#faetedwill

[monstersfear]

@faetedwill

Casper and you 1 v 1, what do you do?

Who is Casper?

[stolensiren]

things i'll never say // sloane & cass

TIMING: current PARTIES: @faetedwill & @stolensiren SUMMARY: cass and sloane go on schrödinger's date at al's and say a lot less than they want to. CONTENT: none

Sloane knew that coming clean about why she pushed Cass out of the window would have been easier than… well, pushing Cass out of her window. Life was complicated, especially as a banshee who was expected to be activated at any given moment. She felt as though she was failing her trainings by protecting Cass, and even though being activated was the only thing she ever wanted, it was becoming increasingly clear to Sloane that she wasn’t too sure she was willing to lose a friend in order to secure the purpose she diligently followed after for all of these years. 

So Sloane did her best to dissuade those feelings of remorse by diving into the research about what had attacked her and Cass. With a little help from Leah, she had managed to figure it out. After researching Djab’s, she realized they had been extremely lucky to get out of there in the first place. Granted, a lot of that had been thanks to Charlotte, but still.

Sloane sat in the booth at Al’s with a glass of water dripping condensation down its sides as she waited for Cass to arrive. The coupons laid out on the table were for two free milkshakes, a house salad, and a burger. Not a terrible deal for her, or her wallet, if she had to admit. As soon as the door opened and revealed Cass, she felt shame bury her, but she forced a smile and reached up to wave her friend over. “I waited to order, I wasn’t sure what kind of burger you would want.” 

There was still a sting radiating through her chest after her last ‘hang out’ with Sloane. Cass knew she was reading into things a little too much, knew that her past experiences with rejection in the foster system made her far more sensitive than she ought to be to any perceived version of it in her current life, but knowing that didn’t make the feeling go away. Cass’s emotions had never been things willing to adhere to any kind of logic, no matter how often she tried to force it. 

The fact that Sloane still wanted to hang out with her did provide some comfort, though. Metzli had pointed out that Sloane’s willingness to continue having lunch with her even after the window incident had to stand for something, and Cass was inclined to agree. Maybe Sloane was a little embarrassed of her, but only in front of her parents, right? And Cass could be okay with that! She could compromise. She was so, so good at compromise. She’d do anything if it meant Sloane would just… like her.

So she was smiling when she pushed open the door to Al’s, in spite of the heaviness in her chest. She spotted Sloane and waved, walking over to slide into the booth across from her. “I’m not a very picky burger-eater,” she admitted, picking up the coupons and squinting at them. “Hey, this is a pretty good deal! Where’d you get these again?”

“Well, I wasn’t sure! I didn’t want to order the wrong thing and you totally denounce ever coming to Al’s again.” It wasn’t the best burger place in White Crest, but it was the cheapest. Then again, she wasn’t sure she had much gauge of whether a burger was good to begin with, given the fact that iron settled in her stomach like a rock. As Sloane looked at Cass, she realized that her friend seemed to be more at ease than when the banshee had practically pushed her out the window. That was… good. 

“I think it was the last time I came here, they were just handing them out for their anniversary or something?” Sloane couldn’t really remember, and it’d been her dad that had handed them over after they finished their meal. “But hey, they're useful, right?” Sloane smiled at Cass, feeling the weight in her chest ease slightly. She could do this! Everything was okay. Cass wasn’t mad at her, and Sloane could continue being friends with her. It just would have to be far away from her own house, and out from beneath her mom’s eye. Luckily, her mom didn’t have that many friends in town. They all thought of her in the same way they thought of Sloane. Weird, and off putting. “I’ve got them for milkshakes, too, but if you don’t want that, then we can definitely get slurpees after?” A callback to both their time at the zoo, and Cass’s birthday party. 

“I’d never denounce Al’s,” Cass insisted, stopping short before she could add on something stupid, like especially not if I was coming here with you. She was still a little hesitant, in spite of everything, to be as open as she usually was with Sloane. The last thing she wanted was to make her friend feel awkward or uncomfortable. Luckily, though, Cass was a very good actress. She’d been wearing masks of some kind or another since she was a little kid, and just because she’d never had to don one with Sloane before didn’t make it any less easy to slip into one now. She could pretend nothing happened if Sloane could. She could pretend it didn’t bother her until she fooled herself, too. She was good at that.

She nodded as Sloane revealed the hazy origin of the coupons, wondering if it was something they did often. “Definitely useful,” she agreed with a grin. It was easy, slipping back into their usual back and forth. It gave Cass some hope that the incident at Sloane’s house was just… some weird fluke that didn’t mean anything. “Oh, no, I definitely want milkshakes! I love milkshakes. Though I do love slurpees, too… Decisions decisions!” 

“I think they’d curse us if we did.” Sloane narrowed her eyes and looked towards the line cook that bustled behind the window. “Or actually, maybe they’d bless us. They seem like the type.” She had been coming to Al’s ever since she could remember. Her dad was very into their buffalo chicken sandwiches for whatever reason, and Sloane had learned to follow suit at a fairly young age, always following in his footsteps despite his very human nature. 

Sloane fought the tension that had been deeply set into her shoulders from the moment she told Cass to leave through the window. It didn’t seem like Cass was all too worried about what happened, so maybe it didn’t matter at all. No, Sloane reprimanded herself. It did matter, and she would remember the hurt on Cass’s face even if the other girl decided to put on a show, or maybe even that she had decided to move on from it. Sloane splayed her hands out across the table and tapped her fingers against it. “By the way, I have some information.” Maybe it wasn’t smart, telling Cass in public, especially when Sloane wasn’t sure if they could be followed, or if it’d catch the wrong set of ears. “Bu-u-u-t, it might have to wait until later. Wouldn’t want to spoil your lunch.” 

“One or the other for sure,” Cass agreed. She hadn’t been in White Crest half as long as Sloane had, but she’d frequented Al’s often enough. When she’d been homeless and desperately strapped for cash, the food here had been cheap and filling enough to hold her over until the next time she had enough money to buy something to put in her stomach, and she’d developed a taste for it as a result. Plus, the whole vibe was nice. 

Cass perked up a little at the promise of information, curiosity instantly piqued. She wondered what it was related to, if it was information on one of the adventures they’d had together or if it was the more personal kind. Some naive part of her wondered if it might mean Sloane was ready to share why she’d ushered Cass out a window rather than risk her speaking to her parents, but… she knew her friend wouldn’t have worded it quite like this if that were the case. At the mention of it spoiling her lunch, Cass smiled faintly. “What am I, a toddler?” She asked, echoing Sloane’s use of the phrase in response to Cass’s concern that her PB&J might ruin the other girl’s dinner. Remembering the minutes they’d spent in the kitchen laughing and joking around was far easier if she closed her eyes to how it had ended. 

Sloane was glad that Cass seemed interested in that at least. It was better than not being interested, right? She felt herself relax slightly at the sight of her friend’s expression, her own smile staying intact with less force than before. “I don’t know, you might be. You’re the one who tried that on me, so!” She slapped her hands against the table and pushed the coupons to the edge of the table that way when a waiter passed by them, Sloane wouldn’t have to make the awkward plea of we’re not actually going to pay for this. But of course Sloane would still tip. She always did. 

As if they heard her very thoughts, one of the waitresses headed their way, notepad in hand. “Hey-a!” The woman looked down to the coupons and plucked them off the edge of the table before asking what sides either she or Cass would want. “Uhhh, can I get some sesame dressing? Annnnnd, a strawberry milkshake, please.” She smiled brightly at the woman before returning to her glass of water, taking a sip. 

Cass laughed, and it was genuine even if it wasn’t quite as carefree as it might have been before. Hanging out with Sloane still made her feel bright and happy, but there was a heaviness to it now, too. There was a question that hadn’t been there before: How long until she gets tired of me? It was bound to happen sooner or later, especially if Sloane was making a very conscious effort to make sure her parents didn’t know Cass existed. As always, being left behind was a when rather than an if. It was Cass’s own fault, she figured, that she’d let herself forget it. “It’s totally different when I do it!” She insisted, shaking her head with a bright grin. So what if this couldn’t last? She could enjoy it while she had it.

Looking up at the waitress, Cass flashed another smile. “Fries,” she said quickly. “And a chocolate shake!” The waitress went off to take their orders to the kitchen, and Cass looked to Sloane. “So, I guess you come here a lot?” 

As the waitress walked away, Sloane focused her attention back on her friend. At the question, she shrugged. She came here a lot with her dad, but was talking about her parents really the best move? She could skirt around it, of course, but Teagan’s advice rang loud in the back of her head. She cleared her throat after setting her water down. “Sometimes. I mean, not like, a ton.” It used to be a lot more when she was in elementary school, and even middle school. 

“Define… a lot.” Sloane let out a laugh as she propped her elbows up on the table, kicking her feet to the side, knocking the heel against the underside of the booth, careful to avoid catching Cass in the crossfire. “I like milkshakes, can you blame me?” Al’s had pretty much stayed the same over the years, and so did their milkshakes. “They used to have a flavor rotation, but after realizing nobody was buying the pistachio ones, they stuck to the main three flavors. I was a little bummed ‘cause they had a butterscotch one that was really good. One of the old cooks used to keep making it for the kids who asked, but after he passed, nobody else really tried.” 

Eventually, Cass knew, they’d probably have to talk about the elephant in the room. Both Levi and Metzli had thought it was probably a good idea for Cass to ask about the topic, but… Cass really didn’t want to do that. Asking about it meant she’d have to hear whatever answer Sloane gave her, and if that answer was the one her gut had convinced her was the truth? She didn’t think she’d be able to handle that. It would suck. So she’d keep dancing around the topic for as long as Sloane would let her.

“Like, once a week or more,” she decided, echoing Sloane’s laugh. Of course, her friend’s reasoning was very sound. “Their milkshakes are bomb,” she agreed with a nod. She listened to the stories of how Al’s used to be, smiling faintly. “Maybe we can learn how to make our own butterscotch milkshake. I bet we can find a recipe online. But we might have to buy one of those ice cream maker things.” 

“Okay, then definitely not a lot.” Sloane shrugged. Things weren’t like how they used to be. A part of her wished they were, because things were getting a whole lot more complicated these days, and half the time Sloane wasn’t sure what was going on in her own head. It was silly, knowing that one day she would be in tune with fate in the same way her mother was, but still struggling to understand that eventually, it would come for everyone that Sloane cared about regardless of her intervention. 

She felt frail, stupid, and a little bit childish. So what if she wanted to enjoy Cass’s time? Or Ari’s? Sloane hadn’t ever had friends like this before, so the thought of losing them had begun to fester. Teagan was right though, when it came down to it. Being honest with Cass would be better than just… ghosting her, but it was also scarier, especially if her mom ever caught wind of their friendship. Because that’s what it was, right? A friendship? “Dude, that sounds so good. I’d love that.” Sloane tapped the table, eyes lighting up, “how about a PB&J milkshake?” 

“Maybe we should start coming here a lot, then.” Her stupid heart pounded a little at the suggestion, the nervous flutter in her stomach making her feel a little nauseous. The idea of setting up a weekly… friend outing with Sloane was certainly one she enjoyed, but putting herself out there in any kind of way was always hard. When you were as used to rejection as Cass had become throughout her time in foster care, it became a lot easier to just never try at anything at all.

It also made it a lot scarier when there was something you wanted to try at. Because Cass did want to try at this. At friendship with Sloane, at… something more, maybe, if she could ever work out the courage to open her stupid mouth and say it. She didn’t think it would be today, though. Today, she was going to sit across from Sloane and talk about milkshakes. She grinned at her friend’s suggestion, nodding her head quickly. “Oh my god, yes. We can make a PB&J milkshake so good that everybody wants it, then sell the recipe to Al’s and be rich.” 

Sloane’s eyes widened slightly at Cass’s words and she looked down at her hands, pulling them under the table so that her friend wouldn’t be able to see the way her fingers trembled. It was a mixture of nerves and… excitement, maybe? Was this what it was like, having close friends? But the way she felt about Cass and the way she felt about Ari were two entirely different feelings, and while Sloane hadn’t yet let herself figure out those yet, it was becoming abundantly clear that there was something about Cass that made Sloane’s heart skip a beat. “That would be fun! I think they might get sick of us though.” She tried her best to make a face towards the wait staff who paid them no mind. It would be easy, pretending that they could do this— that they could hang out and things could be normal. 

“Do you think they’d put up a plaque about us?” Sloane tilted her head to the side, envisioning their faces on the wall of Al’s until it either closed down, or got torn apart by something sinister. “I can see it now, but I’d definitely make sure that you were at the forefront. Obviously.” After all, it was Cass’s ability to make them that made them so good. She wondered if anyone else had one of her sandwiches, if they’d think they were subpar, or if they’d see what Sloane saw. 

“I doubt anybody could ever get sick of you.” It came out before Cass could stop it, because the statement was one of those things so stupidly obvious that it was hard not to say. The sky was blue. The grass was green. No one would ever not want to hang out with Sloane. That was just the way things were, the simple facts of life. Anyone who said anything different was just… full of it. Still, the statement made the tips of her ears burn red as soon as it left her lips, made her heart pound a little faster as it settled into the air between them. And it was kind of stupid, because it wasn’t anything unlike the things Cass said to Sloane already, but it felt a little different now. 

She let out a little laugh at Sloane’s question, a hint of nervousness coming out with it. “We’d totally get a plaque,” she agreed, ears burning impossibly hotter at the way Sloane swore she’d make sure Cass was at the forefront of it. “I don’t know, I think we should share the spotlight. I mean, we’re a team, right?” She wanted them to be a team.

Sloane’s breath caught in her throat at Cass’s words. Even if she didn’t have the feelings she did— which, did she? She was still surprised by Cass’s honesty. She hadn’t had close friends like this before, and even though it’d been brief, her conversation with Teagan rang through her head like a warning signal. The thought of her mom finding out was a constant tremor and Sloane knew there was no real way to dislodge it. Even by asking her mom to spare either Ari or Cass, what would that do? It would only further implicate the relationships she had formed with either of them, and only put bigger targets on their backs. 

Cass was…. Important, and it was becoming abundantly clear to Sloane that there was no way out of this. That losing Cass would mean losing a part of herself, even without feelings involved. She would even say the same for Ari. “You should um, try and say that to my elementary school class.” Sloane let out a bitter laugh, though it didn’t sound as bitter as she had intended. She kept her hands beneath the table, fingers pressing crescents into her knuckles in soft, round circles. “You’re the one who’s got the talent, though.” Sloane finally braved picking her glass of water back up to take a sip. “But if you really want me next to you that bad, then who am I to say no?” That could constitute as flirting, right? Sloane was definitely flirting with Cass now, and she couldn’t even stop herself. 

Even with her fear about her mom finding out about her relationship with the other girl, and about losing her, and about— well, a hundred other things, she couldn’t help but let her honesty slip in between those fractures. Teagan had insisted Sloane be honest, and she knew that she had to be. For herself, and for Cass. “Hey, Cass, I um—“ 

Before she could get the sentence out, the waitress arrived with their milkshakes, setting them down onto the table with a loud thud. Sloane snapped her mouth shut, wondering if they’d been interrupted for a reason, before she looked nervously between the older woman as she walked away, then back to Cass. She picked up her milkshake and tipped it towards her friend. “Cheers?” 

Cass swore time stood still as the words settled, even if they weren’t particularly big words. Flirting had never felt so… large before. She wasn’t sure if it was because she actually liked Sloane or if it was that memory of the other girl’s bedroom with that window and the way Sloane pushed her towards it, gentle but insistent. She liked to think she’d be less nervous if that wasn’t hanging above them, liked to think it would be easier to breathe without it, but she couldn’t be sure. Cass had flirted plenty before, but it was always… noncommittal. It was always her not letting herself get too attached, always her leaving before she was left. This felt different. Sloane felt different.

So it was a relief, then, when Sloane didn’t react negatively. Cass smiled at the comment, rolling her eyes just a little. “Elementary school kids are, like, super dumb. It’s totally their loss, anyway.” Anyone who passed up a chance to get to know Sloane better was someone to be pitied, really; Cass was positive of that much. 

It almost seemed like Sloane was flirting back a little, and Cass felt her heart pick up speed. Maybe she hadn’t misinterpreted things. The thought was a good one, instilling her with some confidence as she leaned forward a little, propping her elbows on the table. “There’s always a spot for you there. Beside me, I mean.” If you want it, she almost added, but she kept the words caged behind her teeth. She learned a while ago that you shouldn’t give someone an out if you couldn’t stand the idea of them taking it, and she didn’t want to think about Sloane taking this one. So… maybe she just wouldn’t offer it. Not aloud, at least.

She sucked her teeth as Sloane said her name, nodding for her to continue, but… Before she could say whatever it was she was going to say, the waitress returned and Cass wasn’t sure if the feeling settling in her stomach was relief or disappointment. Whatever Sloane had been building to might have been catastrophic… or it might have been good. Maybe Cass would never know, one way or the other. Maybe it was a little safer that way.

Clearing her throat, Cass picked up her own milkshake with a nod. “Cheers,” she agreed, tapping the glass against Sloane’s. The noise from it seemed to echo, just a little.

Life would be easier if Sloane could just float through. If she could accept Cass’s words for what they were and nothing less, and maybe nothing more if she were interpreting them wrong. But Sloane didn’t think she was. The butterflies made themselves known once more, heart steady at the base of her throat, fingers numb with the feeling of dread, but want, too. She wasn’t sure if she liked this feeling, or if she hated it. 

The waitress’s interruption saved Cass, Sloane thought. If she could speak honesty into the cavern that’d become their friendship, she wasn’t sure where they would land on the other side. The thought of her mother, and of the words that Teagan had said both rattled inside of Sloane’s head, warring against one another in some grand show of right versus wrong. 

Sloane pulled her own milkshake away, straw bumping against her lower lip as she greened over it at Cass. “I think the PB&J is a great idea.” A callback to the moments before things had been swept under the rug, before Sloane pushed Cass through her window, not with physical force, but the pleading look in her eye that said trust me. 

“Yours are like, way superior to anything else I’ve ever tried by the way.” Be honest, just talk to her about it. But how did you tell somebody that they might die if they stay next to you? Ari at least would have some sense of what it meant, befriending a banshee, especially because she had known some prior, but Cass? Sloane sucked down some of her shake and then sat it to the side. “Trying not to ruin my salad, you know.” 

Cass had always lived in extremes. She either overthought the tiniest details, let them eat her up inside, or she didn’t think at all and jumped into situations woefully unprepared because of it. She was too much, or she was not enough. That was what it boiled down to at every foster home that had ever decided they didn’t want her anymore, what it said on every note her case worker got. Her file was stacked with contradictions. She talked too much. She was too quiet. She wouldn’t eat the food we made her. She ate too much, so no one got any leftovers. She was too smart, we couldn’t keep up with her homework. She was too stupid, she was failing half her classes. Cass tended to overcorrect, tended to try too hard in a way that made sure no one would ever really want her. 

And she didn’t want to do that with Sloane. She didn’t want to be too much or too little, didn’t want to be too quiet or too loud. She wanted to be… whatever Sloane needed her to be. She wanted to be a friend, or more than one. She wanted to be safety, or home. She wanted to be anything, so long as it meant Sloane would sit across from her at a stupid diner and talk about PB&J milkshakes and not make her leave out the window when it was all said and done. If Cass could only meet Sloane’s parents, only talk to them just one time, things would be easier. She could make them like her, at least temporarily. Long enough for Sloane to see she didn’t have to be embarrassed of her. She was sure of it.

But for right now, maybe, this could be enough. Stupid jokes in a dingy diner with a waitress who looked far too tired to eavesdrop. So… it didn’t matter, whatever Sloane had been going to say. Whatever statement had been replaced with an affirmation that PB&J milkshakes were definitely the future didn’t matter. Cass smiled, nodding her head.

The smile widened as Sloane went on, claiming that her PB&J sandwich was definitely the best she’d ever had. “I told you it would be!” Cass chewed her straw, taking a quick slurp of the milkshake. “I wouldn’t lie to you.” Realizing the words sounded a little heavy on their own, she added, “About PB&Js. They’re very serious business.” Amusement sparked in her eyes as Sloane put the milkshake to the side, and she followed suit. “Right. We couldn’t have that.” She folded her fingers together then unfolded them, unsure what to do with her hands now that there wasn’t a glass between them. “Um, so, did the… Did the PB&J ruin your dinner? Last time?” She flinched inwardly as the words tumbled out. Talking about last time specifically meant they might have to talk about how it ended. Cass didn’t think either of them particularly wanted that.

“You did tell me, you were right.” Sloane crossed her arms over her chest as she tilted her head to the side, observing Cass for a moment. All of the thoughts springing back and forth in her head were leaving her dizzy and confused. She hated it. It’d be simple, just being honest, wouldn’t it? But then that opened so much more that she wasn’t sure either she or Cass were ready for. But how was she supposed to make that decision for her friend? Sloane worried her lower lip before she picked her water back up, finishing the glass and setting it to the side so that when the waitress made her rounds, it’d be easy to refill. 

“They’re super serious business.” The weight of her words weren’t lost on Sloane, but she pretended that they were just about PB&J’s and nothing else. Was Cass slyly implying that Sloane was lying about the deal with her parents? Fuck, this was annoying. 

“What? No, no.” Sloane shook her head with a laugh and began to coil a hair at the back of her neck around her finger, feeling it spring back against the skin every time she let go. “Not the PB&J.” What was left unsaid was the look on your face, the way I had to ask you to leave, the way that everything felt like it was falling apart, the way that it still does. “I think the water did, like really.” Brushing it under the rug was easier, at least for right now, right? They were supposed to be enjoying milkshakes. Sloane just wanted to enjoy her stupid milkshake with a pretty girl and set aside the doom and gloom for later. 

Again, the waitress interrupted their moment, and Sloane felt herself relax a little. Maybe with their mouths full of food it’d be easier to leave things unsaid. Sloane smiled up at the woman as she set the two plates down, as well as a basket of jalapeño poppers. “On the house.” 

Sloane watched the woman as she walked away, then looked back to Cass with an expression of amusement. “Well, I mean, I guess the coupons also bring good luck.” 

“I always am,” Cass replied, sing-song. Which… was something she should probably be more careful with. The last thing she’d ever want to do would be to enthrall Sloane, especially without even meaning to. That was the kind of thing that could really put a damper in a friendship… if Cass hadn’t put a damper in things already by being a little too herself. Which was definitely a thing that could and did happen, sometimes, no matter what Metzli or Levi said. 

But besides the little hiccup with the window, Sloane wasn’t acting any differently than she had before, so maybe things were still okay. Maybe Cass could still repair whatever it was she had broken in that kitchen, whatever it was that made Sloane want so desperately to keep her quarantined away from other parts of her life. Maybe all Cass needed to do was just… introduce herself to Sloane’s parents, somehow, and the rest would follow. 

She smiled faintly, half relieved and half nervous at the mention that the PB&J hadn’t ruined Sloane’s dinner that night, because it was said in a way that implied something else might have. Was that something else Cass? That stubborn voice in the back of her head insisted that it could have been. The water, Sloane said, and Cass nodded and pretended like that made sense. “You can get pretty full off of water.” And you could, actually, even if she didn’t think it was something that had happened with Sloane. Cass used to fool her empty stomach by pouring water into it all the time. 

She thought she might have been gearing up to say something else, but the waitress came back again with their food. Cass grinned at the complimentary appetizer, giving the waitress an appreciative nod and barely stopping herself from thanking her. 

When she’d gone, Cass turned back to Sloane, looking delighted. “I bet it’s because she’s got a crush on you or something,” she laughed, taking one of the jalapeño poppers and popping it into her mouth. “I mean, who wouldn’t?” She didn’t realize she’d said it until the words were out, and she quickly stuffed her burger into her mouth to avoid saying anything else. She was a con artist. It shouldn’t be this hard to be smooth with a cute girl!

The obvious was laid out before them in the form of words better left unsaid, and Sloane knew that explaining herself, or explaining why Cass couldn’t meet her parents wouldn’t go badly if she could mold it into something different, if she could go into it without explaining the tradition of murdering a close friend in order to activate something within herself, then maybe it wouldn’t be all that bad, and maybe Sloane could achieve some semblance of collectedness over the situation. 

“You can, so it’s not super unheard of.” Sloane offered Cass a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, but she didn’t want Cass to think that she was the problem, because really, she wasn’t. 

With the food now in front of them, Sloane knew it would be easier to fill the awkward silence ( if there were any ) with chewing down the romaine and tomatoes that sat haphazardly across her plate. Sloane picked up her fork and looked up at Cass as she spoke, brows knitting together. “What? No way!” Sloane kicked her leg out lightly to hit Cass’s ankle, but not actually hard enough to hurt her. “That’s like—“ And then the other shoe dropped. Sloane felt the nerves race through her, shooting like lightning through every nerve ending.

Her head was buzzing and she felt her face grow warm. So they were flirting, right? It wasn’t just Sloane? 

They had been friends for long enough now that Sloane thought she would be able to tell when Cass began to act differently, but maybe it had been subtle enough that she hadn’t noticed. “I mean, I’m sure that’s like, a really long list.” She forced the words out, though they tasted like static on her tongue. Sloane stabbed her fork through a tomato and some greens before shoving it into her mouth. While chewing, she thought of the handful of things she would like to say to Cass, but would that really be smart? Trying to protect the girl from her life plans as well as realizing that she had a crush on her were two vehemently different feelings. 

The last thing Sloane wanted to do was toy with Cass’s heart. How could she continue to push the girl out the window and in the same breath express that when she thought of her, her heart began to swell in size at the mere thought of her. “Maybe she has a crush on you, why does it always have to be me?” 

She’d made a mistake. It was the first thought that jolted through her head at the way Sloane froze, the loudest thing in her mind at the way the conversation seemed to stop in its tracks around them. She’d made a mistake, because she’d assumed that the little half-flirting dance they’d been doing was a thing that could be taken a little bit farther, a thing that could be made a little less subtle, and she’d been wrong because of course Sloane wouldn’t want that. She didn’t even want her parents knowing that she was friends with Cass. Of course she wouldn’t want Cass flirting with her in public, of course she wouldn’t want anything too bold.

Cass looked down at the burger on her plate, picking at the bun thoughtfully as Sloane spoke. “Nah,” she said, a little quieter now, “I bet it really isn’t.” It was hard to imagine anyone knowing Sloane and not wanting to know her better, hard to imagine anyone who didn’t feel as energized around her as Cass did, even now. If Sloane weren’t so easy to like, Cass’s heart wouldn’t be pounding quite like this. If she were harder to have a crush on, Cass wouldn’t be so afraid of getting her heart broken with hers. 

She let out a little laugh when Sloane replied that the waitress may have had a crush on her instead, shaking her head just a little. “Oh, definitely not.” It was hard to imagine anyone not liking Sloane and, by contrast, it was hard to imagine anyone liking Cass. That was the whole problem here, wasn’t it? Sloane was too easy to like, and Cass was too hard. If either of those things were less true, things would be so much simpler. 

Cass’s words struck Sloane and it was impossible to pretend that they hadn’t. With the food in front of them, she was supposed to be able to busy herself, not let her mouth hang open in disbelief that anyone could feel that way about her. Even if Cass were just being friendly, Sloane still felt like it was a farce, like the rug would be pulled out from beneath her. Because really, Sloane didn’t get that kind of care, not from people who didn’t understand her at her core. Not from those who weren’t fae, or those who didn’t share blood. But hadn’t that changed? Even with Ari, Sloane had discovered that caring for somebody could show itself in a plethora of ways. 

Sloane knew deep down that it wouldn’t be her father who fell to fate, that it would be somebody else. She had decided at a young age that she would be okay with whatever the cost, but now those feelings were beginning to become clouded with the simplicity of care she had extended to those she now called friends. 

“Why not?” Sloane asked, her voice equally as quiet, just above a whisper. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure if she wanted Cass to answer her. There was hardly any chatter in the diner aside from the waitstaff and cooks who spoke through the small window where orders were dispensed through. 

“I think it makes sense. That she would.” Sloane took a sip of her milkshake, the condensation rubbing off onto the palm of her hand uncomfortably. “I’m not the only great one sitting at this table, you know.” She smiled softly at Cass and set the milkshake down before folding her hands under her chin, elbows propped up onto the table. “Not anyone can make like, the greatest PB&J in the world and also survive a trip to the 80’s while being chased by a Djab.” 

She wondered if Sloane really wanted an answer to her question or if it was one of those rhetorical things. Would she walk out if Cass admitted how easy it was to like her? Would she be upset if she said it was impossible to imagine someone looking at Sloane and not thinking that she was the brightest thing in the room? Would she be embarrassed if Cass told her that her own heart picked up the pace any time she was sitting across from her like this?

If she were braver, maybe Cass would have said any of that. Instead, she only shrugged, smiling faintly and bringing the milkshake to her lips, taking a long drink from the straw and letting the cold sensation build up a headache behind her eyes just to avoid giving a straight answer. 

She looked away as Sloane replied that she thought it was possible for someone to feel that about Cass, shrugging a shoulder in a way that was noncommittal, as if it didn’t mean anything. “People usually don’t,” she replied with a hum, like it was simple, like it didn’t matter, like it didn’t hurt. 

But then Sloane continued, and Cass’s attention was captured by something else instead. “Is that what it was? A Djab?”

People usually don’t. 

Sloane was annoyed, but not at Cass. At anyone who could make her feel lesser than, because really, she didn’t deserve that. Most people didn’t. To care for a human to this degree was a strange thing, but hadn’t she learned it from her mother? 

“Well, those people are stupid, and it’s obvious that they don’t matter.” Did Sloane? In this case? When she had quite literally forced Cass out of her window, a sorry excuse attached and a see you later! Sloane wanted Cass to know what she meant to her, even if at the base of it all it was just about friendship and nothing else to the other girl. 

“I think you’re cool, and it’d make sense if they did.” Sloane shrugged, the feeling at the back of her neck flaring— that familiar warmth that’d been cascading through her chest on the days she’d seen Cass splitting from end to end, always at the back of her mind. 

Sloane could have kept it to herself until later, could have let Cass know in the silence of a park, or even over the phone, but it felt right— to give her this, even if Sloane wanted to follow the wide berth of their obvious admissions. It was a selfish thing, to want to tell a girl that she was pretty and it’s all Sloane could think about, especially when at the end of the day, Sloane wasn’t sure she could give her what she wanted. 

“It was, yeah. I asked a friend who’s really good with that kind of stuff.” Sloane smiled at Cass faintly, happy to at least have succeeded in one thing. “They’re like, spatial… or time-like travelers, but they’re ghost assassins or whatever.” 

She was a little surprised at Sloane’s statement, at the… determinateness of it. Like it was simple, like it was obvious. Like Cass being someone worth liking was something that was easy to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary. And, in spite of everything, warmth spread through her. She forgot about the stupid window, forgot about how determined Sloane had been to keep her from meeting her parents, forgot about everything except for the way Sloane looked at her like she was easy to look at. 

She was good at selective thinking.

“I guess some people are pretty stupid,” Cass agreed like she believed it, too. And she didn’t, of course, but maybe that was okay. Maybe it was enough that Sloane believed it, even if it definitely wasn’t true. It made her feel good, anyway. Wasn’t that what really mattered?

She was pleased to hear that Sloane had found an answer to their question, smiling brightly as she explained it. “Ghost assassins? That’s so cool. I mean, now that we totally beat it. It wasn’t very cool when it was happening. Why was a ghost assassin after us, do you think?”

“They are.” Sloane said it matter-of-factly, like there was no use in Cass arguing with her. Because Sloane really did think that anyone who didn’t like Cass was wrong. What wasn’t to like? She was both kind and funny, and it didn’t hurt that Sloane also found her to be one of the prettiest people she had ever met. 

“I’m not sure, that they couldn’t help with, but I guess they sort of… just get hired by somebody to carry out whatever, and it’s not very easy getting them to stop.” Sloane chewed the inside of her cheek as she thought about the precarious situation she and Cass had been in, and how it could have gone really bad if Charlotte hadn’t been there. 

“We got like, super lucky, according to everything I read. It’s not very often that people get away from them, so…” Sloane shrugged, “I guess Charlotte really helped us.” 

Cass smiled, faint and shy but painfully genuine. It was funny how easily Sloane could pull something like that out of her; like it wasn’t a challenge at all, like that honesty was just there instead of being something she often felt she had to fight to find. Sloane made a lot of impossible things look easy. It was part of why Cass liked her so much.

“Well, it didn’t follow us back here,” she said, clearing her throat and ducking her head a little. “And it didn’t… hurt Charlotte after we left. I checked, you know, in the, um, historical records. She lived in town for a while after that and left in the 90s. So… I guess whatever it was after us for, it had to do with us being there? In the past?” Maybe it wasn’t them specifically that the thing had been sent for. 

Sucking her teeth, Cass nodded. “Yeah,” she agreed. “I guess she did.” And there was more she wanted to say, too, but… Saying too much had always been a terrifying thing. Cass would much rather say too little, or say nothing at all. It was always so much easier that way. 

Sloane knew that in the grand scheme of things, they’d used one of their nine lives. If humans and fae even had those. But her mom hadn’t screamed, so she assumed that it had the same energy as if they actually did. 

“Did you?” Sloane’s eyes widened slightly as she thought about what had happened when they got sucked back in time. “I mean, that’s good, right? That it didn’t go after her, and it didn’t come after us.” She wasn’t sure what they would have done if something like that had happened. Cass’s concern over Charlotte didn’t surprise Sloane. She knew that her friend had a kind heart, even beneath the onslaught of jokes. 

“Are you okay?” The banshee was suddenly unsure if telling Cass about what she found out had been the right call. The energy at their table shifted, and even Sloane could pick up on it. Clearing her throat, Sloane leaned forward again and reached over, poking at Cass’s hand with her index finger. “We got out, and Charlotte did too, so like, we did it— we’re good.” 

“Yeah.” Cass nodded, wringing her hands together thoughtfully. “It looks like she stayed in town a few years after. Left in the late nineties. I don’t know what happened to her after that, but it doesn’t seem like that thing was after her.” It might have been easier, she thought, if it had been. She thought of the strange pull she’d had to the woman, of the way Bobbi had spoken about her. The more Cass thought about it, the more she thought there might be something more there. But… maybe it was just because she wanted it so badly. She was good at wanting things so much that she imagined they were real. 

Case in point: this. The way Sloane looked at her, the way her heart skipped a beat in her chest, the way everything in her assured her that her friend might feel the same way she did in spite of that window she’d been ushered out of, in spite of the way no one had ever liked Cass as much as Cass liked them, in spite of everything. Her mind was good at ignoring the things it didn’t want to see. A little too good, sometimes.

Smiling faintly as Sloane’s finger poked at her hand, Cass let out a quiet cough and nodded. “I’m okay,” she assured the other girl. “Just… We got lucky. I guess I didn’t realize how close we came to being, like, an actual episode of Stranger Things. It’s weird to think about.” 

Sloane listened to Cass as she explained that it seemed like Charlotte disappeared in a plume of smoke after the 90’s. That made sense seeing as most people didn’t stick around White Crest for very long. Either she managed to get out of the town alive, or she died. There could be some outlandish third option, but Sloane wasn’t sure if bringing it up would help Cass much at all, or if her friend even needed help when it came to the whole Charlotte thing. There’d been a distinct shift in energy when Cass had seen her, and even though Sloane couldn’t sense such a thing, it was pretty obvious. 

“It is super weird to think about, but we came out on top.” Sloane drew her hand back awkwardly, letting it fall into her lap. There was a shift here now, too, and Sloane wasn’t sure how to address it. Whether it was because they actually almost died, or because Cass was thinking about Charlotte, Sloane was uncertain. But she kept her smile anyhow. “It’s going to be a super cool story to tell in like, ten years.” In a hundred, in Sloane’s case. A few hundred. 

Even though the thoughts were often meandering in the back of Sloane’s head, she knew that she would lose Cass one day, regardless if she was able to protect her from her mom. She would lose nearly everyone except for those with a life expectancy longer than hers. It wasn’t to say she could kick the bucket from something else, but if she lived a relatively normal life, she would surpass all of those around her. Was sitting on her feelings for Cass really the right move when in relative terms, they had such little time left together? “I’m glad I got stuck there with you though.” 

Sloane pulled her hand back, and Cass missed the warmth of it immediately. There was so much about that trip to the eighties that she didn’t know how to say, so much that she hadn’t even managed to admit to herself just yet. She couldn’t share her suspicions about Charlotte without bringing up suspicions about herself, too. There was so much about Cass that Sloane still didn’t know. And it was selfish, Cass knew, but she wanted to keep it that way. She wanted to live inside of a bubble where she was someone else, her and not her at the same time, because that other person, the one who was bits and pieces of Cassidy without ever being the full thing, was so much easier to like. She was so much easier to care for in fractions, and she wanted Sloane to care for her so badly that she ached with it. So she held back, because it was easier. Because it was more convenient. It always had been.

“Weird, but cool. We’ve got, like, a battle story now. With the both of us.” Because Cass had plenty of her own battle stories, had ones that she would recall with a wicked grin and ones that she would never say aloud. But having one with Sloane in it, one where the two of them fought something terrible and came out on top? It was exhilarating. It made her feel closer to the other girl, like there was something tangible between them instead of something invisible and easily cast aside. “We’ll tell everybody,” she agreed with a small smile, liking the idea that they’d tell everybody together. It was probably a pipe dream. Most things were.

She smiled at Sloane’s words, stupid heart skipping a beat and stupid butterflies fluttering in her stomach. “I’m glad I was there with you, too. I don’t think there’s anyone I’d rather be trapped in the eighties with.” It felt like both a confession and an obvious fact, like something heavy and something simple all at once. 

[quidprokarma]

@faetedwill​

I bet there are some spots.

Are you sure you want to make that bet? It’s not going to go in your favor.

[covetedclarity]

@faetedwill replied to this ask:

[user squints]

[ no message received ]

[fearhims3lf-retired]

@faetedwill​

That's such a cop out. :/

♦

No it’s not.

[teaganmyrick]

@faetedwill

[pm] When would you like to have dinner with my mom?

🜄

[pm] Oh! I’m free whenever really. I’ve finished up a few projects and have a lot of time right now.

[faetedwill]

Scream^2

TIMING: Current LOCATION: Sloane’s house PARTIES: @faetedwill @kadavernagh SUMMARY: Regan visits Sloane at her home and wants to speak to her mother who is the banshee, definitely not Sloane.  CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A

Another banshee. Regan had stared at the message from Marina the entire evening. Another banshee. Another banshee. She wasn’t even sure she considered herself one, but the thought of meeting someone similar to herself, in some way – well, she hadn’t experienced that since Deirdre. And that had hardly turned into a friendship. How could it, after everything in that horrid clearing? Beyond Sloane’s name and address, Regan knew next to nothing about her. Would she be mysterious with a cruel edge? Would she be soft-spoken and kind-hearted but awaiting peoples’ deaths? Would she be old and weathered with wisdom to impart? 

As Regan shuffled up the font stairs of what appeared to be a perfectly normal suburban house, her skin prickled. Looking down, there were a few small bones sitting on the deck, apparently being bleached by the sun. Animal. Perhaps something possum-sized. She didn’t examine further because the windows caught her attention – the glass looked strange. Regan gave it a tap, and realized it was similar to the glass in her own apartment. Thick. Military grade. Did Sloane struggle with control? 

Regan took a deep breath and held it in her lungs. She could feel a presence past the door. Sloane, surely. Someone inside. A “fae”. Maybe Marina was right after all. She kept holding her breath as her knuckles rapped against the door. What was she supposed to say? Did Sloane expect her? Probably not. Regan cleared her throat. “Um, my name is Dr. Kavanagh. Regan Kavanagh. I’m the Medical Examiner.” 

Well, Regan thought, too late – either Sloane was told ahead of time, or she was about to think someone died. Either way, that was sure to draw her out.

Sloane had been moving about her house frantically in search of the second sketchbook she had managed to lose. This time, it was far more important than the last— the newest rendition of Cass’s ( very late ) birthday present was towards the ending pages, and while she could redo it all, she felt it would take the sincerity out of it. It was entirely possible that the book had been left behind in class, or in her mom’s shop. The sketches weren’t indicative of newly formed friendships, but still, Sloane hoped her mom wouldn’t ask, as questions always seemed to form regardless. 

As she flit from room to room, Sloane stopped in her tracks at the sound of knuckles against the front door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and she had made it perfectly clear to both Ari and Cass that they couldn’t come over unless they texted first, and even that was generous. 

“Coming!” Sloane half-yelled, half-huffed as she pulled the door open. A woman stood in front of her now— one she didn’t recognize. As she spoke, the young banshee’s brows furrowed. “Medical…” Sloane’s heart caught in her throat. “Wait, medical examiner? Did something happen?” She pushed past the older woman as she peered towards the driveway. There were no other cars, just hers and Regan’s. 

She pulled back slightly, hanging half in the doorway. “Did something happen?” Wouldn’t she have known? Would she have screamed, even if she hadn’t bared witness to her father’s demise? To her mother’s? Had a warden gotten to her mom? 

The yell caught Regan by surprise. Her eyes automatically drifted toward the window, searching for cracks, but of course there were none. As the door pulled open, Regan blinked back with equal surprise at who she saw. A child? Why was there a child here? Was she Sloane’s child? Regan could still feel the pins and needles, the presence in the house, so Sloane was surely there. She lifted her palms and shook her head, trying to dispel the juvenile’s assumptions. “N-no, nothing –” The subadult looked almost fearful, and Regan regretted not introducing herself another way. “I am not here for work.” She clarified, looking down at the girl. She was never good with children. What was she to say? Did the child even know about banshees? Part of Regan, a big part, hoped she didn’t.

Regan swallowed, and she looked around once more before lowering herself slightly to speak to the child. “I heard something about the woman who lives here.” And she wasn’t misinformed. She could feel it. “Is your mother home, perhaps? We are in the same – hm.” Regan tilted her head back, thinking of something that would not be a lie. “We have some commonalities. I was aiming to speak to her. Perhaps, uh, even – something a little louder than speaking.” Oh. That sounded like – well, the child wouldn’t know. She swallowed again, looking at the bones. “Those are nice.” Regan commented, pointed toward them. “That thoracic vertebra is in good condition. Possum? Or… those may be your mother’s, right?”

At Regan’s explanation, Sloane felt herself relax. Of course if something had happened to her dad, her mom would have called. It’d be harder to figure out if something were to happen to her mom, but she was sure that somehow there’d be a way to figure it out. But Sloane didn’t have to worry about that, because nothing had happened— Regan was here for… well, Sloane wasn’t sure what the hell she was here for. The banshee leaned against the doorframe, brows pulling together as she tried to piece together why she a medical examiner would have business with any of them. Maybe she knew her mom? Or maybe they had worked together on a case. The possibilities ran in circles through Sloane’s head as she tried to silently work out her newfound company. 

“Is your back okay?” Sloane asked as Regan lowered herself. Why the hell was she acting like Sloane was a kid? Oh, hell no. She blinked at the woman, listening to the way that she skirted around the topic of why she was on the Kennedy’s doorstep. “My mom makes headstones, is that what you’re talking about? I guess that’d be somewhat in your line of work.” Sloane thought for a moment, knowing telling the woman that her mom wasn’t home could end badly, but she did so anyways, “And no, she’s not. But my super big mean vicious dog is, so.” Sloane crossed her arms over her chest trying to appear far more tough than she actually was. If Steve did round the corner, she knew that Regan would not be met with an attack, but an onslaught of tail whacking and slobber as he tried to get her to pet him. As the medical examiner questioned the bones on the porch, Sloane shook her head. “Mine. I found them, cleaned them, bleached them.” 

“My back?” Regan squinted at the adolescent, and for a moment, wondered if she would be asked about her vision next. She wasn’t here to see this child. And she had exhausted her niceties, patience pushing her to be straight to the point. “Headstones? No. I’m not here because of any headstones.” Though that did sound interesting. And was a respectable profession for someone like… them, Regan supposed. “I simply desire to talk to her. It has nothing to do with you, so if you would just let her know I’m here…” But then came the bad news. “Your mother… isn’t home? Are you certain?” Regan asked, slowly, realizing just what that might mean. She didn’t care about the dog, vicious or exaggerated, and she didn’t especially care about this subadult who seemed to have no inclination toward helping her. But who was she feeling if not the child’s mom? It couldn’t be – no, Regan refused to even humor that. “You did nicely with those bones. I know your mother taught you how to do that. I would like to speak with her. Is there a way I might be able to get in touch with her?” But something still wasn’t right. Those bug bites along her skin were only growing more intense, as if she were standing right next to – no. Once again, she would not humor that. Patience expired, Regan looked at the child and sighed. “I can sense that Sloane is here.”

“You’re leaning over like you hurt your back.” The opportunity to call Regan a Grandma had passed, not only because she didn’t look like one, but because she felt as though the joke wouldn’t hit the way it would have had she said it a little earlier. Sloane stayed put in the doorway, cheek tucked between her teeth as she tried to figure out what Regan was actually here for. Her questions set off a series of alarms. What was she, some kind of warden? Regan did seem not only frustrated, but also confused by the fact that Sloane’s mom wasn’t around. Realistically, Sloane knew what a medical examiner could want with a banshee, but it wasn’t like she was going to volunteer that information. 

“She left like an hour ago to work, so yeah, I’m pretty certain.” Sloane could close the door, could lock it. Could even grab her dagger, if needed, but what would that do? Regan was several inches taller than her, and if she were a warden, she would be outmatched. With the bones being brought up again, Sloane’s gaze flickered to them, then back to Regan. “Yeah, she did teach me.” Suspicions continued to arise as Regan continued on, insisting that she had to talk to her mom. “How do you know her?” Sloane felt the lump in her throat grow, and the only thing that caused the tense feeling rising in her chest to falter was her own name falling from Regan’s lips. “Excuse me?” She could play the long con, get as many answers out of Regan as possible and then close the door in her face and immediately call her mom, but she wasn’t sure that was the play here. “What do you want with her?” Sloane asked again, creating a barrier out of herself. There was a umbrella just inside the door, and it was slightly broken— she could probably whack Regan with it till she left. Maybe it’d confuse her enough that she’d be able to back in and close the door on her, and even lock it. 

It sounded like she was out of luck. Entirely. The child at least seemed as though she meant it; her mother was out. Regan gave a defeated sigh, and reached into her pocket to grab one of her business cards. But of course, the child had more questions, and they were fair to ask. She held the card in her hand, fingers running along the edges. “I don’t know her personally, to be honest. I only know of her. We have a mutual friend.” It was clear, though, that the strange girl was growing wary of Regan, and that concerned her. What if she lost her only connection to meeting Sloane? Would Marina help her arrange for another? No, she had to make this work. Regan held out the business card, hoping the subadult would at least take it from her, but she seemed awfully closed off. “I told you, I want to talk to her. Nothing more, truly.” But this wasn’t getting her anywhere. “Would you please take my card and pass it along to your mother? I was told to hunt down Sloane.”

Sloane tensed slightly as Regan reached into her pocket. In those few seconds, the young banshee imagined a plethora of things that Regan could have pulled out, none of them good. Except, it wasn’t a knife or some other kind of iron object that she pulled out. It was a business card. “A mutual friend?” Sloane asked, curious. Who could have given her name to this woman? Her first thought was Emilio. Had he decided to want to get rid of her after all? All she had ever done was make jokes about how his floors must be disgusting and how Teddy deserved better than cleaning up after him. But Ari had been truthful in that Emilio wouldn’t hurt her, so who the hell was this woman? Lost in her own thoughts to the possibility of Emilio being responsible for this encounter, she barely had time to tune back in as Regan began to explain that she was told to hunt her down. Even if there was confusion there and Sloane was not her mother, it was her that Regan was after, so Sloane acted in the only way she knew how. Abruptly. The young banshee grabbed the broken umbrella from where it leaned against the wall and backed up, putting enough distance between herself and Regan before she whacked the woman against the chest with it. “Get the hell out of here, you creep! I’m going to call— I’m going to call my mom if you don’t back the hell up!” Maybe she could call Ari, ask her to eat this woman, or worse, call Correy and ask him to shroud her in everlasting darkness. 

The child moved fast. One moment she had simply opened the door a crack, and the next, she’d whipped something out of the house. Regan didn’t get a good look before there was a painful smack against her chest and the girl took a defensive stance, holding the weapon – an umbrella – in her hands like a baseball bat. As if prepared to strike again. Regan keeled over, stunned more than hurt, and a screech poured out of her mouth along with breath that had choked in her throat when she was struck. Something cracked and shattered behind her. A dog barked from somewhere. Regan pulled herself up straight and looked down at the girl with a scowl, her eyes narrowed and teeth bared. Her anger, however, was now bridled along with her surprise. This was nothing compared to the insult she had suffered by even her own hand. “What was that for?” She panted again, not wanting to humor the rest of the child’s tantrum. Call her mom? That was what Regan wanted. “I’m not here to hurt or rob you. Farber. What did you think–” Wait. The screech. “Did I hurt you?” 

Sloane hadn’t really expected anything to happen after jabbing Regan with the umbrella. Maybe she’d get yelled at and the medical examiner would get the hell off of her front porch. Or better yet, maybe her mom would get there just in time to settle the whole ordeal on her own terms and blast this woman to next Tuesday. But what happened next was a surprise, and though Sloane wasn’t hurt by Regan’s screech, both hers and Regan’s car windows had shattered. Steve’s bark was a reason for minor concern, but Sloane was sure that he was far enough away that it was the sharpness of it that had bothered him rather than anything else. Regan looked pissed. “You just told me you were sent here to hunt me down, what do you mean what was that for?!” The umbrella felt like stone in her grip. She stared at the woman, wide-eyed. Regan wasn’t a warden, she was a banshee. Just like her, and just like her mom. “No?” Sloane was slightly offended that Regan hadn’t put it together yet. “It didn’t, and it wouldn’t. Obviously.” 

“I was!” Regan bit back, and reigned herself in once again. She rarely dealt with children, wasn’t good at it, and none of her training involved not getting frustrated by their antics. Even so, she pretended the girl was only an especially annoying groundhog, barking the same note over and over again. That helped. “I was sent here,” she said more calmly, “I was told it may be of value for Sloane and I to meet. Clearly, there were some details left out. Such as her having a daughter who likes whacking people with umbrellas and perhaps other household objects.” She exhaled one more breath, her face now a sheet of calmness. And a bit of confusion. “Why wouldn’t it?” She raised a brow. “That scream, it – well, it hurts people. Everyone.” Except for Deirdre. And – “Except… except for those like me. But you’re not. You can’t be.” Regan combed a hand nervously through her hair and peered back over her shoulder, noting the glass-free windows of the two cars. She looked back at the girl. “It does that to peoples’ ears. So something is going on here, and I would appreciate it if you fill me in. Your mother – do you –” Know? Panic struck her. What if Sloane didn’t know? The windows could have been a matter of fact to her, but never explained. “Does any of this make sense to you?” 

It seemed like Regan still didn’t understand. Frustration wrote itself plainly across Sloane’s features the longer she listened to Regan try to speak for herself. “You didn’t listen to me.” It was clear that Regan was going through something. What, Sloane wasn’t sure, and really, she wasn’t exactly sure that she cared. Regan had invaded Sloane’s home— or rather, porch, and insisted upon meeting her mom which obviously she was mixing up for Sloane, herself. Even though she now knew that Regan wasn’t a warden, Sloane didn’t bother to toss the umbrella away. Maybe she would need it again. “Yes, I know.” Why Regan didn’t think that younger banshees could exist, Sloane wasn’t sure. It was obvious that she hadn’t pieced it all together yet, and really, it wasn’t Sloane’s job to do it for her. She figured she’d given enough evidence on her own behalf to placate the older banshee, but it was becoming clear that Regan was now refusing to believe it. “Listen, lady, I’m like you, whether you want to believe it or not. The person you were sent to look for wasn’t my mom, it was me. I’m Sloane.” Sloane stuck the umbrella under her arm. “So you found me, and it’s obvious I wasn’t what you were looking for, so I’ll take this—“ She plucked the business card from Regan’s hand, “and bill you for the broken windows. Sound fair?” 

Regan frowned at the child. She did listen. That didn’t make anything clearer. I’m like you. Her slow heart seemed to freeze inside of her chest. There was no way, no way. But… she had barely flinched at the screech – as if it were mere surprise – and if her mother was a banshee, then… Regan’s mouth dropped open. Deirdre’s life had ended so young, too. Perhaps younger. Regan had always mourned the childhood Deirdre never had, even if Deirdre herself pretended it was no matter, and that things were better the way they had progressed. I’m Sloane. Somehow, that was even more surprising. “You’re Sloane?” She said, fingers clutching the door frame in support. “You’re Sloane. And you’re a banshee.” Regan blinked. It was a fact now, and to be taken as one, but she still had difficulty wrapping her mind around it. She stayed frozen as the business card was removed from her fingers. She didn’t even feel it. “W-wait,” Regan said, not wanting Sloane to retreat into the house just yet. “Of course, bill me for the glass. I’m sorry. But… if you’re Sloane, then you must know Marina.” That, too, seemed painfully odd. “We got off on the wrong foot. Obviously. I… I couldn’t imagine that you… I’m sorry this happened to you at such a young age.” Her brows furrowed in sympathy, and something inside of her felt very heavy. 

Regan pressed her lips together and glanced around, confirming there was no one in sight. They did live in a rather bare area. When she looked at Sloane again, it was still hard to bear the thought of her witnessing such horrors at such a young age. At training her scream. At putting herself through worse than what brought people into her morgue. The weight inside of her grew. “I… only know one other. I don’t know what I was looking for, coming here. This was a surprise. I’m sorry for the, uh – transgression.” With a sigh, she withdrew her hand and turned to take her leave. The bones caught her attention once again. “Those really are nice. You have a good eye.”

Sloane stared at Regan as she seemed to connect the dots. The umbrella hung awkwardly between her arm and side, ready to be used again if the medical examiner decided to do anything else weird. Instead, there was disbelief, and it was palpable. Or maybe it was sadness, Sloane wasn’t sure. Whatever it was, what had been useless banter had delved into something entirely different. Sloane could turn on her heel, let the close behind her, but something in Regan’s voice wreaked of desperation. “Marina? Yeah, we’re good friends.” So that’s who had sent Regan to her door. It wasn’t that she minded all that much, but a warning would have been nice. Maybe Sloane could have fucked with the medical examiner a bit more before revealing who she actually was. Now that she knew no hunter had been involved (even if Regan was a banshee), she felt herself relax. Marina wouldn’t put her in danger. 

“You’re… sorry?” Sloane felt confusion pull over the smug expression she wore before she could catch it. The umbrella awkwardly fell to the floor as she moved slightly to the left to block Steve from wedging himself in between Sloane and the door. “Why the hell would you apologize to me about being a banshee? It’s not like I wasn’t raised this way.” She watched her warily as the medical examiner explained that she only knew one banshee before her. “I mean, I have my mom— some family back in Ireland, but I guess aside from them, you’re the only other one I’ve met now, so make it two for you, and a handful for me.” They were rare beings, and most of the time they were far and few between, but Sloane had been raised to know others like her. At Regan’s mention of the possum bones, her attention flickered over them before she looked back to meet Regan’s gaze. “Uh, right. Well, I’m sure if you want any of them, my mom would be more than glad to give some to you. I don’t think this place is lacking in bones, though.” Sloane reached down to pat Steve’s head before nudging him away. “It was… weird to meet you, Regan.” 

Regan wasn’t sure why, instead of simply walking away, she found herself pausing and lingering. She kept Sloane in her sight, despite facing her car. Maybe it was the way she radiated those disquieting pinpricks that kept plucking at Regan’s skin. Or maybe it was the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right. Shouldn’t Sloane have felt it too? Shouldn’t she have recognized Regan for what she was? She didn’t seem to be in denial. But it was clear, more than before, that Regan had no business asking. Sloane had the card. Something sank inside of her, hearing that Sloane had only met family. Family and now her. What a dreadfully exclusive bunch they were. “I’m glad to hear you have a family who taught you everything. Perhaps you’ll manage to live a full life.” She gave one last look down at the bones. “No need. I’d prefer to collect my own. It was strange to meet you, too, Sloane.” With a silent sigh, Regan descended from the porch. Strange and surprising. And Regan couldn’t help but think there would be surprises yet.

[letsbenditlikebennett]

@faetedwill  [pm] No, he didn't try to stab me. He just showed me one of his knives and said he had some more. [...] I went to Axis and was waiting for you. They were silver, you know that right?

[pm] Oh, good. He usually doesn’t stab random people.. not that you’re random. Oh he has lots of knives but like, so do I.

Oh yeah, I know he has silver knives. He also knows I’m a werewolf and is totally chill about it. [...] I think he was trying to show you the knife to be nice? He’s not good with people. 

[nicsalazar]

@faetedwill​

[pm] Okay, cool. I was hoping I got the right person. Uh, have you seen the general postings lately? Some supposed cultist got ahold of somebody's account. Wasn't sure if this is something that you were familiar with / if this is what you were worried about?

[pm] Don’t think so. Not for a couple days Not since Metzli got their arm It’s like every time I scroll it goes from weird to terrible in

Again? Is it Emilio? He should really get a better pass Or are you talking about Virgil? He’s been fucked up for some time now. But yeah, this is sorta how it could start. 

[monstersfear]

@faetedwill

[pm] I don't know, you should ask him. He told me. [user shows screenshot of conversation]

[pm] [user squints at the screenshot suspiciously for a moment because everything is spelled right, but frankly is too tired to question things at this point.] Door’s broken, anyway. Don’t need anybody to let you in. [...] Does he not think I can water the plants? 

[stolensiren]

@faetedwill

[pm] I may have almost gotten robbed.

[pm] BY MIMES?!?!

[oceansrevenge]

Jewelry of the Sea || Marina & Sloane

TIMING: Current-ish PARTIES: @faetedwill & @oceansrevenge SUMMARY: Sloane and Marina have a day of bonding out by the ocean shore.

Sloane slipped her shoes off just before reaching where water met land, tiny bubbles of foam curling at its edge. She looked over her shoulder at Marina who stood only a few feet away, silently wondering if she would have the opportunity to see her friend in her full form. The thought wasn’t what had brought Sloane to the beach, but it had definitely excited her enough that it got her out of bed even though she’d been dragging her feet lately. Admittedly, Sloane preferred the forest over the beach, and even Dark Score, but since having met both Marina and Teagan, she felt a new sense of purpose to help keep their domains as healthy as possible. 

 “Hey, look at this!” Sloane knelt down, picking up one of the shells that’d rolled ashore. It was a brilliant cerulean that could have matched the water on a cloudier day. Turning it over in her palm, she took care to see if anything was living on the underside, but came up empty. “This would be pretty on a necklace.” Sloane grinned at the nereid before backtracking towards the other woman, showing Marina what she had found. She looked down towards the other spoils she’d come across and knelt down, poking through them with her finger. “I think some of these would make good earrings, too.” 

 There was a certain sense of pride that came with showing off her waters. While the waters were not as peaceful as of late, Marina knew they were still beautiful all the same. Today, she felt a bit more calm coming from the water which meant it was a good day to bring Sloane to her shores for some quality time. Perhaps even show the young banshee what she looked like without her glamour. It was a nice thought, getting to share something with such a young fae and it left the nereid breathing out a contented sigh as the waves brushed over her feet. 

 “Hm,” Marina said, taking a moment to look over the shell, “It is quite beautiful. We should do that. Make a necklace for you.” The nereid held that thought as she looked over the other small treasures the banshee had collected in awe. Some were not quite jewelry worthy by the standards of most, but Neptune would appreciate them if he came swimming to the shore. The little octopus would take to Sloane much more kindly if she offered him a gift. “Earrings I have never made. I do not have the holes in my ear. I believe humans were the ones more so trained with that and the blue blood would likely be suspect,” she walked toward the small pouch she’d brought with her, “But I have made necklaces before. My sisters and I made them a lot, especially as children. Calypso was always best at it.”

 The memories were fond ones and the idea of sharing moments like that with Sloane made her smile brighten. “We will make you one a necklace. You can carry a part of the ocean with you and know it welcomes you,” Marina explained, “Perhaps we could find some fish bones too. Do banshees appreciate bone jewelry?” 

 “For me?” Sloane blinked dumbly before letting out a laugh. “I was thinking for you, since these are… technically under your care, but if you think so.” Though she had been raised by a banshee, her mother had always taught her to take great care with what was taken from the world around her– to always repay, even if in thanks. Though it could not hold her to such a thing, it was a heavy word coming from a fae, and Sloane knew that. “Hm, you’re right. They do make clip ons though. I’m sure if you told someone you were afraid of needles, they’d make them for you no problem.” 

 As Marina moved towards the pouch at the opposite end from where they stood, Sloane got to her feet. The small treasures that’d been dumped onto a small handkerchief were not forgotten, but the banshee held whatever story Marina began to tell at a greater importance, though, she guessed it all tied together in some manner given that it was a story about her sisters. “I’d love that.” And she would– really would. “We should make matching ones, or what could be matching since there’s never one thing like the other when it comes to the ocean.” Sloane cast a glance towards the rolling waves before Marina’s question sent a laugh bubbling up through her chest. 

 “Um, yes.” Sloane’s eyes lit up as she approached Marina. “Do you have any on you right now? Fish bones, I mean? The first time I met Teagan, I was at Dark Score sketching out a decaying fish and well, it was special– I think about it a lot, not because it was a fish because really I had no ties before that, but because it was when I met Teagan, and then you it was the school, and I guess the water brought me to–” Sloane snapped her mouth shut before letting out another laugh. “I’m sorry– wow, um. That’s embarrassing. What I’m trying to say is that hell yeah, I’d love to see some ocean-y bones.” 

 “Yes, for you,” Marina answered with a small laugh, “The ocean is mine to care for, just as death will one day be yours. It’s all connected.” She looked towards her waters and watched the swell of a small wave before it broke the shoreline, washing over their feet. Even the tides were influenced by the moon. “It’s all connected, a balance. One we were born to serve. I’d be honored if you had a small piece of my home as a reminder of it all.”

 While not activated, Sloane grew up knowing her purpose. Marina imagined it was something she was taught with great care just as she her mother had taught her. Though the word afraid made her lips purse into a thin line. “I am not afraid of needles,” she responded, “That would be a lie. I’m sure if I were to look, there is another fae who does such piercings. Perhaps even the ink they do for skin.” 

 The idea of matching jewelry brought a smile to her face. Marina knew she was past her best child-rearing years. Physically, she could handle it, but the idea of facing her death before her own children reached her age wasn’t one she liked to entertain. It didn’t change the gentler side of her that kids brought out. Or young adults, as Sloane would likely remind her of if she called the banshee a child again. “Matching,” she grinned, “I’d like that very much. No two are exactly alike, yes, but similar enough. Yours can remind you of me and mine of you.” She looked out at the horizon and the way the sun sparkled on the water. Just a bit further out, she knew there were some bones that would do. 

 “I do not, but I know where to find some,” Marina started, “If you do not mind holding my dress, I can fetch them. You would get to see me as I truly am. If you’d like, that is.” The sentiment behind Sloane’s words touched her. As a fae, they always respected nature, it was deeply ingrained in what they were, but their connections to each other could strengthen that. “Ah, Teagan. Beautiful nix she is. I am glad you got to see her in her waters. That we could all strengthen our ties to nature, appreciate it in different ways. I will have to introduce you to my leshy friend one day,” she told the younger fae, “He’s beautiful, how at ease he looks among the trees and moss— gives a different sort of appreciation. I will have to bring all my fae friends together one day, don’t you think?”

 Sloane nodded at Marina’s words, though she already knew them through and through. Her mom had told her from a young age that their connections as fae was what made them their most powerful, and though one would think that death couldn’t connect itself to things that thrived, as the forest nymphs and leshy’s cared for, that it wasn’t an impossible idea— that at the base of it all, they were the caretakers and guardians, not so much the harbingers as others often felt or thought. 

 “I’d love that, Marina.” Sloane’s tone softened as she watched her friend from the side. There were so many years put into this woman already, and Sloane could only imagine how many more they’d have to spend together, even if Sloane eventually left White Crest, she felt as though she’d always return to her— to Teagan, too. They were a part of each other, even if they did not share blood. Though she could not yet feel that connection, it felt buried beneath her own bones, a constant phantom vibration— the want and the need, the absolution of her fate later down the road. Here, in this moment, Sloane was unafraid of the cost. 

 “Hey! I didn’t accuse you of being afraid, but now I know.” Sloane grinned at Marina before tucking some loose curls that had escaped back behind her ear. “Necklaces and rings are enough— more than enough.” She didn’t want the nereid to think that she was ungrateful for the opportunity to even collect the shells that laid at their feet. The way that Marina watched the sunset over the ocean caused for a burn to stir in Sloane’s chest. Was it longing, to feel her purpose the way Marina did towards hers? Or was it in the same way that Sloane had decided to help Teagan watch over Dark Score? “It’d be so cool to match with you. Get to tell people, oh, sorry, this is one of a kind!” Maybe she was being slightly selfish with it, but Sloane hadn’t ever been given the opportunity to have things with others— nobody had ever really given her the chance. 

 “Wait, really?” Sloane’s eyes widened as Marina explained that she’d have the opportunity to see Marina while her glamour was dropped. She’d seen Teagan already, and though Sloane knew that the two would be far from alike, there was an excitement in getting trusted with such a thing. It was hard to focus on anything else Marina said after realizing she’d get to see the nereid in her truest form, but she nodded. “I’d love to meet your friends, and maybe one day they can become my friends.” And then I’ll scream for them one day, and then— She cleared her throat as she glanced towards the water. “Is Neptune out there too?” 

 Marina shook her head with a fond grin still on her face. The young banshee in training had quite the sense of humor and she appreciated that. Surely, the young woman would bring chaos with her past her activation, like any true fae would. “Rings and necklaces it is,” she stated proudly, “They are fun to make and it’d be an honor to match with you. Perhaps we could make something for Teagan and Correy, too. Don’t let Correy fool you. He’s as sentimental as they come. Even set up a saltwater shower at the lighthouse for me without being asked.” The sense of community she found in the other fae in town was something that made her feel at home. Something she’d missed for so many centuries and had told herself she hadn’t needed. But now that she had it, she wasn’t sure she could ever part with it again. These small moments of sharing in and appreciating each other’s nature were some of the most beautiful she’d known in all her years. 

 “Yes, really,” Marina answered, gleaming with pride, “I know you are not yet activated, but will still appreciate the beauty of a nymph’s true form. And one day, I hope to see yours. I wonder if you’ll have wings.” The nereid had always been particularly charmed by wings. Nereides did not typically have such an appendage, but the hesperides she’d met before had some of the most magnificent forms she’d seen. “If you share some shells when I bring Neptune back, you’ll make friends quickly.” 

 “Here,” Marina said, handing Sloane the thin dress she had been wearing, “Don’t want to rip this when I drop my glamour.” Once the banshee had her dress, the nereid let her true form show. All at once, she grew in size, becoming the giant octopus she truly was. Her orange skin sparkled in the sunlight and in a moment of showing off, her skin flashed from orange to beige to black and right back to orange. She tentatively reached a tentacle out toward Sloane in a gentle motion, inviting the banshee to touch her equivalent of a hand.

 Sloane was more than elated to be able to match with Marina. It was an honor disguised as a young fae wanting to match up to an older one, and she knew that when it came down to it, it’d be a keepsake for as long as she was alive. At the mention of both Teagan and Correy, Sloane let out a laugh. “Oh, trust me, I know he’s a big ‘ol softy. He can’t trick me. I’m too smart to believe he has a permanent scowl on his face. I’ve seen him smile.” Before meeting any of them, Sloane had felt isolated, even if she had a community of those she was blood related to. She still struggled to find equal ground, always feeling below her mom or other relatives, but even without being activated, this small group of fae had shown her that it didn’t matter— that she would be alongside them in due time. 

 “I hope so. My mom does.” Sloane, once made aware of who she would become, had always imagined her wings to be beautiful things. She had always stared in amazement at her mother’s, as well as other family member’s, but there was somewhat of a fear in the back of her mind that she wouldn’t be given the same beauty. “But I’ll be sure to show them to you.” She smiled softly at Marina as she followed her to the shore, taking the dress that the older woman handed over. 

 “It’s a pretty dress, so yeah, that would suck.” Sloane scrunched her nose as she watched the waves roll, then her attention was swallowed entirely as Marina dropped her glamour. “Holy shit, you look so cool!” Sloane was careful not to drop the dress into the water as she extended a hand, index finger poking against the tentacle that Marina extended. “Wow, you’re beautiful, Marina.” Sloane’s gaze was filled with admiration as she stared onward at her friend. Though they were different in nature, if Sloane could be half the fae that Marina was, she figured she was doing pretty alright. “You’re like a piece of the sun, you’re that orange!” 

 Once the young banshee was activated, Marina found herself excited to see what she would become. The nereid had no doubt that Sloane would be great, she was a banshee afterall. Her screams would be able to rip through the thickest of skin and she’d be a hand of the Fates. She wondered if this was how her mother felt as she and her sisters grew up and became more in tune with their different abilities. The look of joy she wore when Doris first snapped a man in two with her claws would always be emblazoned in Marina’s memories. She knew her own would be similar when she first heard Sloane’s screams in the distance and looked upon the wings she was sure to sprout. 

 That warmth remained as she felt Sloane touch her outstretched tentacle and look upon her in awe. Marina always felt most beautiful in this form, as her true self, embodying her nature and connection to the water she called home. The excitement radiating from Sloane filled her with joy that made her dance on her tentacles. “It is my favorite color,” her low voice rumbled, “I will go get Neptune and the fish bones.” 

 The octopus sped off into the water, moving with the current toward the spot she knew a pile of fish bones lay. It wasn’t long before Marina had Neptune swimming alongside her so she slowed her pace just slightly. She grabbed the bones and let Neptune cling to her so they could make a quick return to the shore. As she neared the beach again, she put her glamour back up carrying Neptune in one hand and the bones in the other. “Here,” she said, handing the bones to Sloane, “Let me just put my dress back on and we can get started on the jewellery. And introduce you to Neptune of course.”  

 “This might sound stupid, but you don’t get to choose it, do you?” Sloane knew the question might be ignorant, but she swore she read something about octopus being able to change their colors to blend into their surroundings, so it was possible that Marina had decided on orange to suit not her needs, but her personality and what she actually liked. Where the line was drawn before animalistic nature and fae nature, however, Sloane was uncertain. “But I like orange. It suits you really well.” She smiled at Marina, hopeful that she hadn’t offended her friend by the question.

 Sloane watched in amazement as Marina slipped into the water, moving faster than Sloane could ever dream of swimming. She held onto the dress tightly, squinting towards the sea. It wasn’t long before Marina arrived back on shore, and who she assumed to be Neptune in tow. The banshee took a small step back as Marina reinstated her glamor. She knew the way in which fae magic worked, but it would still amaze her, despite the knowledge she held. “Sure, here you go.” Sloane watched as Neptune suctioned himself to Marina’s hand, giving him a little wave with her index finger before exchanging the dress for the bones. “I appreciate the bones, Marina.” The urge to say thank you hung just beneath her tongue. She could trust Marina, and she knew that, but her mom’s voice echoed in her head. 

 Once Marina was dressed, Sloane led the way back to their small pile of goods. The shells had already dried beneath the sun, despite the cold front that’d begun to move in. “Where should we start?” She looked up to her friend, smile still intact. As she made eye contact with Neptune, she hummed, inching closer to Marina. “Can I hold him?” 

 “My base color,” Marina asked, “The orange is the color I was born with. The others I get to choose for camouflage.” She’d always loved her natural orange hue, often choosing to wear that very color when she had to wear human garments to avoid arrest. The clothes being in her favorite color did make them slightly more tolerable, but only slightly. It brought her great joy that Sloane appreciated her form and natural color, that she could share this with the young fae. “I’m glad. I like it, too. It’s my favorite color,” she smiled.

 “There is no better place for the bones than with a banshee,” Marina stated, truly believing dead things were at home with Sloane’s kind. “I’ve been saving bones I find for you and another banshee friend of mine.” She hoped they were fresh enough to not be considered an insult though Sloane seemed appreciative of the gift. The banshee was still so young and Marina felt lucky she would get to watch her come into her own. “Over this way, there is a small little pool in the sand that Neptune can relax in,” she explained, as she followed alongside Sloane.

 The question made Marina beam with pride. “Of course you may,” she answered, extending her arm so that Neptune could crawl onto Sloane’s hand. “He may take a shell for himself. Has a little collection, makes tools. He’s a smart little fellow.” 

 Sloane nodded, glad that she had been right about something. Studying did the trick, that much was certain. At the back of her mind, Sloane tucked away that Marina’s favorite color was orange, fully planning to gift her things in that color if she came across anything that she thought the nereid would appreciate. It was important to Sloane that she give back to the fae in her life who had given her just as much. “It’s really pretty on you, like really!” 

 It was a lifeline, Sloane realized, being able to connect to other fae on this level. They served each other, even in the smallest of ways. Though she could not yet feel their connection, Sloane knew that it was only a matter of time before she could. “Hey, I really appreciate that.” Sloane could thank Marina, but she knew that the nereid would probably throw it out the window and give her a lecture. At least, that’s what Sloane would do if the roles were reversed. “I’ll take good care of them, I do with everything else.” A smile pulled at the corners of her lips as she followed Marina to the small pool of water. “And him, too.” 

 Sloane knelt next to the pool, Neptune traveling from Marina’s hold to her own. The banshee stared down at him as he began to mess with one of the bigger shells at the pool’s bottom just as Marina had explained he would. “They’re really cool, aren’t they? I mean, that makes you really cool too, but like— I don’t know, it’s really eye opening, being on this side of things, I guess.” She felt gratified to know that she was worthy enough to spend this kind of time with another fae, and a nereid no less. It was like when she and Teagan had picnics at the edge of Dark Score. 

Even in her younger years, Marina had never been shy about her beauty. It was simply a fact that all of their kind possessed a certain beauty that other species simply could not rival. She had always adored the praise that she quite frankly always believed she had deserved. She smiled and made herself at home beside Sloane because this was home. Her waters, her people, her creatures. All of them created a sense of home she hadn’t felt in far too long, one she had told herself she may never feel again, but here she was, alongside a young banshee sharing her world. 

 “Good,” Marina nodded, “I’m certain you do. It’s in your nature, even now.” Everything was cyclical, she could see Sloane appreciating the lifecycle at all its stages. Bright and lively in Neptune as he crawled over her hand and in its stages of decay in the fish bones that would one day be part of the earth yet again. Just as one day, when Marina was long gone, the banshee would live on and serve her duty to the Fates. Right now, she appreciated this moment of in between, feeling that connection to another fae even without the familiar buzz under her skin. “Cool, yes,” she agreed, “I suppose you’re right on that one. I’ve always thought so anyway. But I think that makes us all cool as you put it.” 

 And it did. Though Marina believed fascinating was more apt. Either way, she would enjoy these moments between them and hoped to one day see the young banshee reach her full potential. 

[3starsquinn]

@faetedwill​ , in reply to this 

[pm] Just in time to smell rotting fish x10.

[pm] That’s what that smell is?? I knew this town always like vaguely smelled like seafood or maybe that’s just the hunter- never mind.

I kinda thought I had just forgotten how strong the smell was over the last year away. But uh- that tracks. Anybody know what’s up with that?

[ironcladrhett-archive]

@faetedwill​:

What about a swiffer?

.

What about a swiffer? Cheap plastic, too light to do any damage. Next.

[teaganmyrick]

@faetedwill​

[pm] Why would you be disappointed in yourself? That's [...] cute. Um, yeah, it did. Cass. I mean. We almost kissed. But then we got interrupted, and I think [...] that it was for the better.

🜄

[pm] Hold on

You almost kissed? You and Cass? I’m coming over. Or you can. 

Come over. We must discuss! 

[...]

Wait. What do you mean you think it was for the better? Don’t you like her?

[faetedwill]

Put a Pin In It || Sloane / Cass / Ari / Rio / Jonas

TIMING: On Cass’s birthday (mid July)  LOCATION: The farm house  PARTIES: @faetedwill @stolensiren @3starsquinn @letsbenditlikebennett @moonrivermedium SUMMARY:  For Cass’s birthday, Sloane, Jonas, Rio, and Ari get together to celebrate their friend.  CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A 

Sloane wasn’t sure why she was so nervous about Cass’s birthday celebration. Maybe it was because she hadn’t been invited to any parties growing up, or maybe it was because she wanted to make a good and lasting impression. Whatever it was, it ended up with Sloane buying way too many cartons of cupcakes of varying flavors, as well as 5 slurpees. She hadn’t yet met Jonas, so she wasn’t sure what flavor he would prefer, so she hoped she’d gone in the right direction of blue raspberry. Who didn’t love blue raspberry? Very possibly Jonas, but she hoped that wasn’t the case. 

But it seemed alright. Slurpee in hand, Sloane sat across from Jonas, just next to Cass in one of the camping chairs that Ari had pulled out for the five of them. “Ari, whatever the hell you’re doing over there, it smells good.” She shot a look at Ari’s before finding the bright red straw of her slurpee and sucking down a small portion of the liquid. The threat of a brain freeze lingered, but she ignored it as she leaned back. She didn’t know too much about superheroes, so she opted for something on the easier side– Spider Gwen while Steve ran around with a cape red cape she had fashioned from a bed sheet. 

Admittedly, Ari may have gone overboard when it came to the food portion of the party. She was still coming out of the post demon possession slump and wanted this party to be fun for all of them, especially Cass who she knew had also been having a go of things as of late. White Crest had a habit of that, putting good people through bad shit, so this party was going to be a blast. She stood by the grill donning her admittedly cheesy Wolfsbane costume as Luna ran around saying hi to everyone in her Supergirl costume. Or as Ari preferred to call it, her Super Good Girl costume. 

Kebabs, burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers were all cooking on the grill while some sides were still inside for safe keeping. Ari didn’t know what bugs White Crest had flying around this time of year, but now wasn’t the time to find out, especially if they were those stinging bees that made everything all trippy. “We’ve got veggie burgers for you, regular burgers, hot dogs, chicken kebabs, corn on here. Got some other sides and stuff in the house. I think we have a ton of desserts too, even for the dogs.” 

“Then there’s some games and stuff for after we eat, too,” Ari said brightly, feeling a little over-excited to have most of her friends here. 

Jonas sat awkwardly in his chair, Blue was on his feet in her batgirl costume soaking up the attention he could offer with one free hand. He was using the other to hold up his slurpee and was taking sips from it from time to time. He liked blue raspberry and normally would have downed it by now but didn’t think a brain freeze would do his head any good. Jonas had gone the opposite direction from Ari and had brought way too many supplies to make sure there were enough plates and napkins and paper cups all superhero themed. He even brought little goodie bags filled with homemade cookies for humans and dogs to take home later. 

Jonas hadn’t dressed up, he thought Blue being in costume was good enough for the both of them. The dog was surprisingly alright with it, “Blue why don’t you-don’t you go greet the other guests?” His feet were starting to fall asleep. “Do you-do you want any help Ari?” He turned around in his seat hoping to have a reason to get up. The dog didn’t seem to agree at first but after all the shuffling from Jonas she finally got up and went to sit on someone else’s feet and beg for pets. 

The party was like nothing Cass had ever experienced before. It was certainly unlike anything anyone had ever done for her. It made her feel warm inside, put a grin on her face that nothing could erase. Her costume — a Silk costume she’d been putting together for Halloween — might have felt a little hot if not for the fans pumped up to full blast and the slushie cooling her gloved hands. She grinned as she took a sip, the bandana from the costume hanging around her neck. Leaning down, she scratched Blue behind the ears and flashed Jonas a small smile.

“It really does smell amazing,” she said in Ari’s direction, leg bouncing where she sat. “Are you sure you don’t mind doing the cooking? I can get up to help you if you want.” That unquenchable desire to make herself useful was on full display, had seen her hovering near Ari for the first few minutes of the party until she was led over to one of the chairs. At the mention of games, she perked up even further. “What kind? I love party games.” She turned to Sloane, flashing her a grin. “I bet you could pin so many tails on so many donkeys.” 

Social gatherings had never been something Orion excelled at. He had an awkward enough time carrying a conversation with one person. Around multiple he tended to fade into the background and try to disappear entirely. But despite not knowing the person they were celebrating, Ari had made sure that Rio got the invite and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin the party. So he threw together a makeshift Wiccan outfit which mostly consisted of a long sleeve black shirt and black pants with a red cape. He was currently scratching at his head under the headband he had bought to complete the look, an accessory he wasn’t used to wearing that was causing his forehead to sweat and his brown hair to stick to his skin. 

“I’ve offered to help her multiple times.” Rio shrugged, taking a long sip from the slurpee that Sloane had brought along. She had been a familiar face - both of them having grown up in town. But they had never been friends. “She didn’t accept it. Though to be fair- I’m not really known for my cooking skills.” He was sure Ari had heard all about how awful his diet was from Athena when the two lived together. His sister had constantly berated him and tried to get him to eat healthier. “I suck at party games” Rio admitted, forcing himself to perk back up immediately, “But I’m in.”

Sloane felt mildly guilty for not having offered Ari some help like both Jonas and Cass, but as Rio spoke, she knew that he had the right idea — even if they offered, Ari would shoo them away. Too many hands in the kitchen, or something. Her dad used that expression more times than she could count, and most of the time, she was forced to listen to him. She’d at the very least be on clean-up duty. “I think our way of helping might be eating all of the food that way she doesn’t have leftovers for like, days.” 

At Cass’s comment about pin the tail on the donkey, Sloane snorted. “That’s like, oddly specific.” The banshee leaned forward in her chair and reached to pat Blue on the side, scratching just at her hip. She began to kick her leg out, just as Steve usually did when she hit the right spot. “She might be in competition with Steve for who’s cuter, Jonas.” Sloane flashed him a smile before turning her attention to her own dog who had taken one of Luna’s toys and was currently running around with it. “Party games will be fun either way, even if we’re not good at them.” She wasn’t, or at least, she didn’t know if she was. She hadn’t ever had the opportunity to take part, other than the ones that went on in the classroom at the end of each year. 

For the most part, Ari liked taking charge in the kitchen and having that arena to herself. Aside from the fact she was easily distracted, she always had a system going inside her head that she didn’t like to have disrupted. Celeste, Athena, and Kaden were the only people she’d really felt comfortable sharing the kitchen with. They had a cadence and worked well together without getting in the other’s way. She did appreciate the offer for help though. The thought always counted. “I’ve got it covered,” she said with a smile, “I can be a little controlling in the kitchen… or well, grill I guess currently.” 

Ari couldn’t help but laugh at Rio and Sloane’s very accurate predictions about her. “Yeah,” she laughed, “They were spot on with that one. Eating all the food is helping.” She opened the top to give the burgers a final flip and started removing the hot dogs and corn. She didn’t go as overboard in the game department, but they had a selection. “Uh, cornhole I think it’s called? And Cards Against Humanity and yes, pin the tail on the donkey. I’ve never played it so felt like a good time to start,” she answered with a grin.

Jonas looked over at Sloane and smiled, “Steve is-is very cute.” He gave up on the idea of helping Ari and instead played with the straw in his cup. “I wouldn’t mind playing some-some games.” It would give his brain something to do, he was used to going to bars and parties but never very good at just mingling. Talking was all well and good but actively doing something while talking was even better. It would probably make everyone else feel more at ease too. 

“How about we start with -start with pin the tail. I want to see if Sloane is actually-actually great at it.” Jonas didn’t know Sloane so he was curious as to why Cass would say she seemed like she’d be able to pin so many donkey tails. “Though we should do it -do it where the dogs are kept out of the way.” Blue was needy and he didn’t want her to accidentally trip someone while they were holding a tail or end up in the way. She was a big dog after all. 

It was hardly a surprise that Ari was refusing help, though Cass still wished she could get her to accept some. But the werewolf seemed happy to do it, and it was enough to make Cass relax. “I can, like, only make pasta, to be honest,” she admitted with a sheepish shrug. She was working on perfecting other recipes, but it was the kind of thing that would take time. And it probably wouldn’t be great if the food at the party was all burned. She wanted everyone to have fun, not to have to eat burned burgers. “But eating I’m pretty good at. Like, pretty much a pro.” 

Jonas’s suggestion was a good one, and Cass nodded along as he spoke. “I just have, like, a gut feeling. Like, you just have pin the tail on the donkey vibes. Corn hole is gonna be my game, though. I’m totally gonna kick all your asses.” Really, she didn’t care who won and who lost; she was just happy to be here. Happy to have friends who’d come together to celebrate her birthday for… what was probably the first time in twenty-three years. 

Orion found himself smiling as the group talked about which game to play. Though he didn’t know most of these people, he knew if Ari trusted them that he could relax around them as well. Sloane and Cass both seemed more social and at ease in the group setting, similar to how Ari was. Which left Jonas and Rio to be the more reserved ones. He wasn’t sure whether he felt more or less comfortable around Jonas after the guy had quite literally seen Rio at his most vulnerable. But there was a certain connection there knowing they both suffered from panic attacks. That he hadn’t been judging Rio for it. “I’m with Cass. Eating is a great skill of mine. All the work before hand? Not winning any awards there.” He hadn’t been back in town long, but as long as he had been crashing with Ari he didn’t think she had asked for his help cooking once. Clearly, Athena had told her about his lack of skill.

“I’d like to see this tail pinning skill too. I think you’re going to nail it.” Rio offered Sloane a thumbs up. He wasn’t sure this was a skill someone could be naturally good at, but he was willing to play along. For the vibes and all. “What’s corn hole again? That one with the bean bags? And like the hole that you throw it at?” Jesus, his introvert was showing. “I’m so sorry for whoever’s team I end up on in advance. Whatever happens… just know I’m trying my best.”

Sloane leaned forward in her chair, scooting forward enough so that the back legs were lifted off of the ground. She rocked back a bit to tap them against the floor. “I’m going to either prove, or destroy the expectations you have.” She beamed at Cass before she got to her feet. Slurpee still in hand, Sloane took a long sip, wincing slightly at the feeling at the back of her throat, just beyond her tonsils. “Eating is easy, it’s the cooking part is hard. I mean, unless you’re a part of one of those eating contests or something.” 

The banshee nodded thoughtfully at Cass’s declaration that she’d be good at corn hole. She hadn’t ever played that one. “Not sure, but why the hell don’t they call it something else? What’s the purpose of corn?” Sloane whistled for Steve who came running around the corner, Luna’s toy still in his mouth. She leaned forward as he knocked against her leg, tail beating quickly in the air. “I second Jonas though, I think Steve might try to take the bean bag out of the air, it’ll make you lose. He’ll be the reigning champion, Cass.” Sloane watched as Steve trotted away to find somebody else to gain attention from and then she looked at Rio as he offered his condolences for his less-than stellar gameplay. “There’s an odd number of us, we can be on a team. You’ll need me for the pin-the-tail.” 

“I don’t mind - I don’t mind just being a judge and watching the dogs.” Jonas was more than comfortable just watching. Plus if someone kept an eye on the dogs he’d feel better about it. He didn’t want them running around on their own while everyone was playing and he thought Blue would appreciate it if she could sit by him. 

“They used to- used to fill the bags with corn.” Jonas explained, though he wasn’t sure the others were looking for an explanation really still he had it and thought he might as well offer it. He turned towards Rio and offered a smile, “I’m sure you’ll do just- do just fine, besides the point is to - is to have fun.” He tried to reassure the other man though he did know that some people could get competitive and was hoping it wouldn’t get to that. But he stood and took a few more sips of his slurpee before moving past his chair to round up the pups. 

“You always surpass my expectations,” Cass replied with a grin, and it was true. Everyone here did, even Rio, who she’d only just met. She’d never expected this kind of companionship from any of them, because she didn’t expect it from anyone at all. Cass had been alone most of her life; moments like this reminded her that that wasn’t the case anymore. It was a good feeling. “You should only sit out if you want to,” she told Jonas, wanting to ensure that he was having a good time, too. “We can have one team with three people! If Rio’s as bad at is as he says he’ll be, maybe we’ll give him the advantage.” She flashed Rio a quick grin as she said it.

She blinked at the explanation behind the game’s name, intrigued. “What are they filled with now? And why did they stop filling them with corn? I’ve got so many questions.” Jonas was right, though; the point of all the games was only to have a good time. Cass doubted anyone there was entirely concerned with winning. 

“I agree with Cass. If you want to play, we’d love to have you on our team.” Sloane pointed from herself to Rio. “I’m speaking for him, by the way.” She wasn’t sure if that was a great idea considering she didn’t know him very well at all, but still. “Hey, who says Rio will make us lose. Maybe it will be me. But Jonas? Definitely going to be a champion.” Sloane grabbed a chip from one of the opened bags and popped it into her mouth. 

At Jonas’s explanation, Sloane stopped mid-chew. “Wait, really?” She blinked at him. “So it totally lost its meaning then.” Like a lot of things, but– “that’s cool, appreciate the explanation!” She smiled at Jonas to really drive in the point that she was grateful he took the time to teach her something, even if it’d been a joke. Now she could use that tidbit of information if she ever needed to. 

  Ari smiled as she brought food over to the table they’d set up outside. If it was pin the tail on the donkey skeleton, she was pretty sure Sloane could figure it out based on the bones alone. Maybe that translated to a poster of Jack the donkey. She’d fly with it. “You know, I’m gonna believe you’re a natural at the donkey game. It’d be the most random hidden talent ever and I’m here for it.” 

She took a seat with her friends and appreciated how normal this all was. Just a group of friends together celebrating a birthday on a nice summer day. Most days, Ari found herself wondering why she stayed here when it brought so much hurt, but sitting here, it was easy to see why. Moments just like this one. She shot Cass a smirk and so exclaimed, “We’ll have to be on separate teams to keep things fair because we already know I’m good at corn hole.” She nudged her shoulder to Rio’s. “I’ll take Rio. I can make enough shots for the both of us.” 

“Oh I actually know this!” Rio chimed in excitedly at Cass’s question. If there was anything that was going to help break him out of his shell it was random historical facts. “Since the 70’s normal beanbags have been filled with these beads called EPS beads. It’s like a cheap plastic material.” Rio tried to explain. Admittedly, he knew more about the name of the material than he did about what EPS actually stood for, “Don’t ask me how I know that. It was a weird rabbit hole involving Hacky sack. As for why they use it, whoo knows. Corn kernels go bad eventually and can get moldy if wet so maybe longevity? But I didn’t even know they used to use real corn kernels, so thanks for the trivia, Jonas.” Rio smiled in his direction. Jonas wouldn’t know, but random pieces of information were like gold to Rio. He lived for learning stuff like that. 

Blue was making her rounds and Rio was happy to finally kneel down and scratch her behind the ears to as he tried to keep his attention towards the group. “I’m happy wherever you put me.” Surprisingly, he meant it too. The anxiety he had felt for being around people that weren’t just Ari had slowly melted away. “I’m mostly just excited to eat Ari’s food.”

“If we’re sure about the teams then I don’t-I don’t mind it.” Jonas was fine sitting it out, but he was glad to play if the others wanted him too. How long had it been since he actually played a party game? Maybe Alex’s last birthday? At least not since he came to White Crest. But here he was surrounded by wonderful people at a party, really he was starting to feel more at home in the town because of the people he kept running into. “I am excited to get a chance to- chance to eat too.” 

Jonas hadn’t gotten the chance to eat Ari’s cooking before, so far the two had only had take out and restaurant food while in each others company so far. “So Ari is the one to - one to beat in cornhole and Sloane in - in pin the tail.” 

Cass grinned as Ari brought the food over, wasting little time in grabbing a burger for her plate. “It definitely wouldn’t be fair if we were on the same team,” she agreed, though she’d never actually played cornhole before to know if it was true. “We’d totally destroy the competition.” She found that she didn’t really mind what team she ended up on; everyone here would make the game fun, regardless of how they were divided. 

She listened with interest as Rio launched into an explanation regarding the makeup of beanbags, nodding along as he spoke. “I guess it would make sense to use something that won’t get moldy and gross. Maybe it’s cheaper, too?” Things usually came down to the bottom line where companies were concerned, she’d learned. Between Jonas and Rio, Cass certainly knew a lot more about beanbags now than she had before, and she flashed the two of them a bright grin in thanks. “Food is pretty exciting. And, hey, the quicker we eat it, the quicker we can see if we’re right about our party game predictions!”

“They should have called it Mold Hole if that were the case, then.” Sloane squinted, expression fixing into something disgusted. “Wait, never mind.” Sloane followed Ari back over to the table and took a seat, wasting no time in grabbing one of the veggie burgers that Ari had prepared especially for her. Maybe others, too, but she couldn’t be sure about their diets. It wasn’t like it mattered, did it? If Ari trusted them all to be here, then maybe Sloane should, too. “I hope that if I ever get thrown to the wolves–” She cleared her throat, trying not to make eye contact with Ari about her joke, “that is trivia, it’s about bean bags.” 

Now Sloane had to be good at pin the tail. If she wasn’t, she’d be ruining just about every expectation that the group had. With a smile, she took a bite out of her burger and wiped her hand against her mouth before she pointed at Rio with her pinky finger. “I might need to take you out for some trivia.” She glanced over to Jonas. “You, too. You guys would win us the big bucks.” The banshee put her burger back down, only finishing her sentence once she was done with her bite. “Not that that’s all you’re good for.” Her gaze cut over to Ari, then to Cass. “This is like, really good. Cass, she really pulled out all the stops for you on your…” it occurred to her then that she didn’t know how old her friend was. “Birthday.” 

Once Ari was certain everyone had gotten some of what they wanted on their plates, she filled her own with kebabs and one of the corn cobs. She listened to the corn hole fun facts somewhat intrigued. That explained the original name, but Rio was right, rotten corn probably didn’t smell great. “Good thing they changed it then, Could definitely do without the stale or moldy corn smell.” 

While trivia was far from something Ari was good at, she had the feeling Rio and Jonas on a team could kick some major butt. “You might be onto something there,” she laughed, “I’m only good at the sports part of trivia and even then it’s like… soccer. Or repair stuff! Actually between all of us we should cover most of the categories.” 

There was a proud grin on her face as people mentioned the food was really good. Ari always enjoyed feeding people and it was even better when they liked the food. “Had to,” she joked, “You only turn 23 once… probably”

“I would love a trivia night” Rio interjected immediately. He wasn’t convinced that he could yell out answers in a crowded bar, but he was pretty confident that half of this group would if he mumbled it. “Next birthday party should definitely be that.” He hesitated at suggesting it for his own birthday. That seemed lame. Especially when Ari was the only one here that he could legitimately count as a friend before today. He at least hoped they all considered him a friend now. “Yeah, I agree. I suck at sport stuff.  We can all balance each other out.” 

Rio didn’t hesitate in stuffing his mouth with food as the others ate too. He loved Ari’s cooking. It was definitely the best meals he had in the last year or so since he left town. It was probably the best cooking since he lived with Winston and Ricky. “This is amazing, Ari. No surprise of course.” He must have thanked and complimented her a million times since running into her at The Common. But in his defense, he had a year of time to make up for. “After this we gotta put this pin the tail theory to the test.”

“Trivia night would be delightful.” Jonas was great at trivia, as long as it didn’t pertain to movies and sports but he was sure the others had that covered. He grabbed some food from the table and took a seat, Blue moved under it to catch anything he might drop. “You can’t have any.” He mumbled at her before turning his attention back to the group. 

“The food really is - really is great Ari.” Jonas offered a smile before turning to Cass, “Happy Birthday. Oh that reminds me,” He pulled out his phone and got up coming over to Cass, “I took pictures of Zan and Jayna in little - little capes.” All the smoke and noise wouldn’t have been good for the birds so they got to stay home but Jonas still wanted them to be included somehow given they were Cass’. He pulled up the pictures and handed the phone to Cass. “I wouldn’t mind - wouldn’t mind pin the tail after this.” 

“Mold Hole!” Cass repeated with an undignified snort, the sound turning into a laugh rather quickly. She felt light and good and free in a way she very rarely did here. Good company did wonders for a person. “We’d make a kickass trivia team!” She agreed with a grin. “If there are any questions about comic books, I’m your girl. Even the stupid, obscure stuff like Hellcow.” Between all of them, they’d probably have at least one expert in most of the trivia categories. 

Flashing Ari a bright grin, Cass nodded. “Hey, you never know in White Crest, right? Twenty-three might repeat!” She took a bite of the burger, humming contentedly. “This really is, like, the best burger I’ve ever had. I think I want you to cook all my meals forever now.” Leaning forward as Jonas brought over the phone, she cooed at the photos. “Oh my god, they’re so cute! Look at Zan’s little smile!” She sighed, sending the photos to herself so she could have them on her phone before handing Jonas’s back to him. “Yeah, for sure!”

Sloane was happy that her suggestion of going out for trivia seemed to catch their attention. She liked being around people she enjoyed the company of, and even though she only really knew Cass and Ari, Jonas and Rio were shaping up to be good company. When Ari clarified how old Cass was, Sloane nodded. That made sense. At Cass’s words, Sloane snorted. “Don’t say that. It might.” The reality of where they lived stayed with them every step of the way, even in their offhanded jokes. 

The banshee watched over her burger as Jonas got up to show Cass something on his phone, silently reminding herself to mind her business. If it was meant to be shared, it would be. It wasn’t like she had to be included in everything. Sloane swayed in her seat slightly as she finished off another bite of her burger. It had shocked her the first time she had Ari’s cooking. There were some key differences in the way Ari and her dad both grilled, but she had already made the joke to her dad that he might have some competition, to which he brushed off with laughter and a look that said I’d like to see her try. “Pin the tail sounds great.” After a moment, Sloane set her burger down. “Who’s Zan? Is that another dog?” 

“Hm? Oh no Zand and Jayna are um well budgies.” Jonas carefully shuffled over to Sloane and offered her his phone. “They’re rather - rather fond of Cass.” The two budgies were wearing little capes in the photos though Jayna seemed more intent on taking it off than Zan. “Hellcow? What’s Hellcow?” Jonas didn’t know much about comics but he knew there was one where a monkey had a gun, so he supposed something called Hellcow was within the realm of possibility. 

Jonas wasn’t really surprised at Cass’ age given that he had to see all her paperwork before hiring her. “Mm you shouldn’t jinx it. It might -might actually happen.” If Jonas had learned one thing from coming to White Crest, it was that anything was possible. The year repeating? Would be expected at this point. 

Rio immediately turned to Cass when she mentioned Hellcow. “Holy crap I completely forgot hellcow existed.” Jonas seemed curious too, asking about it afterwards. “I’m definitely not an expert on it. But it’s this pretty obscure Marvel comic. Pretty sure it’s about a vampire cow. I’m sure Cass knows more.” He didn’t know many comic book fans, so knowing that Cass considered herself an expert only made him like her more. He had mostly fallen behind in his comic books. He used to sneak away to Tower Comics and spend the entire day reading comics, but once he started with the Scribrary he had lost of free time to read that wasn’t ancient text or old Scribe journals. “We need to talk comic books more later, Cass.”

If it wasn’t something that could actually happen, Rio might find the year repeating joke hilarious. But as things were going now, it seemed like an all too possible outcome. The idea was enough to make Rio nauseous, but he decided to ignore it entirely and continue stuffing his face with Ari’s food. Totally worth the upcoming stomach ache. “I think it’s time to show us how pin the tail is done, Sloane.”

“There are worse years to repeat,” Cass said, a hint of fondness to her tone. “I’ve got a feeling 23 is going to be a really good one.” How could it not be, when she was kicking it off surrounded by friends with the promise of trivia and pin the tail on the donkey in her immediate future? This was the kind of thing she’d always wanted, but never imagined she might actually have. And she was glad it was real. Turning to Rio, she grinned. “A vampire cow with a serious grudge against Dracula,” she confirmed. “We’re definitely going to talk comics later!” She was ecstatic at the concept of having someone to talk comics with, really; Cass could go on for hours about her favorite books, and if Rio knew about Hellcow, he was probably pretty well-versed, too.

Finishing up her burger, she grinned and clapped her hands together. “But for right now, it’s definitely time for Sloane to school us all on pin the tail!” She was a little delighted that her completely out of left field claim that Sloane would be good at the game had stuck; it would make things funnier either way. Standing, she held a hand out to Sloane with an excited bounce. “C’mon!”

They were just birds. Well, not just birds. They were very cute birds. Sloane felt dumb for feeling left out as she looked at Jonas’s phone, a smile breaking over her features as she pointed to the one on the left. “They’re very cute. I’d love to meet them one day.” She looked up at Jonas, smile still intact. 

As both Rio and Jonas began to discuss Hellcow, Sloane leaned back, picking up her drink to take a sip of it. The slurpee had already begun to melt, so there was less ice than there was liquid and it tasted watered down. She was disappointed in the gas station for going easy on the syrup in their latest batch. “A vampire cow? Seriously?” Sloane set her drink down and shook her head with a snort. “That sounds… super obscure. Maybe that’s what I should’ve dressed Steve up as. Cass, you should have told me.” She shot a look over the table at her friend seeming far more disappointed than she actually was. 

At Rio’s suggestion that they start pin the tail, Sloane slapped the top of the table enthusiastically, ignoring the dull pain that began to splinter through her fingers. “Let’s do it!” She wasted no time in untangling herself from where she sat, folding up the paper plate and tossing it into the neighboring bin. Sloane took Cass’s hand with ease and allowed herself to be pulled toward the door that had the donkey vinyl taped to it. “I need to be spun, right?”