bitter antidote

“No.... I mean not after what he did. I don’t think I’d ever want to see his face again. That’s all I’m going to say.” Definitely not their daughter. If he couldn’t even stick around to take responsibility for his actions what good would it bring having him here?

[ Location: Black Veil Tattoo Parking Lot  Time: January 12th, approx. 8:27 AM ] @salemstart​

( ☀ ) —         despite the fact that phoenix’s last appointment wasn’t for a few hours and her cat, geralt corey, was more than unwilling to take his rooftop perch until it hit 11 a.m., she sometimes hung out in the parking lot of the shop. there was a blanket in her trunk that was so easily laid out on the hood of the car and she definitely enjoyed her car more than most things. the faded yellow ‘68 Impala had character with it’s gently worn vanilla leather seats and wildflower detailing that followed it’s trim. this car had been her safe space since she’d moved to america and especially, since she’d moved to salem. it was a childhood goal made true and she never minded laying on the hood and looking up at the sky when she got the chance. this morning was no different. she needed time while things were still quiet to think about all that had happened at that party and quiet time with her cat and a perfect breakfast fit the bill. she wasn’t shaken up as much as she was just…troubled and a little confused. instead of feeling something threatening hanging over the shoulder, it had felt like a challenge and she wasn’t sure how to take it.  naturally, she brought geralt to work with her, as usual. while he was no less than terrified of crossing the threshold of the buiolding, outside of the shop was free game. he leapt and climbed until he found a comfy spot which this morning happened to be just above pho’s shoulder as she laid down and took deliberately slow bites of her breakfast burrito.           geralt’s generally calm demeanor was disturbed, however, the moment he sensed someone coming and phoenix, with reflexes that rivaled her pet’s, heard the crunch of leaves under the onlooker’s shoes from a few feet away. she sat up and geralt corey moved to perch atop her head, though, trying to keep herself from seeming too threatening despite the fact that she was immediately on defense, she forced a smile on her face lifting a hand to cover her eyes. after the other night at the blackwell’s, her body was stuck in fight or flight mode and whether she liked it or not, she was having some trouble getting out of it.  ❝ we’re not open yet. though, i’m sure if you want some work done, dad wouldn’t mind if i got started a bit early,  ❞ even though, pho was looking in the direct spot that she’d heard the sound arise from, she had no chance in hell of seeing the person with the sun in her eyes and the angle they were coming from. that would, however, be her little secret. 

Kassie wasn’t a tattoo person and their entire skin was mostly untouched save for a few scars from little unfortunate accidents, having said that they were attached to the idea of art of any kind and inking was one of many which took their interest. It helped that someone they worked with and befriend also worked here so they could have an excuse to check on him while also browsing for any possible new content that they could gush about. They weren’t artistic by any means at least not in the form of creating masterpieces using their hands alone as they were more of a singer and dancer but it never hurt to expand their horizons even when they wouldn’t dive into it. With all that happened recently Kassie had been worried sick for the state of the town and people who lived in it. Some understandably wanted an out as soon as they could but those who were stuck didn’t really have a choice but to hope they wouldn’t be the next. As a budding psychiatrist they felt like it was their responsibility to scour around and see how the residents were doing. Lately they had been thinking about opening a practice here as soon as their guidance was done. They would have to drop their job as a caretaker as they would rather not leave behind their new position at the club but they were sure the boss wouldn’t mind and they could visit the children still. Thinking they could console with their friend here they decided to pay a stroll down there and arrived a bit too early. Someone was already there and they assumed they were one of the workers Kassie hadn’t acquainted themself with just. They offered their bright smile and stepped in closer. “Oh it’s okay. I’m sorry to bother you but I think I’ll just wait outside. I was just here to see a friend.” Kassie smiled. Looking up at the cat Kassie couldn’t help but giggle. “That’s a cute one..” They said referring to the cat but the one it was sitting on wasn’t too bad either. 

She smiled gently at Kassandra, holding out a hand to offer helping them to their feet. They had been hoisting spectacular performance at the club while Anabelle had taken her leave to focus on recovering in the rehabilitation facility, and she was pleased with promoting them to the managerial position thus far — an ambitious person like them was bound for greatness and triumphs, the blaze of glory that everyone did long for. The redhead had taken their conversation at the center into deep consideration once she had time for herself to mull it over — she didn’t want to sequester herself in her melancholy, however, and she was enthusiastic to enjoy the lovely day on the shoreline. Winter served up choppy waters along the harbor and the lighthouse, but the tide had subsided temporarily and the sun was glimmering down upon the beads of sand that she had buried her toes in. “How are you doing, Kass? We haven’t checked in in a minute,” she remarked, a ginger reminder to be denoted for later that they should regroup with where the club would go next. Over the past couple of months, she had been pondering the prospect of hiring another dancer as a second manager to help Kassandra manage the duties with her other jobs, and she and Heather had floated the idle thought of shelving her ownership of the club and lending it to someone else. That was no easy sell, though, and Anabelle had other matters to worry as of late. “Oh?” A groomed brow arched, thinking back on her youth to gather the crumbs she had of the brothers in passerby. The Blackwells were elusive in Salem, entering and exiting stage left as they pleased by. Making their acquaintance was an excruciatingly strong phrase. “You don’t wanna try out your luck finding someone to kiss on and start the new year off right?” she smirked, giggling as she trekked backward along the sand. 

Kassie smiled as they looked at the older woman. “I’m alright. I’ve been rebounding here and there making sure everything doesn’t go up in flames.” They said before chuckling. “I’m just joking. All is good. The girls are excited to enjoy their holidays but some are already eager to return.” Kassie’s smile mellowed just a bit giving her a knowing looking that they knew she would understand. The dancers who were eager to turn likely didn’t have any families they could visit. For them the holidays were just a reminder of that bitter truth and instead of packing up to their hometown themself Kassie had decided to stay so they could console those in need. When doing their duty Kassie could be considered meticulous but they were still a helper at heart and their other job helped in understanding what those girls were going through. They didn’t have the wisdom or experience that Anabelle did but they could be a relatively effective worker and also one that could profile them should they warranted it necessary. “I didn’t come home from Christmas thought it would be nice to keep them company instead.” Kassie wasn’t looking for brownie points per se, they just wanted to let their mentor know her workers were being taken care of both emotionally and physically. “My mother sent me homemade food though and we talked for hours so at least there’s that. How have you been yourself?” They asked. It was no secret that they looked up to the woman and wanted the best for them and their family having known these people personally before. Even if Kassie wasn’t as close with Anabelle they still cared for her wellbeing. Laughing at her comment they shook their head. “Maybe I’ll find someone but I’m not exactly there to mingle.” Then they jokingly added. “The Blackwell brothers are quite enchanting though don’t you think? They have that tall dark and handsome aura. Maybe I should try my luck.” They giggled.

[ cat cove ; december 26th. ]

The ransacking of the local nightclub had run amuck through the town and sparked worries in the redhead for her own assets with the bed-and-breakfast and the ranch, should something rouse that disturbed their revenue. What spelled an invasion of privacy like the Lieseils bombarding the club in Cat Cove with their presence and leaving it in utter disrepair? On her stroll to the harbor, she had stopped just shy of the rocky cove where she could spy the ramshackled sign of the club sloping lopsidedly, wiggling her bare toes in the sand as she gawked at it in silence. The wind whistling through the chilled cove and its otherwise unusually silent reconnaissance was a testament to what had unfurled in the early hours of Christmas Eve and threatened to bog down the holidays with yet another sour and meaningless trifle by the families. Normally, she would guffaw and look the other way, dismissing it as another way for them to stir up a fuss and attract tourism to the area with Salem’s unusual atmosphere. “Do you think they’ll be able to get back on their feet?” she wondered aloud to anyone else who was nosing around the vacant building this time of day, in broad daylight where no one could be accused of whatever fictional rebellion was on-going. She looked down at the sand, her red waves whisking in the breeze and disheveled. “I sure hope the Blackwells know how to throw a better party than the rest’a this city does. I could use some fun.”

“I mean. I sure hope so.” Kassie replied to their boss while drinking a hot cup of coffee and looking out that the small wreckage. They had been feeling a little like something terrible was about to happen but they couldn’t put a finger on it just yet as to what or how. Call it a psychiatrists intuition they guessed although they wouldn’t call themself a pro in what they did for a living just yet but the air had just been feeling strange for them. By now they shouldn’t be too surprised by what the town could bring and they wondered why they were sticking around when their life could be very well at risk. They could blame it on the kid they had running around one of their former patients workplace and worrying something ugly could happen to her. They wouldn’t be able to handle the thought. Sitting down with their knees propped to their chest they stared almost with an emotionless expression but then offered a gentle smile. “You’re coming to that party? I still haven’t decided. Not sure if it’s my style.” They admitted. “Too Victorianesque for me... And not in a good way. But I sure hope you can have your fun.” 

“I mean I do try not to but it’s just like a habit you can’t get rid of. It takes away all the fun though and I know I have to be in the zone when I do my work. Sometimes you happen to see an interesting costumer with a sob story and you can’t help yourself.”