a factor that would contribute to the hurt so much more when the truth would be revealed to her. "you look lovely." josette nodded as she tucked her curled hair behind her ear. "please, sit if you have the time."

Alice had been a bit of a recluse lately and it was mostly due to the fact that she was worried there was still someone out there that was after her. Most days, she opted to work from home and spend time with Rhea. However, Abraxis had told her that they'd treat her to a nice meal so they'd planned to meet up where they'd first met, at the Ivy, to have a meal together after work. When she got there, she didn't see the council person quite yet--however, she did see Jo sitting at a lone table. It had been quite some time since they'd seen each other but she still remembered the coffee that they'd shared and the seeds that the journalist had attempted to plant. No harm in saying hello while she was waiting for her date, right?

Walking up to her, she gave the woman and said "Hi Josette. It's good to see you." Giving a small shake of her head and eyeing the glass of wine, she said "No, no, you're fine. I just wanted to come over and say hello--it's been a while since I've seen you around." Secretly, she'd wondered if Jo had heard what had happened to her on Halloween night but she kept that thought to herself.

[jofms]

the milk bar with cyrek @nxnbinarydracvla

this couldn't be happening. after all the work she had done, josette had broken down and managed to end up as a person of interest in eliana's death. losing her friendship with heejin had caused her to spiral rapidly and she'd looked to eliana for guidance. she had been so kind to her but when she was trying to explain this to law enforcement, she didn't feel like they were listening to her. how could she have slept through it? not even jo knew the answer to that. she would think that perhaps if she would have woken up that she could have prevented it or at least assisted eliana to try and protect her as the older woman had protected her from herself again and again. people had already been talking about her, their opinions on her behaviour and now it was only going to get worse. it would have been the last straw for the woman but now a person of interest in a murder case, she could hardly skip town.

just when she thought she couldn't lose anymore, she had really lost eliana. a few days after the tragedy, she had dragged herself to work only to get immediately suspended pending the investigation - it felt the same as a firing. this had happened before, her old job had placed her on leave when her mental health declined but she never got that back. mumbling to herself as she angrily wiped tears from her face, she opened the door to the milk bar and made her way to the front, trying to not attract attention. lifting her eyes up to try and get the bartender's attention, her eyes lay on another - cyrek, matthew's son. would matthew even have her back anymore? not after this, she felt like this would be the final straw for him to tell her just what an unworthy piece of shit she was; now she wasn't able to get his words from their brutal encounter out of her head. closing her eyes, she brought a hand up to her head. "stop it." she whispered.

[jofms]

"oh-" the woman widened her eyes at the confirmation that she was sat at someone else's table. "i hadn't made a reservation. i think the hostess probably thought that i'd be done and out by now but it's not worked out that way." a lot of things didn't 'work out', josette knew that better than anyone. her job, her relationship, her friendships, her daughter - everything was a massive failure on her part and she wasn't sure how she could lose much more. most of it was her fault but she had been lead down a certain path that had lead to her life being destroyed and it hadn't stopped with the end of her toxic and abusive relationship. what had been the point of leaving him if everything had got so much worse? that was a question she'd asked herself more than enough times but she was never going to admit that she'd thought about it once. josette had made it out of anchorage for a prestigious title on quite the salary several years ago but after her confidence faltered and issues with her health began to arrive, his first port of call was persuading her to come home; josette leighton could have escaped all of it if she hadn't come back.

josette was aware she was guilty of failing people when her 'romance' had started, that it would stay with her but them more than any people, but now she was trying to move on, to prove that she could get better, be better. the woman was getting ready to move until the other sat opposite her. the mention of fate stopped her in her tracks, her face becoming a blank canvas until her eyes widened and brow raised. "fate?" it wasn't the first thing she was expecting to hear from them. "it's been a while since i've heard that word." she shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, adjusting her dress before leaning towards the table. "company would be nice." she nodded, knowing it was rather fleeting these days as more and more of her relationships broke down. "-but i can go if you want. i didn't make a reservation so it will serve me right."

the very act of speaking to josette summoned an unwelcome, insidious rise in abraxis’s blood pressure, a sensation they endeavored to suppress with all the grace their upbringing demanded. yet it was a futile endeavor—like swallowing shards of glass, each syllable scraping cruelly against the raw, tender lining of their composure. frustration coiled within their chest, a blackened mass of pain and resentment, churning and souring until it lodged itself in the pit of their stomach. so much for an appetite.

the effort to maintain a stoic countenance only magnified the ache of loss, manifesting in the faintest twitch of a clenched muscle, a subtle betrayal of their restraint. “this is supposed to be my table,” they said curtly, their nod a precise, measured concession to civility. appearance, after all, was paramount—it always had been. to falter here, in public, would be an unforgivable misstep. in their mind’s eye, a far less restrained scene unfolded: a withering tirade unleashed upon the ivy’s proprietors for their misstep in allowing such an encounter. but luxury demanded the sheen of decorum, and abraxis knew all too well how to wield politeness like a weapon. without further protest, they slid into the chair opposite josette, the motion deliberate, their gaze coolly appraising. “no need to apologize on the restaurant’s behalf,” they remarked, the words smooth yet razor-edged. a faint, brittle smile curved their lips as they added, with a forced agreeability, “it appears fate wishes for us to dine together.” they weren't one to tempt fate.

[jofms]

with how busy the restaurant was becoming, josette was now thinking that she should have booked a quieter evening - perhaps a monday when people were less likely to be out. the background noise was becoming overwhelming but she told herself she was enjoying some lovely wine, that she would have a proper meal, far better than anything she could cook and then she would return back home for some much needed sleep. if it were up to josette, she would keep going after that but only with someone else. "yes, i was thinking i should have booked a monday or tuesday night but that's the advantage of hindsight." josette claimed to be a lot of things but psychic wasn't one of them.

"of course, sit down." the woman smiled. "they also forgot to take this from me." she slid the menu in the other's direction. "company is actually quite nice and you can browse whilst you wait to get properly seated." it was a gentle suggestion. "you're not imposing one bit. one can only be alone with their thoughts for so long." her demeanour was different, almost like she was arranging her speaking pattern to fit how she was dressed - a stark difference to the unhinged and upset woman that people had shunned. "i do love your boots. i put on some heels but i'll regret it as soon as i stand back up again after finishing this." she tapped a finger against the bottle of wine.

Ambling uncertainly through the threshold of the restaurant, Lana shifted from foot to foot as she took in her surroundings, wondering for the third time that night why she'd chosen to don a pair of strappy heels for a simple night out with herself. Far more accustomed to the comfort of a pair of boots and a gauzy maxi skirt (rather than the tight plum-colored pencil skirt that she'd apparently selected in a bout of utter overconfidence over the potential prospects of her evening), the brunette was still looking forward to a night of decadent food and wine, even if it ended in going home alone. She was normally the one running around a kitchen in a sweaty haste, so an evening of being waited on was exactly what she needed to recharge. Besides, it would make the perfect case study in what kind of food the other local eateries had to offer. Even though her academic days were long behind her, Lana would always be a perpetually curious girl, eager to learn anything and everything about the things that interested her.

Once she was directed to a nearby table by the preoccupied hostess, the baker paused when she noticed another woman already seated there. "Umm... no, I didn't. I was just ushered in this direction," she admitted with a laugh. "Looks like they're really busy tonight, so I can't blame them for the mix-up. Do you mind if I sit here for a moment, though? I wouldn't want to impose, I just need to rest my feet for a bit," she admitted, fidgeting with the silken ends of her bob.

[jofms]

josette had put heejin through a lot, particularly in the time after willow had died and her friend had taken such good care of her, dealt with her depressive episodes until jo was too far gone to appreciate the help. the other woman had made sure she'd paid her bills and yet josette still headed for disaster. after some words were exchanged, she'd finally made an effort and was determined to get her life back on track. josette was an intelligent individual - at one point she had held a head of department title at a mental health facility just out of town but shed had her doubts about her ability and matthew hadn't helped that; he'd wanted her back in anchorage with him.

"you look lovely." josette nodded as she sat back down and tucked her hair behind her ears. "well, yes. i was thinking about some things you said to me and you make a lot of sense." the woman raised her eyebrows and chuckled. "i'm making a real effort. i got a new therapist actually and my medication seems to be doing the trick so i finally feel confident to drive to places now-" she looked at the wine. "obviously not tonight." josette smiled towards her friend. "you know, i'm just trying to move forward now with my life. you taught me that, well, encouraged but there was so much going on, i failed to listen. i'm sorry for that."

the ivy. french cuisine. meeting josette after a lengthy time ( she wasn’t counting how long but it had been a while ), heejin didn’t know what to anticipate from her friend. she’d convinced herself to keep a distance from josette. it wasn’t because her intentions were evil per se, but because some of her family members suffered, for lack of a better word; she was trying to be the aunt now that she was trying to get more involved. for herself and her late sister. as it is known, heejin’s not all too expressive or affectionate; she is reserved and prefers to isolate herself, so this outing was a step she had to force herself to take.

she walked into the restaurant and asked the host if a josette leighton was there. heejin looked out into the crowd and then at the host, saying, “oh, i see her. she’s right over there.” she gave the staff member a small smile. upon seeing the other, heejin looked rather stunned. “jo. you-you look...different. a good different, by the way.” her appearance was evidently less disheveled. “good to see you, too.” heejin took a seat in front of the other.

[jofms]

josette turned to the side to grab her scarf, gloves and coat to move and leave for the other to have her table. her facial expressions were soft, nodding in agreement that she was the one that was ut of place - she was always out of place. still, the woman wouldn't obsess over it too much, not when she was trying to have a healthier mindset this year in order to save herself from being that black hole that no one wanted to love. she shuffled towards the end of the table before the other's words cause her eyes to widen and facial muscles to tense.

"i'm sorry?" josette stared down at the other, wondering what was the reason for bringing it up - the tape that seemingly vanished from her home, that she had convinced herself that she'd never had it for the good of what little sanity she had left... until this moment. it was clear to her that the one opposite her had some sort of ill will towards her - "why on earth are you bringing that up?" josette desperately wanted to ask about the tape but she had kept it from the police, not wanting anyone to have it to see what she could only imagine what was on it (she could never bring herself to watch it). "keep her out of your mouth-" her words laced with venom, there was an intensity in josette's eyes as she placed her hands on the table, trying to keep them from shaking. "-but if you know something-"

Salem had made herself a comfortable living as the prima ballerina on New York City's dime, but she was promised she would worry for nothing at all when her godparent had learned of her father's passing. Luxurious, finer things had never greatly interested her — lavish afterparties celebrating opening nights and fancy hotels and invaluable stem glasses for wines were all a bit of a bore, if you asked her forthright opinion — however, when the pair had gone out for dinner ( rather, trio, Briar picking up mac and cheese noodles with her grubby, thick fingers, ) she was enamored with the casual atmosphere for the fine dining establishment.

Casual, as proven by the woman sitting at the table that she approached. "I did," she stated plainly, glancing to the left of the stranger with a quirk of her mouth, "I suppose we should make it a table for three. The two of us... and the Blood Bride? What's so circus about her?" Waving to the pocket of apparent thin air, she took a seat across from Josette without awaiting further instruction or permission ado, folding her hands together with a catlike smile toying at the corners of her mouth. "I would love to have a meal with you."

[jofms]

"dani." josette exhaled and let a gentle smile grace her small features. the woman was trying the best she could to keep her composure this year, to not only move on with her life but also feel more secure in her own person. her fleeting sense of self had made her susceptible to matthew's manipulative ways to begin with and it had led to a vicious cycle that spanned over twenty years; it eventually ended in absolute disaster for all involved, including willow, his child that she'd purposefully kept from him. josette never had chance to be a mother, it was something she'd wanted greatly but matthew would never marry her, would shut her down at the mere mention and that should have been an indicator that their entire relationship was never going to go anywhere. josette had been the other woman, had been in a relationship with the man and she was convinced that they would be a family.

pulling herself out of her thoughts, she gave a small nod before gesturing to the seat opposite her. "it's been a really long time, yeah. i can't remember the last time we spoke. that's probably my fault." a light sigh escaped the woman. "i've been here, there and everywhere, but i have high hopes for the new year, and what better way to start it off than to share some food with another. that sounds like a wonderful idea."

Dani had been keeping himself in town more often. The ranch and its sensation of secondary-home faded through the sensationalist news spreading into town. Never bothering with things such as reservations, the silhouette of his person often enough to have him seated, the question surprised him. He glanced around as he was addressed, though he believed he recognised her. It wasn't until the tender chuckle greeted his ears that he set his own drink down; he opted for one of those virgin coolers, since he had to return to Prancer's afterwards. "Jo, it's been a while." This was also Dani's fault. He kept to himself, seated upon the porch, nothing else left to say. "Yeah, yeah, there's lots of staff problems this time of year." Speaking out of experience, because no one in his kitchen wanted to work either.

"But we do what we must," he added on. In a strange way, it felt nice. Just to speak and be spoken to, for nothing else to have to happen. Who knew he would cling to the simplicity of conversation? Maybe he was lonely. Maybe there was still feeling loneliness. "And I tell you what, they got a nice special today that I'm about to get if you wanna share it. Kinda massive for one person."

[jofms]

open at the ivy @anchoragestarters

winters were isolating but things had settled down dramatically for josette once she had found a therapist, just out of town, that worked for her. she had put in some extra shifts at maiden alley cinema to try boost the income that she'd spent without a care when she had been out of work and things were starting to feel more stable for her. perhaps she could look at getting a different job in the new year, one that paid her more and got her feeling a little better at her career prospects. she had been thinking about volunteering but she thought it was too soon for that and she had so much to prove. still, sadness rocked the woman as amelia's birthday edged closer. up until two years ago, she had always wondered what she would be doing and it sadened her to know that she was no longer here.

josette sat nursing a glass of wine at the ivy, a treat to herself and a chance to get some actual food down her as opposed to seeds and toast. looking up, she widened her eyes. "apologies, did you book this table? they sat me here as they didn't think they'd be too long but the kitchen is taking a little longer than usual." she chuckled.

[jofms]

closed: the ivy with heejin @nightwvlker

since bumping into heejin last, josette had really put in the effort to try turn her life around. she had picked up more shifts at the cinema, hardly took sick days, found a new therapist just out of time that seemed to be working wonders for her and all of that had managed to make her feel more grounded. the woman hadn't been herself for a long time and only now was she really thinking about the warnings she had from others before she completely broke down. it wasn't that she was proud of pulling it together but she wanted to show heejin she'd taken note so that they could continue to be friends - the other woman had done a lot for her and with her friend roster dwindling, she was even more determined to cling onto the friends she had.

sitting at a table at the ivy, a smile lit up her face as she saw the other woman arrive. standing up at her table, she gave both the woman and the staff member a wave for her to join her. "heejin. lovely to see you." josette definitely looked less dishevelled in her appearance and had even opted for some makeup.