thelatekayejames

[thelatekayejames]

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"Oh, yes, definitely not two-bit," they said, their eyes crinkling at the corners as they eagerly listened to the request. "We're talking clothes," they said, with a deliberate emphasis of pure joy. They took a moment to examine just from the reference, what it would require, and moved to the shelf to fetch a couple of reference books, and a notebook. They piled them down on the table, and motioned to Lara to take a seat if she wanted, then perched up on the edge of the long table they used for laying out and cutting patterns, ankles neatly crossed. "Now, I'll say first thing—" they said, placing the printed photo down carefully. "I'm not really the person to make this. And I don't mean I can't, I mean that if we had more time, I'd get in contact with some designers who work with these traditional techniques, let them use their expertise to do it right, the way you remember and the way they know best. But—" they inclined their head, "I'll do what I can to make you something you'll love, in the meantime, knowing it'll be taking some liberties. I'll research tonight, but for now I can take your measurements and we can talk specifics as we go. Embroidery is something of a first love, if you couldn't tell from what you see on the floor, so at least we have that well in hand." They tilted their head to her. "Does that sound good to you?"

"There's a lot of people in here," Lara agreed, wary as she looked around. "But I suppose that's a good thing, si? Busy is good for business." She followed after, careful as she moved past bodies and trailed up the stairs. "I'm Lara Santiago Acosta. Mucho gusto, Kaye James." She pulled a slip of paper out of her back pocket of an image she had someone at the library print off for her and handed it over. "Several decades ago, I had a charro suit made for me. It looked like this, for the most part. Between several rough moves and simply the passage of time, I've lost it, but I want something similar. I thought the... event would make a nice occasion to have something nice." She gave a small smile. "I have seen your clothes in the window, and I thought you would do something nice, make me look... classy, not like a two-bit mariachi singer."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

Kaye still felt on edge as a customer approached, but she eyed the stranger up and down quickly before deciding that once again, commerce would have to come before emotions. "You're fine, I'm just feeling very... surrounded. As though it wasn't my idea to have the sale at all." Dry humor snapped out, but they lifted an eyebrow at the mention of something custom. "Right this way, then. Come upstairs, that's where I work on special orders. It's your first time here, isn't it? Not to put too fine a point on it but I know everyone I've ever made pieces for," they said, with brisk sincerity. "I'm Kaye James, I own the shop, and apparently I'm the creator of my own hell." They pulled their work apron off a hook as they got upstairs and hands working to tie it in quick, long-practised motions. "What are you looking to have made? Give me a challenge, I'm desperate for it."

Lara watched with something that almost resembled amusement threatening to tick her lips upward as the bull and his handler walk dejectedly from in front of the boutique. She was looking through the clothing available within the store, most of it far too rich for her normal wear. Clothes were typically meant to be worn until they were worn, which meant that she bought sturdy clothes that could last through the hardships of labor. Sturdy rarely equated to stylish, these days, though apparently some of her apparel was considered "vintage." None of that really mattered to her, however. She'd accumulated a fair amount of disposable income and, while a solid chunk of it was going into building a house, there was still plenty left, as Lara didn't pay rent and rarely had in over a hundred years.

These town-wide events, though foolish in her mind, seemed rather important, and Lara wanted to blend as much as a lone wolf could. Which meant that she needed to dress up. She'd had a nice enough outfit for the catastrophic dance, she believed, and she cleaned up alright when she went into town, but she figured a nice outfit or two for these events might be good, especially for one that made her sort of nostalgic. So, when the owner of the store mentioned custom orders, she stepped forward. "I don't mean to bother," she said. "I'm aware of the sale on denim, but I have plenty. I would like to talk with you about a custom order, though."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

Kaye rubbed at a tight muscle in her neck, eyes closed for a ten second count of sanity before they went up, only to open them again at 3 and the sound of Ken's voice. "Now, there's an idea. But," they added, frost thawing ever so slightly at his appearance. "I'm happy to table the drinks for the moment, assuming no one else brings their livestock tromping through the racks while I'm gone." They shot a warning glance at the staff, before being quickly diverted by his mention of the upcoming wedding. Leyla's dress had been in the works already, but there were a lot of picky little questions for Ken that they expected he'd be ready to field. He was here, after all, and attention to detail was something of a shared passion. "Yes, I've been expecting you, and your timing couldn't be better." They nodded primly and after indicating with a hand that he should follow, led the way upstairs to their workspace. "Have you talked with Leyla much about the designs you're interested in? I can't picture you as one of those abysmally hands-off grooms."

Ken did not so much as glance towards the bull nor its handler as he stepped out of his car. At least, he didn't, until he heard a greeting aimed his way in a fake southern scrawl that caused him to shot them a look of disgust that very clearly conveyed his lack of desire to sign up for such nonsense. It came as no surprise that Ken never cared for the events of the town and this was no exception. If anything, this held more of his disdain given the ridiculousness of it all and would not be entertained in any lifetime.

Catching the tail end of the announcement as he walked in, he strode towards Kaye with confidence. He was not at Blush for the sale but on personal matters instead. There were better and far more important things he needed to attend to than waste his time over something that was not his aesthetic. "I can return with one if it's imperative. Perhaps a bottle even?" he posed the question with a glance around to some confused faces among the crowd. "I'm here on wedding business."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

Kaye cracked a pained smile in return. They knew Efe was likely still carrying some guilt around with him, for the aquarium, but they couldn't lie—it was a biological fact. "Well, that was tragic." They glanced out the window at the retreating bull and his handler, and made a rude gesture. "Better hope they don't make me. I can't do anything to it physically, but I could utterly ruin it, psychologically." Peering at the item in his hands, they considered first it, then him, eyes narrowing with barely concealed amusement. "You were going to pay full price... for something you can't identify?" They folded their arms. "I can't tell if that's flattering, or concerning." Kaye waved off his attempts to respect their request. "Don't worry about it, my impatience is reserved for those who are really trying it, and that doesn't include you. And now I'm curious—how do you think you wear it?" She pressed her lips into a tight line, not cracking a smile in case it'd make him feel like he was being teased. He was, of course. But gentleness should be met with the same, in Kaye's book.

"Denim? I hardly know him." Efe offered a weak smile, delivering this lousy pun with a sentiment less than gusto. Grimacing, then, he allowed his gaze to drift from the article in his hand, to the bull trotting outside the window, back to Kaye. "I hope they're not going to make anyone fight that poor thing." Right now, he was perhaps more sour about animals than usual, owing to his one-of-a-kind sharkbite. But he still found no amusement in cruelty. Looking back to Kaye, Efe cleared his throat. "Maybe I was going to buy it for full price? But...uh, what...what is it? I mean, how does a person wear it?" He did not know very much about clothing, but the long days away from work were leaving him open to new possibilities once his more typical haunts had grown tiresome. "Oh, sorry. I can ask someone else."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

Kaye pushed the rest of the customers from her mind as Cass appeared, exactly the sort of break from the madness she'd been looking for when she made the announcement. "How 'bout a bit of both—come, come," they said, with relief as they stepped around the counter and gave Cassandra a nudge at her elbow, indicating the stairs across the floor that led up to the second level. "I've got a bottle of prosecco I've been meaning to open, and we can talk designs. Any ideas you're leaning towards, at the moment?"

They ascended the short flight of stairs. The atelier partly looked over the rest of the store, but continued further back through the store, and above it were Kaye's living quarters, the whole building taking up three stories of high ceilings and arched windows in total. On the second floor where they stood, Kaye's workspace had several long tables, dressmaker's dummies and bolts of fabric carefully stacked along high shelves. At the moment, there were some half-completed sketches on dotted tracing paper and oak tag strewn about, half a dozen portfolio folders full of patterns, and a veritable library of fashion and design books piled beside the plush high-backed chairs, usually reserved for guests. "Have a seat, let me grab my notebook and drinks and we can get started." Their mood had improved exponentially, just leaving behind the chatter of the shop.

Cassandra hadn't seen the town so busy-bodied since the fiasco in February—which didn't mean much, all things considered, as she'd only been in town less than half the year; for all she knew, cattle walking down the streets was the norm. Though, judging from the reaction she witnesses from Kaye, that was unlikely.

While cowpoke-ing wasn't much her style, Cassandra couldn't help but feel more at home in the bustle and busyness of the townsfolk, the beelike frenzy of rushing from one attraction to another. She enjoyed her alone time, but Cass had always loved getting lost in a crowd. Slipping past a pair of older women nearly wrestling over a denim jacket, she hid a smile as she approached the front to catch Kaye's beleaguered announcement. “Well, I did come by to ask about a custom piece, but I would be more than happy to help with the latter. Seems like you could use it.”

[thelatekayejames]

open starter (capped!)

where: blush boutique, half-off sale

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"What fresh hell is this—get away, you beast—" Kaye commanded with the flap of a scarf, and all the authority their small frame could muster. The bull's handler looked rather shamefaced as the pixie stared them down from the doorway of Blush, the animal in question clip-clopping away, presumably to be ridden or injure someone. She'd made it exceptionally clear that whatever livestock-related activities were involved in this thing they were calling a rodeo, it better not mess with business. Their mood had been dipping steadily since the sale started that morning, and the thematic music in the store had survived about ten minutes. Kaye strode back from the door to the register, and pursed their lips looking down at what a customer had chosen. "The sale's on denim. This—" They indicated the item. "Is blue, but that's where the resemblance ends." Then, loudly to the store in general. "Please see the sales staff if you have any questions about items on the floor, I'll be upstairs. Do not bother me unless you're here for custom orders, or you're bringing me a very stiff drink."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

Kaye let out an inelegant snort, leaning back on the bench outside of the change room and scratching out notes on a pad of paper. "You tell me, darling. We're getting ideas here, narrowing down options, not taking a survey. If it feels too poofy, it is. Listen, no one's opinion matters but yours." And also theirs, to some degree, but they'd known their own instincts with bridal dresses since they were twelve years old and started crying at a cousin's wedding, from second-hand embarrassment. The dress was a lot, and not in a good way. "Alright, back in, next test." They passed her another, more akin to what Leyla generally wore. Meaning, quite a bit of (elegant, tasteful) skin on display.

@lunarcovestarters

"Okay, so what do we think?" Leyla asked as she wandered out of the dressing room, struggling to even manage to lift all of the skirts of the dress as she twirled around in front of the mirror. "Is it too poofy? It feels too poofy," She wondered out loud. She had only been out of the hospital for a few days now and still felt more like a vegetable than she did a person, but she also knew that she couldn't be held up inside forever, and dress shopping had sounded fun in theory. Except now she was realizing it was quite the workout. Smoothing out the skirts of the dress, the lightheaded little fae held out her arms to keep herself from toppling over.

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

They watched something melancholic flutter momentarily over Ana's aura, perhaps at the memories of her old friend who only existed for Kaye as a somewhat mythological figure in their own past. But they supposed it was different, harder, to be the one who did remember, and yet see a stranger wearing the face of one you once knew. Kaye was still relatively young, they hadn't had to deal with that side of the cycling of their immortality, but they supposed they'd face it sometime as the others of their species died and were reborn. They didn't like to think on what it'd be like, to lose Ana, or Nyra, or Suresh, and then find them all over again decades later and have to start their acquaintance from scratch. Having no regenerations remaining herself, it felt almost inevitable that Kaye would face it eventually—if they managed to survive that long.

An unsettling thought, but it did put them back on the hunt for a good subject to siphon from, and they let their gaze follow those who milled around the song selection binders for a moment before returning to Ana's words, with a wide smile. "Very well stated," they quipped, warmly. "A few more lines like that, a couple shots of tequila, and you might get me up on that stage yet."

"Well, then, I hope the richest among us have terrible dreams," they said, grinning wickedly. Their eyebrows rose with interest. "Advisor? I think that's an excellent idea," Kaye said. "You'll certainly be more than capable of holding your own politically, and I'd trust you just as much as I do Nyra to handle our interests on the Council, whether it's all an act or not. I'm honestly shocked she didn't ask you sooner. Do you think you'll do it?"

"Yes, you are," Ana conceded. She was not about to argue with Kaye about the merits--or lack thereof--of other lives. She only thought to speak of it at all because she knew Kaye in a previous life, a very rare coincidence she hadn't quite been prepared for when she came to settle in the little town of Lunar Cove. When Ana first arrived here, she thought she was leaving behind every last trace of her former life--and not just before reincarnation. She was here to forget the crimes she'd committed, the life on the run she had been forced to live. To put her sins to bed, so to speak. Kaye would always be a reminder of that life: of being on the road, moving from club to club just to scrape a living, of singing to strange men in strange bars, of making odd friends along the away that were just as broken as she was.

Only, Kaye did not remember any of it. And perhaps it was for the best. They had quite a lot to be getting on with in this life to be worrying about any others. "And this version is quite enough. My favorite, in fact." Ana was not usually one for compliments, but Kaye was an exception. Anyone who made clothes as skillfully and beautifully as they did deserved some amount of respect. Especially with the prospect of a new outfit on the way. She smiled into her glass at the acknowledgment that she and Kaye had always gotten along so well--something Kaye's past self could not have said. That may or may not have been Ana's fault, but she was not about to take responsibility for her former bad behavior now.

Ana's eyes flickered to the new sign outside the door. Neighborly was one word for it. Others might use predatory. A quick and easy way to make money that took advantage of the town's current trauma. At least, that was what Ana told herself. It would take too much self reflection to wonder if she really wanted to help this god forsaken little town. "A few," she said. "It's a little extra income. I'll need some way to pay for whatever outfit you make me next." She shrugged, as if none of it mattered. For a moment, she was quiet, tapping her fingers against her glass. "I've had an...unofficial request to be second in command for the fae. I'm sure it won't be the worst thing in the world to at least act like I care what happens around here. On the rare chance i'm mad enough to agree."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

"I'm terribly sorry to hear that," Kaye said, sympathetically. They cocked their head to the side. "So-called death? That a euphemism for something on the everyday human side of the tracks, or ours? I've died quite a few times myself." She waited without complaint as Addie finished her smoke, then laughed and waved a hand in the air. "Maybe, but I can have some notes sent to you if you'd prefer it. There's quite a lot, and it's in my best interest to make it as... effortless as possible, for you to handle." If there was a slight purr in their voice, and a suggestion that it wasn't the only thing that they'd be willing to help her with, well, where was the harm in that? It was all in play, that's all.

"Fae Queen, as in leader of the Court, of which I'm a proud member." Kaye drew a finger through the air and left a trail of illusory sparks, to demonstrate. "But the title hardly does it justice, we've been around longer than most countries have existed, let alone their monarchies." Kaye shrugged a shoulder, lightly. It wasn't often they got to show off to someone new to the entire supernatural community—and as much as they'd roll their eyes a touch if someone like Suresh was waxing poetic about the power and majesty of their species, surely a little showing off for a cute blonde wasn't completely unwarranted.

"Sort of," Addie started out, "it more or less started because the cops were proving to be fucking useless while investigating my sister's so called 'death'." The last word emphasized by her erroneous use of mocking air quotes. "Did my own research, hired a P.I. and he said I'd probably make a good one, too, with all the stuff I'd put together. So I said why not." She takes one last drag before putting the cigarette out in the ashtray on top of the trash bin outside. Normally, she'd just stamp it out under her boot, but she didn't want to seem so careless around a prospective client. "Jesus, maybe I should've brought my fucking notepad." The evil sheriff, someone named the Catalyst, a dude getting hit by a car-- it was a lot for Addie to keep up with. She'd have to go back over it all later, probably. Start putting together her own timeline.

She stepped inside the cafe behind Kaye, letting the door swing shut with a jingle of the bells attached at the top, making her frown. She always hated shit like that. "There's a queen here? We talkin' royalty royalty, or just, like, in title?" She looked down at the note Kaye passed her. "Wow, already giving me your number and I haven't even bought you a drink yet," she teased, before pocketing the paper. "So this shit's been going on a while now?"

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

Kaye raised a brow delicately. "I don't know, can you?" Whatever the cause of his blustering, it was easy to see he was grumping his way around the question. She'd let him have this one, though, mostly because she didn't have an interest in the bellhop one way or the other. "No, I wouldn't describe you as middle-aged," they agreed, with a sweet little smile. It dropped away as quickly as it formed, though, turning into swift disbelief.

"I will never be participating in anything with the word 'tuber' in it, thank you very much. Not everything that's been made since I died can be declared an advancement. Now—" They gave him a very serious look that said it was time to buckle down and get to it, gripping the controller like it was the control of a jet fighter. "How do I shoot you with this. I'd like to get some points." The more at convinced he was that they didn't know what they were doing, the sweeter the payoff would be when they trounced him, graciously.

Suresh flashed his teeth in a Cheshire grin, batting his eyelashes a few times. "Better rejects than seconds, innit?" Suresh offered this drolly, pushing his already heightened accent to the very brink before delivering a pointed sniff. "I didn't order even order nothing, love. Maybe he had the wrong room." He shrugged his shoulders, a dismissive gesture, but narrowing his eyes, he glared right back. "If I had wanted to throw you out the shag the bloody bellboy, I would have done it. Maybe I have other things on my mind. Can't I be an intellectual and rise above the flighty trappings of the flesh?" He scoffed, turning up his nose, waxing Shakespearean.

"It's important for strange middle-aged men to have friends. Not me. I am not a strange middle-aged man," he admonished, leaning back as he crossed his arms behind his head. "Plenty of people make money off video games, Kaye. It's a billion-dollar bloody industry. People don't do arcade high scores anymore," he whined a bit. "Maybe we can make you VTuber, and you can start collecting donations on Twitch. I'll even let you borrow one of my headsets."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

"I'm me," Kaye said with a sniff. "Maybe in a century or two I'll be less territorial, but given that I'm the last version of... myself, that there is or ever will be, I'd like to lay the claim firmly for now." There might've been a hint of existential dread that they'd yet to fully confront, in that statement. And, having the Catalyst play puppeteer with their life had been no walk in the park, either. Some might call that lingering trauma, but Kaye wasn't willing to dive back into that murky sea of emotions quite yet. It would keep, they figured, and be just as confusing and anxiety-inducing when they did decide to grapple with it, so where was the rush?

Her eyes glittered in gleeful appreciation. "Well, that at least is something I can hold over her. Clearly, I have the good sense not to get on your bad side, and so, I've won at least that," they said smugly, and as their drink arrived, raised the glass to her. "Hm. I'll be a little slow, for a while, but how about you come by this week, and I can send my assistants scampering around to collect whatever you're interested in?" Her employees were all paid handsomely to be prompt and efficient with the top customers, and Ana was definitely in that category.

Kaye looked at her with consternation, then gave it some consideration. "Maybe in a little while. I'm not having nightmares of drowning, thankfully, but I wouldn't say I'm ready to make new friends in the water, quite yet. Have you gotten many takers on your offer to help with nightmares?" They asked, referring to the sign on the door. She sipped delicately at her drink, eyeing Ana over the glass. "That's awfully neighbourly of you. What made you decide to offer your services?"

"She is you, Darling. You know that, don't you? Consider it like a long night of drinking, blacking out the next morning and not remembering the amazing feats you achieved the night before." Ana could not say she understood that feeling from experience--she always made sure that others in the room were far more intoxicated than she was--but a lifetime of using her siren's song, spending too much time in night clubs, and owning her own bar all combined to give her plenty of experience witnessing others' blackouts. "Oh, they had them. Don't worry about that. You don't get to where you--they--" she corrected, "--were without making some enemies along the way. You know, we didn't always get along." Ana smiled, taking a small sip of her drink. This should have come as no surprise; Ana hardly got along with anyone at all.

"I must." She leaned closer across the bar, attention obviously captivated by the promise of new (expensive) clothes. Ana had kept all her pieces over the years--she could probably open a fashion museum of her own soon enough--but she was always on the hunt for more, rarely wearing the same outfit twice in a decade. And Kaye's fashions were above and beyond all else. "When can I come by? I am in desperate need." It was comforting to know that even when they were hiding out in this little town, cut off from the rest of the world, they did not have to go without luxuries.

"Hardly. Sharks rarely bite humans in the wild. We're simply not their taste." Ana shook her head wearily and took another sip of her wine. She detested to think what might have happened to the shark if it hadn't swam away after the attack. If someone had harmed it, she would truly have been distraught. She laughed. "It's not a problem when you can communicate with them, Dear." She did feel sorry for Bex and the others--but only slightly. Sharks had to eat too, after all. "I'm friends with many sharks. It's not difficult. You should come for a swim with me some day. I'll introduce you."

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼ end ≽·≼

"During the Fae ball," he replied. Like many others that caused havoc, the event had been etched into his mind, just decidedly more given what had happened to Leyla and his inability to protect her. Fists curled at the thoughts but he kept his emotions in check, giving a chance for them rise would not benefit anyone on this current situation. "I agree, made to feel useless and like sitting ducks is not something that ever feels right." While he could understand some vampires and their need to siphon, it had enough of a reason than what all of them went through inside that aquarium. With another nod, Ken agreed to that as well, "I suppose it is." Life and its continued existence did often times feel like a privilege, especially these days since he viewed our less and less like a curse. "You needn't be so careful, unless of course it's on purpose, then, by all means go right ahead."

The flash of anger he caught across their features felt more than justified with what was shared. His head hung as his mind imagined that scene. "I'm sorry she had to face that, and you for reliving it through memory." he said with sincerity, "Cruelty never seems to cease inside or outside these borders."

Brought forth by what they seemed to say, a feeling of being on the perimeter of self-assurance lingered front of mind. Not a new concept, no, it had taken a permanent place within him, something he could not dispute since there didn't seem to be a point in time, past, present, or future, where he would be able to live without self-scrutiny of who he was and what he became. "For whatever it's worth, if anything, I greatly respect you for that mindset. To know oneself and exist without apology is freedom in its own way."

Ken lingered for a moment linger, weight of his thoughts subsidising a touch with their words. "I'll pass on the message, thank you. Take care of yourself."

[thelatekayejames]

option a

≽·≼

The weather had warmed enough that Kaye no longer had to huddle in her full-backed coats, and was free to let her wings loose whenever she pleased—or, whenever there were rogue balloons to retrieve. They nodded to Dilan, made sure they had enough space so as not to clock anyone as cream-and-black butterfly wings emerged from their back. Then they sped efficiently into the air after the escaped balloons. A minute later, holding the tails in their uninjured arm, Kaye lighted gently on the ground beside the other pixie. "I think I got all of them." They glanced at her, brows knit. "Are you alright? Your hands look very full, can I help?"

@lunarcovestarters

Option A: Dilan

Dilan had been frazzled between Leyla’s mysterious illness and all the weddings that she was planning for the summer. With her assistant out on leave from stress it left everything in her hands. “Out of the way!” She yelled as she pushed through the crowd with a dozen balloons in her hand. Feeling a sharp pain as someone elbowed her in the side and she released the balloons instinctively to grab her side. Realizing a split second later what she’d done and panic set in. “No! No! No!” She screeched as she tried to grab the balloons that were floating up to the sky. Managing to get a few, but the others were quickly out of reach. “Don’t just stand there help me.” Dilan told them as she jumped to try and grab the rest of the balloons.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Option B: Poppy

“Alright it’s closing time.” Poppy said with a sigh as she threw the rag over her shoulder and walked to the door. Ushering out the patrons who were finishing off their drinks, she watched the glasses collect on the bar as people stumbled out. Noting a person still sitting at one of the tables after everyone had left, she walked over to them. Sitting down across from them with a smile, she crossed one leg over the other. “So can you not follow directions or is this just a lame attempt to spend time with me?” She questioned curiously. “If it’s the second then I guess you got your wish cause I’m here and could use a beer.” Using her telekinesis to bring over the beer that she had been nursing most of the evening. “I would offer to refill you, but I’m off the clock now.” She teased playfully. “So help yourself, just nothing from the top shelf.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Option C: Safiye

“Do you want me to get that for you?” Safiye offered pointing to the empty coffee cup that was sitting on the table in front of the patron at Peggy’s Dinner. “I can refill it if you want or just take it away?” Offering both options up since she wasn’t sure which one they’d prefer. “But if you want my suggestion take the refill and get a piece of pie. We just cut the pie and refilled the coffee so it’s all

[thelatekayejames]

≽·≼

Kaye gave him a look that was positively drenched in reproachful scorn. "Oh, so you don't want the door dash in a uniform that just happened to arrive for you, so it's free to other takers if they want it, is that it? I do not have any interest in your rejects, thank you very much." They glared at him, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What's wrong with you? You didn't even keep him around to make him nervous or anything. If I'm getting in your way, I'm happy to leave." Honestly, they'd only shown up because their monthly siphoning had left them feeling out of sorts. The usually bubbly young lady from the salon had some underlying loneliness behind the facade, apparently, and Kaye had unfortunately had to make do instead of finding someone easygoing on short notice. Not that they'd ever admit that to Suresh.

"And it isn't worse, but it's still not great," Kaye added, in defiance of the request. They scooped up the controller he'd abandoned, and inspected the buttons. "This seems simple enough, though I'm still skeptical on it being actually fun. Or worthwhile. Most of my hobbies have tangible monetary results, not just bragging rights and a number on a board." Perhaps their recent preoccupation with taking bets at events was turning into a bad habit, but it really seemed like it'd be better if there was some real risk or reward involved in the button pushing.

"It's ruuude." Suresh imitated their voice under his breath as he moved to pull open the door to the hallway. A recently hired bellhop was standing there, leaning against a wall in what was perhaps an effort to look cool and collected. "Hell. What do you want, mate? I'm not a guest. There's no bloody checkout here today." Suresh gave him a look up and down. "Oh! You're the new...hmm, no, sorry, I'm not entertaining any staff right now. And if Nyra asks, it had nothing to do with her. I can't even deal with this. It's not me. It's you." He slammed the door again, but while he did not think he and Aysun were official, he did find he had less interest in everyday dalliances or bulldozer men.

Returning to the sofa, Suresh wrinkled up his nose. "Who, him?" He gestured at the headset. "He's, like, a bloody middle-aged bloke from Ohio. Does that make it worse? Don't answer that." He put them back on. "I'm logging off, mate. Go to your son's piano recital." Suresh turned back to Kaye and gave a shrug, tossing his headphones onto the adjacent sofa. "Not the kind of cake you're implying. Do you want to be friends with the strapping new bellhop? He's out there looking lonely and pathetic." He gestured back a the door. "I only have two controllers."

[thelatekayejames]

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As they crossed towards the Downtown side of the Town square, Kaye couldn't help but wonder at this newcomer. "How does someone get into that line of work, anyway?" she asked, just to help fill the space. "Investigating? Did you just happen into it? Here we are—" Reaching the Daily Drip, they waited to let Addie finish with her cigarette, and shook their head. "I'm quite sure they don't, and only some of that can be blamed on the previous sheriff turning supervillain," they said, with ultimate skepticism. "But I'd say the inciting incident, well..." She mused it over. "It's hard to say. It could've been Mason—that's Mason Mahir, my friend. He died last year after he was hit by a car, but it turned out he had been abducted and operated on, poorly." Kaye lowered their eyes at the sting of it, then continued. "And this incident at the aquarium, there was a scent of apple in the air when everyone's powers were weakened. Apparently it's happened before, back when Lorelai Cavanaugh—that's the old sheriff—was terrorizing the townsfolk on a semi-monthly basis and calling herself the Catalyst. She was prone to dramatics, as you can tell. I was out of town at the time, but I can point you to those who might be helpful filling in those details."

As they entered the cafe, they dug in their purse a second time and began to write notes on a small pad of paper, with names and quick details of who she was mentioning. "Here. Meena, Dhruv... Gia, who found them. And Nyra, our Fae Queen, owns the hotel where that first apple scent incident happened. I'm certain she'll offer what help she can to your investigation, if you tell her I've hired you." She tore off the list of names and passed it over, after adding their own contact information at the bottom.

"Now that's the kind of logic I can get behind." Addie shuffled to keep pace with them, one hand in her pocket as the other held her cigarette. She listened with rapt attention, taking note of the names and the way Kaye casually dropped their species. She wasn't exactly used to all this, what she was supposed to do, then? Introduce herself as the human P.I. looking into kidnappings? "The mayor got kidnapped, too? Jesus, you sure the police here know how to do their jobs?" In Addie's opinion, none of them did, really. But that was neither here nor there, because their incompetence gave her an income.

Kidnappings, missing organs, murder-- Addie was beginning to think this town might actually be fun, despite how weird and out of place it was. Who knew? Maybe she'd get to actually have a good time before she finally kicked the bucket. It was better than growing old in fucking Minnesota fixing electrical wiring for old people, that was for sure. "Anything happen before all this? Or was that the inciting incident?"

[thelatekayejames]

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Kaye nodded seriously, despite not relating. "I'm mostly comfortable indoors—but I think you probably guessed that after the camping debacle," they said, ducking their head a little as their cheeks heated, remembering the embarrassment. If it hadn't been for Moose and Remmy, the whole event would've been unspeakably awful. "Thankfully, this isn't so serious, and in the long run, I'm sure I'll appreciate that I know what a broken bone entails? With lifetimes like ours, we shouldn't be afraid of new experiences, even the terrible ones. And I knew I had people I could ask for help, if I needed it," they added, smiling gently.

She let out a small laugh, returning the teasing tone with a playful one of their own. "I do! But not under threat, I think? Maybe I should practice, just in case." But then they shook their head, amusement fading. "I'm not sure. I've been mostly staying out of it, if I'm honest. I trust that the Council's been occupying themselves with finding answers, though. Maybe Nyra or Meena know more?" They hadn't been to visit either of them recently, not wanting to be a bother, but put it on their list of things to check on, when time allowed. "I might be selfcentered, but the thing that has me worried more is that substance in the air they used to subdue the rest of our powers. It was..." They trailed off. "Unsettling. I really hope I don't have to go through that again."

"Geez," Remmy gave a low whistle, "seems like I missed a lot. Real sorry about that, a-and your arm." They'd been concerned when they first saw the injury, but they also knew Kaye was smart and that they could take care of themself. "Yeah, I broke many bones as a kid, getting the cast off was always both the best and worst part of it all. You know, besides the, uh, the breaking it part." Being left to their own devices meant Remmy had jumped off more than one roof or tried to race their bike down the side of a hill. "I like it, the flowers. Feels like Spring."

Remmy didn't really know how to feel about humans having powers. They hadn't been there for it so they didn't know what it had looked like, but they imagined it was pretty jarring for both of sides. "What, you don't like rollerskatin'?" They teased a little. "I mean, I get it, yeah. That's scary. Does anyone know how it happened? The, uh, powers?"

[thelatekayejames]

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Kaye plucked out a headphone and called back from the bathroom over the sound of the running tap. "Do not rush me, it's rude." They took another forty seconds to concentrate on the streamer playing on their phone, and sighed, before ending the charade and emerging with an arch look.

They perched on the sofa and glanced sidelong at the screen, no longer at a loss trying to decipher what was happening in the game. In fact, thanks to some quick mimicry, they were quite prepared to show him up when the time was right. "I didn't. Maybe the twelve year old on the other end of this device ordered you a consolation cake?" they said, with utmost innocence.

Open starter @lunarcovestarters Location: The Emerald Hotel, Suresh's Suite

"Reloading. Reloading! Shite! I said to fucking cover me. You suck. Listen, mate, if I wanted to be responsible for a bunch of talentless deadweights, I'd marry your mum and be you and your siblings' step-dad." Sprawled out on his sofa, Suresh hammered away at a video game controller, grumbling into his headset amid a series of electronic explosions. "Fuck this. I'm going next." Tugging off his earpiece, he tossed the device onto the adjacent couch and leaned backward, throwing his head up to groan at the ceiling.

"Oi! Did you fall in? Don't go spilling water all over! My tail; your arse." He shouted at the closed door to the bathroom before putting his headset back on. "Nobody was talking to you. You're stressing me out."

Another groan came when there was a knock on the door from the hallway. "Hey! Did you order room service?" He shouted back at the bathroom before returning to his microphone once more. "Nobody was talking to youuuu." Suresh stood up with a grunt, tossing the headset away once more to answer the door.