𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐓.

Raquelle shrugged, “Oh you know, your girl aims to please and give the people what they want.” She took the time to do a full body scan on Eden and take a good look at how she is. Apparently she was injured in the line of work, which was a shame, but as they say, thank the heavens for the second chance at life. The heiress scrunched her face, she’d rather not take the title of sweetheart within their inner circle. “God no, I’m just being considerate. I’ll take it back then. Hog the title, to be honest I don’t know any other sweethearts that can take on such a role. I mean your face practically screams benevolence and innocence.” 

She then pointed Eden and held a look of intrigued after hearing what she had to say about herself. “Oh then we have a lot of catching up to do.” She took no offence to it, finding nothing wrong in a little bit of honest banter. Dropping her hands to her side, Raquelle huffed a sigh as she looked around Divina, as per usual she’d been in better establishments. However, being in Devinstone for a year and a half isn’t going to change that fact. She was meant to be here and only here. This was supposed to be her road to recovery, but so far she’s been going backwards and if anything remaining stagnant. Well it beats being in LA…

“Well, here I am in the flesh. If anything this quaint town is certainly lucky to have me grace them with my presence.” No use in humbling herself at this point. At the nudge and the ask, Raquelle pinched the bridge of her nose as she gently linked arms with Eden and made their way over to the bar. “I think the tabloids made it pretty fucking clear as to how I am.” she muttered as she took a seat on the bar stool. “To make it short: I’m alive—so there’s that. And yourself?” 

With an thought-provoking arched brow, Eden nods her head to one side before saying, “Giving people what they want is one thing. Giving people what they need is another.” Her voice isn’t hostile, in fact, it’s the very opposite. It calm and experienced without the condescending tone she was used to hearing from her parents. “What’s this whole thing for, anyway? Tell me what you’re doing.” She says in her usual encouraging tone. Though, with the cheque Raquelle wrote before they started the interaction could be proven to be very useful. Raquelle was the furthest thing from being an idiot and despite the snippet’s she’s heard about the woman and has been trying to ignore, she knows that Raquelle has her heart in the right place. The petite brunette takes in a breath through her mouth that fills her lungs and expands her chest before letting it out in one steady huff. “ -- I don’t think I deserve the title all to myself, Elle,” Eden admits with a small, kind smile. “I’ll be happy to hold onto it for the next person who does merit the label.”

Eden didn’t go into an automatic defensive mode, per say. But, the woman did feel her chest restrict with the thought of catching up. And in Eden’s mind, it always came down to how the hell did she get that limp and cane. Truth be told, she didn’t care about either of those aspect about herself. The limp and the cane just made Eden who she was now... How she recieved them was a different, more guarded feeling. “There’s not much that’s been going on with me, Elle. Truthfully.” Eden chuckles with an easy-going shrug. “I did some more travelling since the last time I saw you. More tavelling after that, then a little bit more tavelling, and then I came home. - I’m sure you have much more and better details than me, though. You and your fancy life. C’mon, who’s fashion show did you last go to?” Eden eggs on her pals with a sharp grin and a wink.

Location: Rob’s Records 

With: anyone @devinstonestarters

Josephine had just locked up at Rob’s Records for the night. Dusk was settling in around her when her phone rang. Shoving the keys back into her bag, she hadn’t looked at the caller ID before she answered. Before she could even speak, the voice on the other end of the phone sent shivers down her spine.

“I know where you are, Josephine.” Her father’s voice was low, alcohol clearly in his system. Had her father fallen this far down when he realized he had no children left to control? When Gabriel wouldn’t do what he wanted, he was met with things being taken away and indirect threats. After Gabriel’s own mother passed away, there was always a thought that their father had been part of it. Josephine had long tried to shake those thoughts from her mind and yet, his voice on the phone brought all those memories flooding back. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” JJ bit down on her bottom lip, willing herself not to cry. “I’m done with you. I don’t want anything from you anymore. Please stop calling me.” Her words came out quickly and it would have been a miracle if her father understood them. She shoved her phone in her purse, leaning against the door to the shop for a moment. Her eyes fell shut, her hand bringing her purse closer to her body. 

He hadn’t contacted her in quite some time and she thought moving here would get him to leave her alone. It had worked for Gabriel. When Josephine opened her eyes, she caught sight of a person approaching. “Hey, uh, do you want to grab a drink.” If it was someone she already knew, great, she wouldn’t look like a total freak. If it was a stranger, well, it wouldn’t be the first time she boldly suggested something like that. 

Eden was just a womon on a walk, starting to get a feel for who she really was at her core. This was a particularly semi-frustrating thought because Eden had always prided herself on know who she was. But, sometimes, things happen in your life that you forget who you are, what you're capable of... Eden was reminding herself today. Today held more inner calmness than usual, now that she had mastered the art of having a clear brain, the serenity of feeling her own intelligence rather than tiring herself with unresolved thoughts, she could see far more clearly, yet rather through her senses than her eyes, a sort of thinking without words. And what came to her were new thoughts, a sort of poetry she never realised she was capable of. It was refreshing.

Despite the cloudy, overcast skies, her heart felt light and happy for the first time in a while. She didn’t feel like she was drowning in so much heavy blue. When Eden woke up this morning, it wasn't a struggle to get out of bed. This morning for breakfast, she was able to eat a full bowl of yogurt and fruit. She knew these little moments wouldn't last and that's why they were victories today, and she was going to hang onto them. Eden had become so comfortable in her sadness, which sounded so childish... And that’s why she kept it to herself. Though, there were days Eden awoke and her memories weighed heavy. As she began to look through old photos of past adventures, a haze pf bright, excited smiles of others were no more real than the pixelated icons on her computer desktop uploaded from her multiple camera rolls...

Crap, there she goes again... With a sigh, Eden sighs heavily and lifts her chin a little higher as she did her best to be the best version of herself as the days go on.

‘ please stop calling me, ’

Eden hadn’t seen the woman leaning there against the store front until Eden had pulled herself from her own spiralling thoughts. Round, earthy orbs blink at the woman as she limps slowly on her way with her cane. From where she was, it was clear that the blonde was in complete distress... Eden’s heart went out to her, and of course, she didn’t stop there. Eden was always willing to go out of her way to comfort another human being, because she knows what it's like to feel alone, and she never wanted anyone else to feel that way... But, before Eden was even able to suggest that the woman should get off the phone, she hung up and turned to Eden, asking if she would like to get drinks without skipping a beat. Eden blinks, momentarily stunned by the offer and how quick and easy it was for her to ask.

“Was I not breathing?” He came up for air, mouth still partially full of sweet berry goodness as he spoke. “It’s a crepe, full of cannoli cream, covered in raspberry and chocolate chips. It’s brilliant, who comes up with this stuff? I’m scared if I don’t eat it all without chewing someone will take it away from me. And I’m willing to fight to the death over this.” He feigned defense, sinking his fork back into his plate. “I can’t believe you’ve never been here before. It’s IHOP. I would’ve starved years ago without this place. International House of Pleasing Marco. How’d you hold out for so long?” 

Eden came from an entirely different world than he did. It was impossible to imagine, he could hardly wrap his head around it. The glitz and glam that was synonymous with the Apsley name in Devinstone was foreign to him, she didn’t come off as someone born into such privilege. The Eden he knew was the complete opposite of the snooty rich upper crust type, she was just – Eden. Oddly overprotective, purse full of polaroids, crazy creative Eden. She was someone he could look up to, in a place where he didn’t have very many opportunities to do that. She felt like the big sister he always wanted, because Lord knew his sisters weren’t nearly as supportive as Eden was. She represented what he could’ve (and should’ve) had in a sibling, someone who genuinely had his best interest in mind. It wasn’t a feeling he was used to, but now that Eden was in his life, he wasn’t sure how he managed without it. 

“What else haven’t you tried yet? Whopper? Crunchwrap Surpreme? I bet you haven’t suffered the absolute torture of spending an entire day craving McDonald’s fries then ordering them and getting a crappy batch they left in the oil way too long. I’ve gotta show you the fast food world. Shining, shimmering, splendid.”

“Not in the slightest. I think your lips were turning blue and purple, but -- Come to think about it, the colouring might have to do with all of the berry on your face.” With a small groan she says, “Marco, for the love of God, just take a moment.” Eden pinches the bridge of her nose tiredly as she watches on with the shake of her head. Despit knowing Marco was only joking around, she couldn’t help but scold him a bit. “I understand what you’re inhaling, Torres, I’m just trying to figure out how you’re able to eat all of that.”

Then, with the slow blinking of round orbs she continues with, “Who the hell in their right mind is going to want your half destroyed and slobbered on crepe’s? Huh?” Eden knows that Marco isn’t close with his siblings... She wonders if he would have starved because they didn’t take care of them as they should have. IHOP was cheap with a decent amount of food on ones plate. It would be much easier for a younger Marco to access food. That’s why she doesn’t say anything along the lines of ‘growing up, my parents thought that fast food restaurants were beneath us as a family...’ and instead says, “I’ve been waiting for the right person to come along and show me the ropes.” With that, Eden gives Marco a playful wink before sipping at her mug of tea.

               “Well, self reflection is a bitch,” Marcel concluded with a mild smile, russet hues still far away as if stuck in said place. Hands inherently grasped for the warmth of the mug, calloused fingertips finding comfort in the heat which was exuded, offering a mild shrug in finality. He was always a man who wore his heart on his sleeve, quite literally a bleeding heart, and such family qualms were no different; too many strangers aware of his father whom was the ex fire chief now leading down the path to a painful quietus. It proved how even a man who dedicated his life to serving others did not garner a fair chance, Marcel’s life parallel to his fathers under the guise that he perpetually served the community, and he had to wonder — were he to inevitably suffer the same fate? 

               “I mean—” There was no way to dance around the grief Eden herself had suffered, the physical struggles she had endured not entirely shared by many, lest not those who occupied the town of Devinstone. “With all that happened to you,” Marcel was still murky on the details, never one to pluck and prod the misery from others unless prompted, “You have to say fate is kind of twisted, right?” Head bowed, eyes eventually peering up at Eden, a near sheepish expression gracing olive countenance. 

“It is,” Eden chuckles with the slow agreeing nod of her head. “It’s not easy, but... Has anything good in your life been easy to achive? That’s what makes it worth it in the end...” The petite brunette learns forward in her seat, then tilts her head to one side as she watched Marcel stare off into space and takes this opprotunity to look over his features with care and detail. She doesn’t bother him, of course. Not yet, anyway. Eden understand that feeling. The feeling of peaceful detachment; slipping away from the anxieties of the real world. In the silence, the woman wonder’s what has brought on such a deep and heavy conversation. Not that she minded in the slightest, but it did make her worry somewhat about Marcel and where his mind was at.

When Marcel comes back out of his daze, Eden leans back into her seat casually. With his questioning about how she could still have faith in fate with all she has been through, Eden flashes her own gentle, somewhat tired smile. The woman has yet to speak openly about what has happened over in Iraq. If one wanted to, they would be able to look up the date or find information on Wikipedia if they desired to know what happened. But, for the most part, Eden has found out a lot of people would rather hear what she went through from her own mouth. That was something she wasn’t ready for. It didn’t help that the woman has always been fairly private in her personal life. Ever since she was a little girl and realized that her own words could be twisted and used against her  - the things you learn from the social elite...

“’Course I remember you!” Avie beamed, almost-skipping toward the adorable couple. “Eden, right? Such a gorgeous name, it’d be hard to forget. And I could never forget my Westie!” Within seconds, she was on the ground, playing with her old friend as though he were still hers. She always treated her rescues like they were her own, which made it really difficult when she had to give them up. But knowing they were going to a good home where they’d be loved and taken care of always made it easier, and she’d been sure of that when Eden adopted West.

“Ooh, still chewing on everything you see?” she asked the dog while she stood back up, dusting herself off. “My Fauna is just the same. Took her a whole year to stop chewing at the furniture, you should see the state of my dining table,” she smirked. “It gets better. A little training and a lot of toys and he’ll be on the right track.” 

“How’s he been with you? Are you adjusting well to each other?” she asked, leading the pair over to the toy wall, where there was a section specifically for heavy chewers. 

The woman grins widely at the nonchalant compliment as she watches the small brunette come closer. “Well, wow, thank you. That’s very kind of you to say, I’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to my mother,” Eden chuckles politely. Naming Eden was probably the only thing Katherine did correctly as a mother... It was also, most likely, one of the only motherly duties Katherine was involved in. Other than that, it was forcing Eden into ball gowns and debutant competitions. Watching Aveline crouch down to West, Eden takes a moment to lean against her cane. With Aveline’s attention, West let’s out an excited ruff and begins to wag his tail. Eden knew she was supposed to take West home the moment their eyes conntect, but knowing that Aveline had taken care of the canine for an extended period of time made it clear that they had their own special bond that Eden was willing to respect. It was also why Eden made a mental note to stop by more often for West and Aveline to see each other.

“He sure is,” Eden says as a playfully exasperated sigh. Because as annoying as it was to go through this, she knew there was an underlining reason as to why West keeps on destorying his toys. “I’m not sure if it’s pent up energy or anxiety... Abandonment issues? Maybe I’m babying him too much?” She looks from her pup and back over to Aveline with a questionable gaze. “I take him on walks for as long as I possible can, but sometimes with my...” Oval eyes drift towards her cane, then her foot. Momentarily blinking trying to find the correct words to decribe her ‘condition’ without wanting to make it a big deal. “I also tend to take him with me wherever I go,” She says in the end, not bothering to say anything else about the other topic. “So, I’m not sure if when I don’t bring him somewhere with me, he acts out?”

Location: Divina

Time: 1:50pm 

Open to: Eden Apsley || @edenapsley​

Raquelle did have a heart…a selective heart.

While some saw it as superficial, others saw it as dedication as she did stick by her causes ever since she was brought into the industry of fame and fortune. It was the norm for the rich to give back, but in small doses. For Raquelle however, she had her fair share of organizations that she was generous to as she believed in their cause. Despite the negative press after her marriage, she continued to give back cause it was the one of the only good things going for her.

At Divina, she hosted a little brunch for the organizers of women’s shelters in Devinstone and gave a generous donation in the process. After writing the cheque and finalizing the proceeds, Raquelle bid them goodbye and began speaking with Divina’s staff to assist with the billing and clean up. She immediately stopped what she was doing when she noticed a familiar face. “Well look who it is?” she called out to Eden while placing both hands onto her hips. “One of America’s richest sweethearts in the flesh!!!! I can’t even!” She rushed over and gave Eden kisses on each cheek before pulling away and taking a good look at her. “You look great for someone who faced hell. What’s the secret hm? Eye cream? Therapy? Suppression? God, don’t you just love life?! You’ve come this far and now here you are.” 

Raquelle’s life was going into hell in a hand basket, the poor woman. She was being called every name under the sun by tabloids, people who didn’t know her, from people who didn’t understand her. Not that Eden claimed to know Raquelle through and through, but seeing as they held a common ground about their lives, growing up in the socialist elitist games, Eden was willing to bet she understood the woman’s hardships, more than most. When Eden entered Divina, closer to the tail end of the get together, she kept to the shadows, leaning up against the wall where she keeps to herself and simply watches on as the elite handout money, desperate to make themselves feel good about making a change in the world, yet, most of them - if not all, had never stepped outside their humble lives of glamour and window-tinted Range Rovers. 

At first, Brandon isn’t sure if it’s really her. Perhaps he had mistaken her for someone else. His lips fall into a thin line, filling out into a smile as she comes to the recognition that it is. Old age hadn’t taken his memory yet. He thought it was her but as she took a moment to respond, he hesitated in wondering just how good he was at remmebering people. Brandon had a knack for it, remembering almost all of the faces and names of people he met with. There were a few, like any person, that slipped his mind. “Oh, no,” he shook his head with a small laugh, “Your brother only got me into trouble in college so I can’t expect you’d want to remember all that.” He teased. Erik had been sort of what Brandon would call a good influence on him but others might call a bad influence. Growing up as sheltered as he did, Erik was one of the few people that helped him let loose once he moved off to college. 

Brandon felt slightly more at ease with her answer, though the detective in him was hinting she might be holding back. And he had to silently chide himself for thinking such a thing. Even if she was doing that, he had no reason to pry. Hell, she had probably told him more than he needed to know in the first place. “We all have ‘em,” Brandon offered Eden a warm smile. He wouldn’t push the woman to open up to him, never in a million years. “Me?” His head fell back a little as he left, “Born and raised here, figured it was long overdue to come back.” He shook his head, “Stuck around Boston for a while after college,” when he was dating Saira, “but have made my way back a while ago. Got myself a house in Allison Hill and made detective a few years back.” Brandon offered far too much information, more than she could have wanted. But, that’s who he was. “I still see Erik from time to time, catch up for old times sake.” He chuckled, “Though last time I saw him, he didn’t mention anything about you coming to town. You visiting?” His brows raised, genuinely curious. 

 Vague memories of Erik and Brandon in college come to mind and Eden can’t help but give a good-natured laugh. Her head falls back, mouth open to the sky as the sound escapes past her lips. The sound, even the motion felt a bit unnatural, but it also felt good to laugh. Freeing. Since the event back in December it’s been difficult finding that part of her again, but she’s been trying. With a slow nod, Eden continues with a grin on her features, “Erik has always been good at tapping into someones more... Wild side and exposing it. It’s always in good fun, though, and at least he’d never leaved you stranded. If you woke up in a dumpster, he’d be right there with you. He always has your back in the weirdest times.” If it wasn’t clear enough already, Eden loved talking about Erik. He wasn’t just her oldest sibling, big brother. He was her father figure, her idol. The person she trusts the most. That’s why when Erik moved away, Eden took it hard. She was smart enough to understand he didn’t move away specifically because of her. It still hurt, nonetheless.

The warmth in his smile triggers a sort of comfort she didn’t realized she needed. It also brought her back to the moments of feeling her cheeks flush with heat, and her stomach would become heavy. The worst was when Eden’s heart pounded in her throat, threatening to break out. This was just having to look at Brandon, much less have a conversation with him. She was remembering the moment she had started to crush on Brandon, and God, it was an embrassesing thing to remember right now... He was Erik’s college friend who seemed like he had his life together and he was nice. Could anyone blame Eden? It was very annoying that she could feel a blush rise over the bridge of her nose. “ --- We sure as hell do, Bran. We sure as hell do,” She ends up sighing outwardly and looks away, trying to hide how awkward she suddenly feels.

Brandon didn’t typically frequent the Starbucks in Devinstone, but the man was full of guilty pleasures and there were times when he absolutely could not pass up a Refresher. He was a sucker for the caffeine kick the hibiscus refresher gave him and not to mention, it was springy and fruity. It was exactly the pick me up that he needed after a long night of doing paperwork. He loved being a detective, he truly did, but the paper trail merely got longer and longer, never ending really. He had taken a long and refreshing sip of his drink as he stepped out the door. Brandon had not taken more than a few steps before he collided with another body. Holding his drink out to the side, he prayed it wouldn’t fall from his hand and splash over both parties involved in the brief contact. “Oh, no,” he shook his head, taking a step back toward the door with a smile on his lips. “I definitely get carried away with this thing and don’t pay attention.” He gestured with his drink, laying his eyes on the woman he nearly took out. 

“Wait,” he paused, his head tilting to the side. “Eden? Eden Apsley?” Her face looked all too much like her older brother and he chuckled at the thought of Erik. Hell, he hadn’t seen Eden since he lived in Boston. The smile quickly faded from his face as he caught a better look at her face. Had she been crying? Maybe not, but she looked a bit upset. “Hey, uh, are you,” he paused, this was not any of his business, “are you okay?” His brows raised and he took a small step towards her, though he didn’t reach out. He didn’t want to say she didn’t look good but she didn’t look like she was having a good day to say the least. 

At the sound of her name being in literal questioning, Eden looks up at the man with slight confusion. “I -- Hi, yeah. That’s me,” She answers, clearly confused and still even in a bit of a daze. Between the phonecall and the dramatic run in, Eden was feeling a little detached. It also wasn’t unheard of that someone would know Eden and she didn’t recognize them. The Apsley name was well known in Devinstone, but the way he asks her name makes it sound as if they had met before and Eden feels terrible because she doesn’t remember who this man. -- - Not right away, at least. As she takes a moment to look at the man more closley, her brows furrow and round eyes narrow gently as recognition passes across her features. “... Brandon? -- Wallace, right? Brandon Wallace.” She says his name with a small smile now appearing on her lips as past memories of meeing a much younger version on Brandon comes to mind. “Yeah... Yeah, I remember you now.” The two had met a couple of times back in Boston when Eden would visit Erik for a short period of time, just to check up on him and make sure that he knew that someone who was his blood still cared about him. “I’m sorry that it took a moment.” Eden tells him apologetically. Unlike her parents, Eden did her best to remember everyone she’s come into contact with so happenings like this doesn’t, well, happen. Because no one likes to feel forgotten, right? Hell, Brandon remembered her almost immediatly, and it was a really nice feeling.

‘ are you okay? ’

@devinstonestarters·

“Welcome to the sanctuary, I’ll be with you in just a moment!” Aveline called as she heard the jingling of the bells above the door. It was her favourite sound, lately. People rarely came into the sanctuary with bad news. An injured animal, sometimes, or a sick one, but even that was exciting for her. A challenge. A chance to heal something, to fix something, to make a difference. Opening this shelter was the best thing she’d ever done, and she was proud. She washed her hands and dried them as she walked out into the front room.

“What brings you by today? Looking to volunteer, to adopt, do you have any questions, do you want me to leave you alone so you can explore?” she smiled.

Returning to The Sanctuary was an emotion moment for Eden. This was where she met her best friend: The four-legged canine who trots beside her calmly as the pair enter the building. She wasn’t sure was made her wake up that morning back in Janurary and make her way to The Sanctuary and without a second thought, took West home within the first hour of meeting him. Yes, she was lonely in her apartment. Yes, she hated coming home to a empty place after a long day.  Adopting a pet was never in her thoughts, though. In all honesty, Eden wasn’t entirely sure she was even an animal person to begin with up until meeting West. Animals were easier to photograph than humans, in her humble opinion, but that didn’t mean she wanted one racing around her space.