Heartlines

@avaflnch​ 

Noelle hadn’t really spoken with Robin’s daughter much since she returned to town. She knew the girl was here and that they were trying to reconnect but Noelle thought she should reach out. She had texted the girl to meet her at the coffee shop and she was already there waiting with her coffee. Every time the door opened, Noelle thought it was Ava. She glanced up from her phone and smiled. “Ava. It’s awesome to see you again.” She stood up and extended a hand. “I’m Noelle, your father’s assistant.” 

Ava had kept to herself for the past couple weeks. After the meeting with her father she needed space, needed to clear her head. Too much information swirling around there. But she couldn’t say no to the request. Happy to have at least one friendly face in Wildemount. Plus with her being Robin’s assistant, maybe some information she could get out of her.  “Hey.” Ava smiled warmly as she shakes her hand. “Thanks for the invite.” She sits down, a paper menu in hand. “It takes an incredibly patient person to help organize Robin’s life, so thanks for that as well.” She jokes. 

Henley chuckled. “Welcoming committee, my ass. If anyone welcomed me here maybe I would know where I could find other witches.” She nodded. “Actually, yes. I would love where I could get a decent cup of coffee.” Henley replied with a small smile. 

She paused at the comment of witches. Witches? A slang term, perhaps. It’s not like Ava was always in the know with what well...anything meant. And Wildemount tended to draw a band of weirdos to their main street that was for sure. 

“Coffee!” Now that was something knew. “There’s a little cafe two blocks over actually.” Ava used to babysit the owner’s kids. She gave her free cups every now and then when she’d come home. “I can show you if you’d like?”

He can’t quite think straight where his daughter is concerned. It’s not something meant to cast blame at her, or anyone other than himself, but the fact that her presence is more than enough to put him off-balance is a reality he’ll have to one day face. The fact that, by his own conscious thought, she’s been the greatest change in his life – it’s enough to send a man into an emotional tailspin. He wouldn’t be half the man he thinks himself to be were it not for her. Even though he’s never been quite able to express that to her.

“Christmas. He – He called me, and he wanted to let me know he’d be coming by for New Years. He sounded happy.” His voice cracks again, something he’ll never be ashamed of when it comes to his own children, and he’s across the room before he has the time to overanalyse this thing, too, his arms finding their way around Ava so he can hold her like he hasn’t been able to in years. Like every breath has been stolen from his lungs and he’s only able to breathe now that she’s in his embrace.

“I wanted to see your brother, too, but I’m… I’m beyond words to have you here, Ava,” he murmured, one hand going to cradle the back of his daughter’s head, his entire body curled into hers. Almost like he was the child seeking a parent’s comfort.

Her and Wren, they both agreed it would be better not to tell their parents what happened. Robin had his own worries, that was Ava’s excuse but in reality she just didn’t want him involved. Afraid that unlike her mother’s reaction which would have been worry, fear, possibly something worse, Robin would have been consoling. Scared sure but he would have made sure above all else his children were safe. Cared for. Ava couldn’t bear the weight of her father’s love. 

It happened right before the Holidays. When her father said he spoke to Wren at Christmas she had to give her brother credit. He was able to keep it together better than she thought. 

She wasn’t expecting the hug. Her skin felt so hot, so sharp. She was afraid of the mark she’d leave behind if she was touched. Ava went stiff the second Robin moved towards her. She held her breath for a moment, eyes wide before melting. Her arms wrapping around his frame. the familiar, paternal smell engulfing her. She buried her face into his shirt, holding back the threat of tears. 

“If you’re going to pull all the books off the shelves, at least put them back where you found them.” Clay looked over the book in his hand unkindly at the customer. Working in a bookstore wasn’t necessarily fun, but it kept him busy. Especially when it plagued him with idiots like this particular one. “If you’re looking for something specific, perhaps I can help you and keep the destruction to a minimum?” 

@veilsstarters​

She was going to be stuck in Wildemount for much longer than she hoped. Might as well try to figure out what was going on one way or another. The internet was too convoluted with everyone’s fantastical (and most likely incorrect) ideas and opinions. 

Ava had found a comfortable spot back in the historical non-fiction section. She was busy scanning over one book in particular when she heard the other speak. “Oh!” Ava jumped up, sending the two books in her lap spiraling to the ground. “Sorry.” She reached down, plucking scattered books from the ground. “Actually, if you don’t mind, is there anything on the history of Wildemount? Or just, like, the surrounding area in general?” She gestured around herself as if that could help explain what she was talking about. 

The blonde hummed softly as she took a sip of her week. As she set her glass back down on the bar top she nodded softly. “Mm yeah I was still debating whether this was the place for me or not,” she admitted. “And then obviously the dome, I guess, made the decision for me. Just sucks because as far as I know my brothers are on the side of that dome.”

“Seems like it did that for all of us.” She rolls her eyes. Ava wasn’t a control freak by any means. She tended to let life take her wherever it intended. But being stuck in a town she hated was beginning to make her skin crawl. “My brother’s on the other side too.” Ava replied, a small sad but knowing smile. “I just wish I knew what the hell was going on.” 

Henley’s mouth dropped open. “A spider.” She didn’t mind spiders, hell she had even used one every so often for a potion but she didn’t want them to be near her. She shuttered and smiled at the girl before adjusting herself. “Thank you. I didn’t mean to come off like a jerk, I just…” She shrugged. “I’m new here and being mean is always easier than being nice.” 

Ava silently disagreed but kept her mouth shut. Being new was hard enough as it was. But being new in Wildemount was a special little hell all its own. She was lucky enough to have been raised here but moving back had certainly raised a few eyebrows.

“Must have been the welcoming committee.” Ava jokes at the now dead spider. “I get it.” She nods, honest. “Did you need help getting anywhere?”

The blonde offered the bartender a smile in thanks as he brought of the drinks before turning her attention back to the other. “Mm, just moved actually,” she admitted. “About 6 months ago. You?”

She sipped lightly on the drink, doing her best not to down it in one go. Ava couldn’t imagine what would bring someone to Wildemount. She had been working her hardest to get away. “Just a little over a week.” Ava answers. “It was supposed to be a short trip, just visiting, but-” she gestures around as if that was an explanation, “creepy giant dome thing.” 

although frustrated to be in the situation to begin with, he appreciated the woman’s help. “thank you,” he said as she brought the cloth and water… and hesitating a little as she took to trying to clean his shirt. he raised a brow at her as she was focused on the spot. a little close but perhaps there was something he was missing. mortal customs confused him. he paused as he thought of how to answer question – brief, only a second or two long, but a pause nonetheless. “generally i don’t. but you’re not the first, unfortunately.” michael had never had a drink thrown on him but he knew his vessel had. 

“Not a problem, least I can do.” She replies, working in concentration. It’s not as though she had an innate need to have almost everyone she meets like her, it’s just simply that she absolutely did. So when she glances up and sees his unmoving, stone-cold expression staring back Ava does her best not to frown in response. She keeps dabbing at his shirt, the amber color of whisky slowly lifting. “Well I can’t imagine that you’re one to provoke a response like that from someone. What with your...charming personality and all.” She bites her cheek to hold back a grin.

     fillin huffed a quiet laugh, smile tugging at the corner of his lips.   “    i’m pretty sure you are right — my charming personality wouldn’t be enough without glitter. glitter always makes thinks better,    “   he answered with a shallow nod, following easly after her. wasn’t that one of thing he did best - trailing after someone?

   “   yeah, seems like a thing.  “   he said.   “    i’m faolán — though most of people call me fillin. it’s nice to meet you, even with all the—   “   he made a small gesture to his shirt.   “    —wetness,   “   vampire finished, not sure where he was going with that sentence anyway.

She slides into the sticky booth as gracefully as she can. The moment she sits down the noise muffles a bit and she’s thankful, already a headache coming on for the night. Though Ava’s sure it’s not from the alcohol. 

“I’m sure you’d manage glitter or not.” She nods back, sarcastic and solemn. “But it’s nice to meet you as well and if I could go one night without getting someone wet, they’d have to report it to the Vatican as a miracle.” She starts to laugh but stops short realizing how that joke might sound out of context. Red rushes to her cheeks and Ava quickly shakes her head, “Right so- Faolán, Fillin. That a family name?”

The witch nodded softly as she chuckled softly. She could understand that, in all honesty, the last few months had been rough but she had pushed through. “Perhaps you should,” she laughed. “Seemed to work well for me at times the pep talks wouldn’t work. You forgot about all your problems for a few hours.” Addie took the napkin offered and patted the wet spot on her top for a moment before offering the girl a smile. “Sure, why not,” she agreed.

Ava smiled and turned back towards the bar tender who looked as though he was debating on throwing her out or not. Instead he allowed her to order two more drinks for the ladies. She turns back to the other, “so you from Wildemount or just visiting?” Well, visiting permanently it would seem. 

The scream startled him and he backed up with his hands up. He was no way trying to touch her or anything. His mouth was opened for a second from the shock. He didn’t expect someone to scream. But then he registered her questions.·“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. Just that unicorn was running around here, and I lost it.”

Ava wanted to believe he was harmless enough but then again who was she to trust someone sprinting through a dark forest yelling about a unicorn. 

“Right. The unicorn.” Maybe he was just out of his drunken mind. He could need help. “Maybe it’s uh...that way. That way feels...magical? ” She pointed in the direction she hoped was towards town. “Is running through the woods searching for unicorns a regular thing for you?”

“No, I – well, yes, but I wouldn’t give you burnt coffee. I’m sure I’ve got some of those… coffee pod capsules sitting around.” He did, although he’d never quite gotten around to using them, as they’d been a gift of some sort, but it seemed like the kind of drink Ava – his daughter – might enjoy more. So, as with many other things that he had kept and not used for the sake of someone else, he’d stored it safely away.

He trails after her, because he is entirely convinced that if she leaves his eyesight she will vanish and he will wake up again, and that would ultimately be much more destroying to his self esteem than anything else his soul has experienced lately, and he’s still trying very hard not to chase her presence off again so quickly. “I can… take your bags to your room?” Is the staying? Is she visiting? Is she around for reasons completely unrelated to him? He’s at a complete loss what to do.

More than anything, he does believe she’ll disappear if he tries to touch her, as well, which is probably what prompts him to ask her. If she’s a figment of his imagination, of his subconscious, it should have no effect at all. Shouldn’t it? “I spoke to Wren. On Christmas. He… told me he’d be coming over for New Years, but then that dome… that thing happened, and. You became trapped, too, didn’t you?” Shame coats his entire expression, because this is something he wished had never touched them, something that the selfish part of him should have foreseen at some level. But he hadn’t, and he’d let them down again.

She’s already in the kitchen, ignoring his chattered protests and pulling out two mugs. Ava sets to work getting the coffee ready as Robin follows her in. She hums a little quietly as she pours the grounds, listening to him worry. Never in her life had she heard him worry so much. He was always fussing over them when he was around, the perfect dotting father. Her heart tugged a little, remembering those times. 

“I’ll get them later.” She nods back to where her bags were placed in the living room. He was scared, she was terrified and she wished to God he’d just stuck around. Ava looks to her dad for a moment, takes in his features, blinks and turns back to the coffee pot. A hollow feeling in her chest. I spoke to Wren. She freezes, hairs on her arms standing up. The rest of Robin’s words drown out as she feels the her rapid heart beating in her rib cage. Ava clenches her fist, shakes the feeling off and turns back around. 

“You talked to Wren?” She asks. “When? What did...what did he say?” She’s white knuckled, face paled in a panic. “Something...” her breath hitches, not able to finish her sentence. 

Rory sighed. What a loaded question. “Well, I came to see my ex-boyfriend. We left things….unfinished. What about you? Pleasure or business?” She half-laughed. Who would come here for either?

Ava thought about that for a moment. “Neither.” She replied. “Tracking down my father.” Both here for similar reasons it would seem. She holds her glass up in a cheers. “Here’s to the terrible men in our lives.” 

     “   knows that feeling,   “   he murmured, feeling his body tensing a little and willing himself back into relaxing — no need to be dramatic, here. he waved his hand mildly, smiling at her with the ‘well, it was good to ask’ look, his mind running in the pointless direction of ‘ how quick and long vampire need to wave his shirt around for it to dry?’ . 

    “   sure, why not — and don’t worry, really,   “   he moved slightly in place, winking at her.   “   always can throw on it some glitter and call it a party look, can’t i?   “   he attempted a joke, wiggling his fingers at his own slightly wet chest. 

It seems no one in Wildemount was having a particularly good time these days. Considering everything that was happening Ava imagined it was difficult to. Everyone trapped in the world’s worst snow globe. 

“You’ll be a hit at the annual rave tonight.” Ava jokes as she pushes through the crowd before calling over her shoulder, “I’m Ava by the way. Figured you should know the name of the person throwing drinks.” 

He smiles, inclining his head towards the empty booth.  “We can have a little more privacy and I’ll be all ears.”  The smile turned into a grin at Ava’s admission.  “Thirteen?  Well, that’s more than I have.  What’s your secret?”  

Edgar waved the bartender down, turning back to the phoenix expectantly.  “What were you having?  All I can tell is that it was sticky,” he teases lightly.  “And it’s no worries, really.”

“I can tell you it’s not my clever tweets or winning personality.” Ava was out of her comfort zone now. Not usually one to invite strangers to hang out. But ever since she returned to Wildemount and especially since the dome dropped she’d been feeling more and more isolated. 

“Whisky Coke, although I’m pretty sure half of that’s water.” Ava replies, tone sarcastic. She was certain the bartender was watering her drinks down. Four drinks deep and she hardly had a buzz. She turns, suddenly. “Oh! I’m Ava by the way.” A polite smile, just like her parents had raised her. 

After the barrier’s went down and Adalyn realized just how trapped she and everyone else in the town was, she couldn’t help but be a little distraught. She was still sort of new to the town and didn’t really know anybody and as far as she knew her brothers were on the other side of the barrier. There was another part of her though that wasn’t really bothered. She had come here for a fresh start and regardless of whether or not she was able to leave, the blonde was going to get that fresh start she knew she deserved.

Stepping into the bar, Addie made her way to the bar to order a drink, stopping for a moment to reach into her back for her wallet before a force hit her and liquid spilled on her and the floor between her and the other girl. “Oh no it’s okay,” the blonde assured. “Accident’s happen. I doubt you purposely bumped into me.” The witch reached over to the bar for a couple of napkins as she blotted at her shirt. Once satisfied that no harm was done to the top she gave the girl a soft smile. “Bad day, huh,” she asked with a gentle laugh. “When I have those days I either try to give myself a pep talk or I drink until I can’t walk straight.”

She resisted the urge to palm herself in the face and instead gave a sigh of relief. It seems that Ava had managed to dump a drink on the nicest person in the bar. It could have been worse she supposed. 

“You could say that.” A short, sarcastic laugh passed her lips as she nodded. Bad day, week, month. She wasn’t keeping count. “The pep talk hasn’t worked too well. Maybe I should try the other option.” Ava handed over a napkin from the bar and turned back to the other blonde. “Can I buy you a drink to make up for it?”