#chat:hopper

[attaant]

who: atta & @hoppingseason where: thumper's yard

She shouldn't have felt the same kind of nerves approaching her boss unannounced now as she had when she was younger, but Atta couldn't help herself. Rumors had begun to fly around the hotel about Myles' brother's involvement in the attack, though Atta hadn't recognized any of the men as ones who worked for Hopper. The one she was more concerned with was the whispers about the borders opening soon, especially after this. To keep people trapped on an unsafe island, with nowhere to go, would've been cruel. And, if Atta was only finding out about this the night prior, that meant that Hopper must have already known, and was likely a hundred steps ahead of her.

With a knock on his door, Atta entered as he waved her in unceremoniously. She took the seat across from his desk, the debate she'd began on her way over on how to approach this still not mentally settled. "Were you at the festival last night? I didn't see you, or anyone else, but I wasn't sure if I was missing something." It wasn't a direct accusation, but enough for Hopper to know what she'd meant. "And is it true, about the borders?" Atta added, hoping he would appreciate her directness.

[scamperoo]

who: scamp & @hoppingseason where: deare household

The knock on the door from one Colin Hopper was bound to happen eventually, whether he was there to see Lilah, Annette, or Scamp himself. The two women seemed like the more likely reasons to visit, even despite his current injury. In his time recovering, Scamp tried to think of what he would even say to him, whether he would apologize for not doing better, or resign on the spot, before he could even protest. He still wasn't sure when the doorbell rang and Ellie let him in, the only other person who happened to be home with him. Either he was hoping that he might catch his mother or Annette at home, or this wasn't a visit meant for either one of them, at all.

Instinctively, Scamp sat up straighter on his mother's sofa, still getting used to moving so quickly while he healed. He managed to let out his usual formal greeting through a stifled groan in moderate pain, giving him a nod of his head. "My mom and Annette aren't here, if you're looking for either of them. I'm not sure when they'll be back--Danielle's here until then," he explained, feeling oddly formal for what they'd experienced together just the other day. There was an elephant in the room the size of a twenty-three year old girl that Scamp didn't feel like addressing until it was brought up by the new father himself. "I can just, uh ... well, I'm sure you have both of their phone numbers now, but I can tell them you came by."

[scamperoo]

Scamp could tell that he'd said the wrong thing the moment the older man's eyes narrowed, and his entire mood shifted. But, before he could get to crafting a response to the challenge his boss had set forward, he had to at least set the record straight. "No, we've never ... me and Atta? Absolutely not," he insisted. She was older than him, anyway, and though blondes were admittedly his weakness, she was also technically his superior. The only reason they'd even began to become more than just coworkers was because of her failed wedding. She was admittedly a nice person, who didn't really deserve all that life had handed to her, but there wasn't much Scamp could do about it.

He flinched, just a millimeter, but more than Hopper had made him even a bit uneasy in a long time. Scamp wasn't sure what kind of an answer he was supposed to give to that, the intense questioning that continued after he'd given the first one that was apparently unsatisfactory. "I didn't say that." Scamp felt suddenly small, as though Hopper rising from his chair caused him to shrink. That would just make him more angry, to think that he couldn't handle a line of questioning--so he sat up straight, turned whatever sympathy he had for Atta off, and prepared to agree. "No, she--Atta shouldn't have done it. She risked everything, and almost ruined it all, for herself. She knew what she was getting herself into, having her position. You're right, sir," Scamp agreed, punctuating with a curt nod.

Hopper exhaled a puff of smoke as he listened to the young boy recount his interactions with his former colleague. From the tone of voice and choice of words, it was evident that the two had a good rapport. It even appeared that Scamp had harbored a fondness for the girl, a notion that elicited a smirk from Colin as he listened. "Did you two ever date?" he asked, more out of curiosity than genuine concern, finding the idea amusing. If there had been any romantic involvement, it would complicate matters considerably. Scamp would likely be excluded from any involvement in operations concerning the Dreyfuses, and possibly from confidential matters within the mafia altogether. Loyalty was paramount, and now that the Dreyfuses were perceived as enemies, it was imperative to uphold that principle.

"Looking out for her family's best interests, eh?" Colin mused, his lips curling into a sly smile as he arched an eyebrow. Here was the young buck preaching about morality, and it was a tad surprising, to say the least. With a flick, he discarded the spent cigarette, leaning back in his chair. "See all these folks around us, Scamp?" Hopper rose from his seat, gesturing toward the bustling room beyond. "Hundreds of men, each with their own kin to provide for. So tell me, is it really in their best interest for her to take the lion's share of the business? Are you truly prioritizing the 'family' of a privileged few over the hardworking souls you work with on a daily basis?" He scoffed, finding the lad's moral high ground utterly preposterous. Hopper simmered with frustration, realizing that perhaps Scamp could never grasp the full weight of the Atta's actions. At the end of the day, Scamp could retreat to the comfort of his mother's arms when things didn't go his way. For those like Hopper, who had clawed their way up from nothing, such luxury was never an option.

[attadreyfus]

continued from here for @mrcolinhopper​

Atta’s heart dropped into both her stomach and her throat at the same time, if it was possible. She stared at him blankly, unsure what to say. A fraud? She knew he didn’t think much of her, but that was a new low she hadn’t expected to reach. “Sir, I--I don’t sell guns and smuggle cocaine,” she countered quietly. Sure, her name was on the trucks that transported them, but he had been a part of all of the dealings, not her. “I don’t understand what you want from me, I’m trying ... I’m doing my best.” What more she could do to satisfy him, Atta wasn’t sure. She had put in the work he requested; the long hours, making sure that all of his dealings were in place. “If this is about that one truck, I can promise you that it won’t happen again. I’ve learned my lesson, I swear.” If there was a time to threaten him, it would be now, but she didn’t even have everything together to try and overthrow him just yet. She let out a cough as the smoke reached her face, covering her mouth with her hand. “I don’t want to upset you, Hopper, that’s the last thing I want to do. I just don’t know what else it is you want from me.”

[missmuttonfudge]

closed starter for @mrcolinhopper​

Teagan’s parents had some pretty powerful friends, one of whom included Hopper. She had known him for as long as she could remember, growing up with Uncle Hopper spoiling her about as much as her parents did. He had no kids, and she was probably the closest thing to it, so it only made sense. The concept of what he did for work had crossed her mind a few times, but Teagan learned from a young age that she was better off turning a blind eye to the shit she didn’t want to know, paste on a smile, and pretend like she was dumb. In reality, she was pretty sure he did some illegal shit, but as long as he didn’t get caught, who was she to judge?

“Question for you,” she started, entering his office without so much as a knock. He never usually minded, unless there was a meeting happening, which his assistant usually warned her about, anyway. “You don’t happen to know how to get your hands on wholesale liquor, do you? Not that I’m concerned about price, but I need it in bulk.” Teagan took a seat in the chair across from him, leaning her elbows on his desk. “Nothing serious, just trying to throw a party.”

[attaant]

who: atta & @hoppingseason where: pacifica & finnick's party, outside

This day was bound to come eventually, the one in which Hopper and Atta would meet again. She knew it was coming, but having control over when exactly it would happen was most important to her. Atta had laid low over the past few months, steering clear of the spots where she knew that he might be. That was when she'd felt still vulnerable to whatever he had up his sleeve, before she knew that she could trust the man she'd selected as her partner entirely. She had no doubts about him now, though--no matter what was to come of this conversation, Atta would be fine. She was about to have her company back in her own hands, stronger than she'd ever been before against a man who could make her cower at the very sight of him. Unafraid now, Atta knew what she had to do as soon as Kit had told her that he'd reached out to him. This was her mess to clean up, and she was ready to put her gloves back on.

Atta caught him alone, outside, where he was taking a break from the loud festivities inside. Though she'd told her husband where she was headed, this was something she had to take care of alone: she didn't want the shield of a man protecting her. "It's quite cold out here," she commented as she approached him, Buster's jacket shrugged over her shoulders, the ends of the sleeves protecting her hands from the cold wine in her glass. "I wanted to talk to you, I heard you'd reached out to Kit." Atta rocked on her heels, avoiding telling him precisely what she'd come here to say. Once she delivered the news, there was no turning back. "That won't be necessary. It'll be back in my name tomorrow morning."

[attaant]

who: atta & @hoppingseason where: chopper's pub

The days were growing dangerously close to her wedding, and Atta was ready to throw the biggest Hail Mary she had. There were few things she wouldn't do to keep herself from walking down the aisle, and she was prepared to bargain her way out of marriage. Most of her plotting had been done at this very bar, laying out the options for herself for when this very moment came, but never before had she brought them to Hopper's back office. After taking an uncharacteristic shot of tequila, she shook out her limbs of the nerves that threatened to come out and in the form of word (or physical) vomit.

With a knock on the door at the precise time she asked to meet him, Atta knew there was no turning back now. With a small nod of her head, she took a seat across from Hopper's desk without so much of a look from him. "Sir," she mumbled, seated uncomfortably on the very front of her seat. With her notes in hand, Atta sucked in a silent breath, still in a bit of disbelief over what she was about to do, and risk, for the likely inevitable. "I'm here because ... I'm sorry, I can't marry Myles. I just cannot. Your brother is a good person, and I won't let the two of us sit through unhappiness forever," she started, slow and cautious--exactly as scripted. He still seemed unfazed from his chair, still hardly paying attention to her. Atta was going to have to fight for this: both his attention and what she wanted.

"I'm not going to do it. I'll publicly call it off, I don't care. This has gone on way too long, and is affecting far too many people. Myles almost died. And if you don't let me out of this ... I'm prepared to sell everything, and not to you, nor to him." All she could do was hope that it was enough to start a conversation, and not get a gun pointed to her head. "This is the only thing I've ever asked of you, from the beginning, since the minute you demanded this. I'm--I don't want to beg, and I don't want to fight you." Her face softened, and Atta could only hope that she could touch some sliver of humanity deep down in his rock-solid expression. "Please."

[attaant]

who: atta & @hoppingseason when: atta's turn down the aisle; then, after the bombing where: the altar; then, thumper's yard

As she approached the bottom of the aisle, there were two distinct thoughts that stood out, glaringly: one, that Annette and her brother hadn't gone down before her, and two, that it was better this way. By the time she reached the end, she was certain she didn't want Hopper's new daughter seeing him as angry as she was about to make him. What would've felt like a walk of shame just yesterday was now one of triumph and pride: Kit on her arm, and a manila envelope of files in the other that would save her. Wordlessly, she gave her friend the signal, a nod that sent them on what felt like a mile by the time she reached the end of it.

After giving Kit a tight hug and her sister a wink, Atta didn't approach her fiance, but instead, her brother behind him. As she handed over the folder of paperwork, she gave Myles' hand a small squeeze, the assurance that she'd gotten them out of this for good. They could live their lives together, but separate, in a way that she knew would be worth it one day. When they were old and grey and with people who loved them more than they could ever love each other, she'd think back to this day, and how much it'd taken her to get here.

"I tried to give you these earlier, but I had no choice," she said simply, pressing the envelope into his hands. "You can call it off now." As Hopper flipped open the front to the page that would tell him she was already married, the boy she couldn't find before was now racing towards them, approaching the altar. In a flash, the chaos she'd created spread like wildfire in a different direction, and Hopper took Lilah out the door just as fast as Scamp had come to them, in search of the missing bridesmaid.

~timeskip, to thumper's yard, a few hours later~

Out of her wedding dress now, Atta had been waiting around Thumper's for word on Annette and the state of the hotel. As far as she'd heard, Myles had become good friends with its owner, and it sounded like his time would be much better enjoyed helping Mavis recover from the aftermath. It lightened her heart a bit, to know that he'd found someone who cared about him, who he could care for now. Someone else out there deserved all the love he had to give that Atta couldn't return.

Hopper's car arrived back without his daughter, who she'd overheard on an eavesdropped phone call was on her way to spend the night with her other side of the family. Atta made her way to his office, feeling much more defeated than the victory lap she'd wanted to take. Her trucks had been destroyed, people could've been killed, and as much as she couldn't quite blame all of it on herself, she was sure Hopper would have no problem doing just that.

He entered with a hint of fury she hadn't seen in a while, not since she'd fought with him months ago over this very day. Atta stood instinctively, giving him a nod of her head without a glance of her gaze. "I'm sorry to hear about the hotel, but I'm glad Annette is safe," she said slowly, cautious. "I hope you don't think I had anything to do with it. I would never lay a finger on her--I'd never do that to you, or to Lilah." She'd promised that to him a while ago, when he'd last threatened her sister. "If you didn't have a chance to read everything I gave you, I understand. It's what I'm here to discuss, along with what happened to my trucks, that seemed to have been burnt."

[scamperoo]

The answer was expected, Hopper not even entertaining the idea of giving him even the slightest insight into his relationship with his mother. Even what he'd given them at the brunch was more that Scamp had ever learned about his boss' personal life than ever, and he was sure that it was in part due to his sisters' lines of questioning, too. "Better than being compared to my dad," he muttered, giving a shrug of his shoulders. Scamp knew better than not to press on why he'd revealed so much in front of his entire family; it was likely an exception that was a one-and-done look into his life that he wouldn't be sharing, ever again. Maybe he could get his mother to crack open, instead. "What was she like back then? Still this stubborn?" he asked, a crack of a laugh coming to his lips, one that was rare when he was talking to the man beside him.

Scamp hadn't been expecting the line of questioning to turn back on him so quickly, and he froze for a moment in thought. He hadn't thought about leaving his position, ever, but if he really wanted to protect himself, his sisters, and his mother from all possible danger, it was something to consider. "I don't know," he admitted, focused on the toothpick between his fingers as he avoided Hopper's gaze. "I never finished college, I was a runaway working odd jobs until you found me. I'd have to completely start over." All he'd ever known was working his way from job to job without keeping himself out of too much trouble. Now, he'd gotten himself stuck in the middle of what he'd thought had been an inescapable danger. "I always thought doing this, keeping myself at arm's length from my family, was what was best for them. But their safety and mine, that's always been you, hasn't it? I haven't really done anything to protect them at all."

"No," Hopper responded curtly when Scamp asked about details regarding him and Lilah. He had no intention of delving into his past, not with anyone, not even his own brother. The mere thought of discussing it left a bitter taste in his mouth. If Lilah had purposely left them in the gray, then Hopper would prefer to place them in the black, if that was even possible. Scamp's inquisitive nature was evident, burdened by the weight of whatever was happening to their family. If there was one thing Hopper could understand, it was that he as well carried a deep-seated hatred for his own father. If given the opportunity, he would gladly kill the man with his ow bare hand. Yet, his father remained an unknown, deliberately distant from his own children, perhaps for his own safety since Hopper had sworn that coming face-to-face with him with be greeting his own death. "You’re like your mother," Hopper replied swiftly, noting the uncertainty in Scamp's eyes. Colin was a stark contrast to Lilah, who always held faith in the goodness of the world. Hopper, on the other hand, saw little value in it, except for the pursuit of power, which consumed his life.

"What are you trying to prove?" Hopper already knew the answer, but as the complexities of their family situation blurred, with the Mafia involved in their affairs, he posed the question once again, hoping for a different answer. "Your mother worries about you, day and night. And your father, is he someone you’d like to please?" He shrugged nonchalantly, placing the cigarette back between his lips before exhaling a stream of smoke. “If I were to release you from the Mafia, would you take it?” He asked, trying to understand more of the young boy’s mind.

[attaant]

who: atta & @hoppingseason

where: kit's office

Atta had never felt like more of a mess than she did right now. She had been a nervous wreck all day, but she'd pulled herself together with a smile just long enough to survive the important part of the party. Myles had gotten on one knee, slid a ring on her finger, and she'd smiled for the photos that came afterwards. As soon as she was done being ushered around on her now-fiancé's arm, though, Atta had found a half-empty bottle of champagne on one of the catering tables and made herself at home on the floor of Kit's upstairs bathroom. She'd known about this day coming for months now, but the sight of a diamond on her left hand and a publicly sealed fate had left her feeling more helpless than ever. The deal was done, and she was effectively tied to Colin Hopper forever.

Thankfully, Kit had come to check on her in her moment of weakness, giving her a much needed hug and offered to let her take another bottle of wine from his office when her champagne was finished. It was safe to say that the champagne hadn't lasted long at all, and Atta was already on her way to Kit's office, but only after an attempt to dry her tears in the mirror and pull herself together.

Her appearance only lasted as long as it took to see a familiar figure seated in the chair behind the desk. Tears welled in Atta's eyes, her boss and future brother-in-law the absolute last person she needed to see her cry. He looked up from his glass of whiskey to see a barefoot Atta, shoes and empty champagne bottle in hand. "Sorry, I--I didn't think there'd be anyone in here," she mumbled in apology, frozen in the entryway. "I just came in here for this bottle of wine Kit keeps behind his desk, he said I could have it," Atta explained, lifting her hand to wipe her cheek. "I'm sorry for all the chaos earlier, I had no idea it was coming, I swear."

[attaant]

who: atta & @hoppingseason where: atta's house

It was the first time her boss had actually come to her home, and Atta was more nervous about impressing him than the actual wedding details that they were going to discuss. She had asked Kit to borrow Ella just for the occasion, making sure that every spot was sparkling by the time Colin stepped through the doorway. His presence was mostly needed for the monetary aspect of the meeting, discussing with Angelique how much everything would cost, from venues to catering. Now that he was going to technically be part of her family, Atta figured it was as good of a time as ever to welcome him into her home. Of course, his brother came along with him, but Atta had her maid of honor, Dot, sit this one out; Hopper had threatened them once, and she wouldn't have her sister within feet of him again if she could help it. This was all for her, to be sure that they would be taken care of as long as Atta could control it.

Once Angelique had finished, Atta had babbled off a carefully worded excuse to send Myles on the first of many wedding errands so that she could buy some time with the eldest Hopper brother himself. Alone, in her house, together, Atta suddenly felt the most vulnerable in front of him as she ever had before, but there was a shift in her view of him, too. The brunch had shown a complexity to Hopper's personal life that she hadn't seen before, muddied with the complications of the family of the boy he held closest to his chest. Atta was smart enough to know that she couldn't use it as leverage, though, as he would come right back at her, stronger. "Thank you for staying," she said as she brought him back a cup of coffee, black. "We don't have to, um, discuss ... the brunch, at all, but there were some points from it that I'd like to bring up, if you don't mind." Atta knew he preferred to cut straight to the chase, and she was attempting to spare the niceties. "The wedding, it should be six months away, at least."

[scamperoo]

who: scamp & @hoppingseason

where: hopper hq

Coming fresh off an emotional meeting with his mother, Scamp was right on the nose to meet at his boss' office before going to some dinner. Though he was never remarkably early for these things, he never really toed the line of being late, either. Hopper wasn't someone he was personally all that afraid of, but he did know just how terrifying he could be. Scamp just counted himself as one of the lucky ones who had never been on the other side of his wrath before. Actually, that was a lie: he had been, once, but all it took was one sentence and he'd never been there again. The last thing he wanted was to give Hopper a reason to be that angry with him again, especially not on account of his mother.

After a terrible park of his car and a race through the office to the very back, Scamp slid into the chair across from Hopper's and looked down at his watch. "Twenty seconds to spare," he informed him, giving a satisfied smile. With one glance at his clothing, Scamp looked back to his boss, his grin turning to an apologetic one. "Was I supposed to come in something fancier than this?" he asked, gesturing to his jeans and hoodie that he'd worn to meet up with his mom. "I, uh ... didn't want to be late, but it was out of my control. Personal emergency."

[attaant]

It was mesmerizing to watch Hopper's frustration and annoyance turn to hard anger before her own eyes. She'd never been on the other end of his wrath like this, but Atta definitely never wanted to be, if this was what she had coming. With not much more of a snap of his fingers, a trail had been laid for who knew how many men to follow. His mind was about four steps in front of everyone else's actions, always prepared to react before he even knew what was coming. It was part of working with Hopper that she was trying to grow used to, but it was difficult to anticipate the anticipator. This time, she heard her own family's name uttered, and an immediate weight lifted. If she knew anything about Hopper, it was that he would take care of the people he promised to protect, and, for now, she was one of them.

His finger turned to her, and Atta's eyes widened, feeling like a deer in the headlights. She scrambled to sit down, fumbling for the pen and pad that she knew was somewhere in her bag. "Me? Yes, yup, got it," she muttered, scribbling his specific instructions as accurately and quickly as she could. Hopper spoke far too fast for her to keep up with, but hopefully someone would understand her chicken scratch. Driving her boss' car sounded like the worst idea he'd ever suggested, but Atta knew that she'd be far more protected in his vehicle than her own. Everything Hopper did had a reason, and when it came to her safety, she knew better than to question it. "Wait, did you just--Gaston? What does he have to do with any of this?" she echoed, the name of her ex snapping her out of her trance of concentration. It wouldn't be a problem to stay away from him, but why was his name specifically mentioned? "Is he ... I just ran into him a few days ago, he wanted to meet up, I didn't--I had no idea I should stay away."

“That fucking bastard,” Hopper seethed, his frustration with him growing by the minute. He longed for the man’s demise, to see him dead and discarded like the trash he belonged to. Impatience consumed him as the man left traces of his presence wherever he went. Hopper despised leaving behind evidence, and Tramp’s sloppy work grated on his nerves. Jaw clenched, he blew the smoke away, his face contorting into a more sinister expression. Colin noticed Atta’s expression in the shift of his mood, but the anger pulsating through Hopper’s aura was beyond his control. “Full of fucking shit, and it’s time to put an end to this.” Colin declared, his patience with Tramp’s foolish games wearing thin. It was time to elevate him to the top of Hopper’s hit list. For now, business could wait. Family matters comes first.

Without uttering a word, Hopper grabbed his phone and dialed a number. He began issuing a series of orders, detailing the weapons to be brought, the men to be chosen, the houses to seek cover in, and the individuals to be protected. It was a well-rehearsed act he had performed countless times, and this time, the Dreyfuses were included. Hopper had work to do, while Tramp seemed to be enjoying his leisurely time in the sun, oblivious to the impending danger closing in on him. “You,” he pointed at Atta, gesturing for her to take a seat. “Write this down,” he commanded, narrating names and assigning specific weapons to each individual. The hunt was on, and he intended to bring him in alive. “Bring that to Thumper and get it done tonight. Use my car.” Hopper instructed, handing her the keys, before dialing another number, one that held the potential to unveil Tramp’s whereabouts. Pausing for a moment, Hopper looked up, recalling something she had mentioned. “Also,” he began, his gaze fixed on her. His words carried a note of caution. "Stay away of Tramp…. and Gaston.”

[attaant]

"You embarrassed me this evening." - Hopper

Atta was getting used to feeling ashamed of herself in front of Hopper. It wasn't a particularly satisfying one, the feeling sinking into her stomach once she finally faced him or went home for the night. This time, she'd practically told Angelique, their wedding planner, that she could take her time on finalizing the details, since they still had legal details to figure out. That wasn't a lie, especially not when she'd talked to Lilah already about putting some semblance of legal protection together for herself, but apparently she wasn't supposed to discuss that with anyone else, and especially not in front of Hopper himself. Atta was adopting the careless attitude that she should have a long time ago now that she was locked in by the agreement she'd made to marry his brother. As far as she was concerned, she had nothing left to lose. "I'm sorry, sir," she mumbled, flipping through her binder of wedding planning details to jot down the last notes she had from their meeting. Atta closed the binder once she dropped her pen, then stood to pour each of them a drink, wordless. She knew that the discussion she wanted to have warranted it. Taking her seat again, Atta slid him a glass of whiskey, learning over time that it was one of the only things he'd consume, along with tea after she'd made the mistake of giving him black coffee once. "I know what happened to Myles. If I'm going to marry him, I don't want that happening to him again." She took her wine glass in her hand, calmly swirling the liquid in her glass. Atta had grown to notice his mannerisms, ones that made her feel the most intimidated, and had begun to adopt them herself. "And we should at least wait until he doesn't look like he has two black eyes to do all of this." @hoppingseason

[scamperoo]

"I won't let them hurt you." - Hopper

Though he hadn't wanted to explain it all to his boss, Scamp really had been left no other choice after his father had come and threatened his mother a second time this week. He knew that, by telling him, Scamp had effectively put a death warrant on his father's head, but Tristan had threatened both the safety of his sisters and his mother, and that was too much to risk. He was beginning to think that his father probably deserved to die, and though he would have a hard time shaking the guilt that came with having his father's blood on his hands, he had already spilled enough the other day. And had his mother not been standing, watching him, Scamp would've delivered the final blow. He could've, but he couldn't have his own mother see him as a monster. Although, if Lilah had somehow been able to see past the demons that his boss had in his past, maybe she could for her own son, too. Scamp nodded his head in gratitude, knowing that what Hopper had said effectively secured the safety of his family from his father. It was strange to think of how the tables had turned: he'd wanted to protect the women in his life from the man who was now going to ensure their safety. "Thank you, sir." Scamp knew he should've come to him sooner, but he had truly thought he'd instilled enough fear into Tristan not to come near Lilah or his sisters again. "If I may make ... a small request," he started again, slow. "I'd like to be informed of what's going to happen to him. I'm not--I don't care, to be clear, just as long as he stays away from them, but I'd like to be kept in the loop, so that I can take care of my sisters." Scamp paused, unsure if that was too much to ask. Hopper had never been known for taking requests. "If that's okay." @hoppingseason

[scamperoo]

who: scamp & @hoppingseason where: hopper's room, the bachelor party

After the shit show that had been the engagement party and the morning after, Scamp had decided to take some time off. He'd never really asked for time off before, and he wasn't sure if that was even an option, but it was more of a notice to his boss that he wasn't going to be around for a bit than a request. It was the least that he could do after flipping his entire world upside down in the timespan of one brunch. He'd only come back to work once he'd heard that Molt's bachelor party was happening, not wanting to miss what was supposed to be an even better time than the engagement party. This was just for him and his coworkers, to let loose and torture the groom a little bit.

Hopper had asked him to come upstairs for a moment, and Scamp knew what was coming. He'd been avoiding this talk from the moment he'd left Kit's house, which was why he'd made his presence around the office a sparing one. He followed his boss up to his hotel room, taking a seat at the table in the middle of the suite. Scamp let out a breath as Hopper gave him a nod, as though to ask him to speak first. "I just needed some time to think about all of this," he started, an explanation for his absence. "I'm sorry for my behavior at the brunch, for my tone, but I had no idea about you and my mom. I'd only seen my sisters, Annette and Colette, the night before, and I hadn't expected to see them at the table again, but ... I've been in contact with my mother for a few years now. She just hadn't known what I did for work, and Atta I think slipped that to her, and then my dad showed up ... sorry, I don't know why I'm telling you all of this." Scamp paused, running an exasperated hand through his hair. "Anyway, it's fine, I'm back now."