etpd's finest

LOCATION: Ink’d

WITH: @edtstarter​

There was no exaggeration when it came to Kit struggling to find a job in Edens Town, and so his buddy Marco had offered him a part time job as a receptionist at his tattoo studio. It was a lot more paperwork than Kit was used to, but at the end of the day it was a job and he was at least thankful for that. “The fuck is this?” Kit questioned as he re-entered the studio, striding over to the front desk to where his friend and now half eaten lunch was. “Would you jump in my grave as fast?”

"Seems your friend is eating your sandwich - got here just as you did but not on official business. " Ethan spoke almost immediately hearing old town road playing in the back of his mind. When you put Kit and Hector in lock up for a fourth of July and they decide to sing about eighty-two refrains of the song... it was seared into his brain. Shaking his head he wasn't here as an officer today. Partly here was here to see about a tattoo. Another part of him was happy to see Kit in a job. "Actually wanted to check the schedule"

LOCATION: One of the parks in Downtown Edens Town

WITH: @edtstarter​

“Holy shit.” Enzo threw his head back, cackling in amusement at what he had just seen on Facebook on his phone. “For real she bought herself one of those grow your own boyfriend toys.” he leaned over, showing them the picture. “Someone needs to get this chick Fifity Shades of Grey and a cucumber.” his laugh was quiet this time as he leant back against the bench, his hand absent-mindedly flicking the ash from his cigarette.

"The hell is that?" Ethan wondered, having never heard of the product before wondering what on earth Enzo was talking about. "That's the exact reason I don't do facebook. I deal with crazy enough doing what I do to see people posting nonsense."

              THE last thing that Bethany wanted was for either of them to argue; especially not in a public setting. She had to agree: it shouldn’t have been a for worse moment. Yet, everything had happened the way it had and she couldn’t change that. She’d been waiting for years for him to be ready for them to be parents, and when the time had come, it couldn’t have gone more wrong. She looked up at him, fighting a frown from crossing her features. She couldn’t even register at first that he’d finally referred to the baby as their child, her mind only focusing on what he could possibly have to explain, “What do you mean?” She asked, raising an eyebrow – before her face softened, the idea of him finally wanting to have any interaction with their baby catching her off guard. She’d become so withdrawn from the entire situation that she hadn’t yet bothered to tell him the baby had been kicking for weeks, unsure of how he’d handle that news. “Of course you can,” She replied, a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she nodded, her hand automatically fluttering towards her stomach, the same place it seemed to rest more often than not these days. A gentle laugh escaped her lips as he spoke and she shook her head, “You don’t have to do anything, Ethan… I think we just need some time,” Bethany began, lifting a hand to tuck some of her hair behind her ear, “I’m not sad, I’m just… Adjusting.”

Braiden had made it a point of remembering the names of all of the law enforcement officers in Edens. With his extracurriculars, he knew it’d be important information on the off chance he left any evidence behind that could be traced back to him. When Ethan introduced himself, the name rang a bell almost immediately, but he tried not to let it show as he took the extended hand to shake. “It’s not forward at all. Thank you; I put a lot of hard work into it, so I’m glad it shows.” He glanced around for the woman and noticed her across the room, making a note of her face as best he could at this distance. “Alexis Crimson. She told me I missed out with the masquerade and insisted I come to this event, so I’m here. Don’t know how long I intend to stay, though. I’m not much of a people person.”

The grip was firm, sure in the shaking, and Ethan respected that before he pulled his hand away to look around for the girl, he spoke of knowing he'd heard of Alexis on many occasions. "I feel that man - understand it very well knowing I've not been the best at being social lately. Give her credit. She dragged you here, and having a little fun to make her happy isn't such a crime. If anything, it might fuel a painting later on or give way to some sort of inspiration? "

            BETHANY had hoped that the Halloween Party would be a little bit of a break; a fleeting element of happiness in what had certainly been a miserable few weeks. Originally, she hadn’t even wanted to go, having been more than content to continue drowning herself in Ben & Jerry’s, but with a little persuasion and a fairly hilarious costume, she’d finally come around to the idea. Still, that didn’t mean she wasn’t a little upset. Ethan’s reaction to her pregnancy announcement hadn’t quite been what she was expecting, much less the almost silent treatment that had followed. She looked up at him as he spoke, trying and failing to hide the glint of sadness in her eyes, “Ethan–” She began, lifting a hand to brush some of her hair from her face. “You know, when we got married, we said for better or for worse. This is just… a little bit of that for worse,” The words were hard to get out, especially considering that this part of their lives should definitely have been a ‘for better’, “There’s nothing to forgive. It’s just.. a bad patch.”

"It shouldn't have to be one of the for worse moments... There are things I'd like to explain to you fully. Trust that I will and that things will be alright for your and our child. Can I touch it?" He breathed finally saying the word 'ours'. It was a weighty word but he found his hand longed to touch the little bump, marveling in his own way that there was a little life inside the one he loved. It was still god awful terrifying to contemplate but Ethan couldn't live without the woman and the child was as much a part of her as it was himself. More so hopefully inheriting her better qualities than his bad. "What can I do to make it up to you? I can break the law and steal all of the ice creams they might possibly have here for you. I hate knowing I'm what's making you sad let me make it right”

WITH: @bbeckkett​

"Braiden Beckett - I hope this doesn't sound forward, but I've seen a few of your pieces, and I have to say you're incredibly talented, sir. Who roped you into this party?" He asked, sensing the man was a little uncomfortable being here extending his hand. "Officer Ethan Strauss - my wife is around here somewhere. The Juno to my Paulie"

WITH: @ella--cooper​

"So a little birdy told me you're marrying my sister - Evie's not actually blood but close enough of a friend I consider her one. I just wanted to say I couldn't think of anyone better to love that woman the rest of her life into eternity. Also ... Welcome to Expecting Parents Anonymus" Ethan breathed though there were more serious conversations to have after he spoke to Bethany. "We have a meeting every other week after Lamaze or at least we will be having one"

WITH: @bethxnystrauss​

Adjusting the yellow sweatband on his head, he was pretty sure he looked nothing like the actual character - more of a hulked out version of poor Paulie Bleeker, but even now, his wife was radiantly beautiful. He'd been neglectful yes the past few days - weeks, and there was no good reason for it. There was only one creature he'd bow down to worship, and that was the divine being that loved the likes of him. "I'm sorry I haven't been the best husband lately. Would you forgive me? "

“We definitely do, but first… You’re going to be a dad! How does that feel?!” Evie beamed excitedly as she walked him into the kitchen. She knew exactly how it felt because only a month or so ago she herself had experienced the ups and downs of discovering impending parenthood. “How crazy is it that we’re going to be parents together?“ it was overwhelming, that was for sure, but there was an odd sense of comfort knowing that her best friend was going through the exact same situation because that meant she would never be on her own. “Our kids are going to grow up together, and that is so fucking cute.” a mini Evie and a mini Ethan was just the cutest idea to Evie, but that was most likely because her brain had turned to mush thanks to the baby hormones. “And I am officially engaged, ring and everything. Well, I don’t have a ring because I’m the one who proposed but,” 

"Fucking terrifying," Ethan breathed honestly, spilling his truth out there for Evie to digest. He was still coming around to the idea and knew he had plenty more things to tell Evie and his Bethany. Words weren't always easy to come by and string together to let the important people there was an entire life lived and his reasons behind the fears Ethan had now that were valid and real to him. Shaking his head, he smiled at the woman who seemingly glowed, radiating with pure happiness that could only make Ethan smile for the wonder of a human being. "Once I get past this initial fear, I'm sure we'll already be planning future playdates or how cute it would be if the kids later down the line were the best of friends or ended up together. What?" Ethan paused, shaking his head with an even bigger stupider grin on his face before knitting his brows together. "You're getting married? Evie, that's absolutely amazing - who is the lucky person?. What did you say?"

Ethan’s hand brushed the tears away from her eyes and a sigh sunk her shoulders low as she looked up at him. Sniffing and wiping at her nose, she fought back more tears with his words. Both of his hands were cupped around her cheeks and her own lip trembling matched his own. They just got each other back. Madison didn’t want to imagine life without him. The last twenty years, she didn’t know any different. Her memories of him growing up were so few and far between. Only a few really stuck with her. Having him in her life now? Madison was bound to remember every word ever spoken between them and if he had not wanted her in his life any more, the words would have haunted her every night to come. To have her brother back in her life was something so indescribable to her – all she knew was that she couldn’t lose him. Hearing his words, she couldn’t help the relief that came flooding over her. For a moment, she closed her eyes as stray tears escaped down her cheeks once more. Ethan went on about his fears considering their past. Her own hands reached up to cover his own. She never wanted him to feel like this again. For him to be like their parents? The youngest almost scoffed in his face. Maddie was never so bold to have a reaction like that. Ethan had protected her. Saved her life. Saved them from a lifetime of abuse from parents who couldn’t stay on the straight and narrow for more than a day or two at a time. As his words softened to compliment her, more tears streamed down her face. A heavy sigh shook her body as she squeezed their hands together. She had never expected to see her brother again and hadn’t always considered looking him up as she got older. It was by some miracle that they ran into each other outside the library – a place that had been safe haven to both of them on countless occasions. As he continued, Maddie only wanted to wrap her arms around him and not let go. His fears were validated by a past, but she knew that was not a person that he could be. She had not known him his entire life but from what she had begun to learn over the last month or so since they ran into one another was that he was the kindest person she had ever met. He had become a police officer to protect others, much like he protected her all those years ago. 

Maddie dropped their hands from her face as he broke into tears, squeezing them as tight as she could. The water works broke in her own eyes. She could never imagine feeling what her brother was feeling. He had endured their life twice as long, had seen so much more than she would ever be able to envision possible. “Ethan, Ethan,” she lifted her shaky hands to wipe as his own tears, a smile tugging the corners of her lips upward. “You can tell her, I – I want you to tell her.” She shook her head, “You are not going to be like them. You never could.” Maddie shoulders sagged as her eyes softened on his face. Wiping at her own tears, she ran a hand through her hair. When Ethan came over she had not expected such an emotional rollercoaster. “I’ve – I’ve met her. She helped me cater my classroom. I don’t think she’s going to look at you any differently.” She prayed that his wife wouldn’t. Ethan saved their lives. Saved her life. She was forever indebted to a brother she had just reconnected with. “I don’t want to hide it anymore, either.” The smile grew on her face. “You’re my brother and I know our past is scary and terrifying and with a town this small people are going to find out but it’s worth it because now I have you in my life and I’m – I’m going to be an auntie.” Another stream of tears came down her face at the thought, “I am so, so proud of you, okay?” Maddie put her hands on either side of his own face. Pressing so slightly, she shook her head. “I didn’t know what to expect if I ever saw you again. All those kids used to tell me you were a monster. I never believed it. Not for a minute. I still don’t. She won’t either. You kept us safe.” She shook her head. Ethan had taken the brunt of their life. “Every time I catch a glimpse of those scars on my back from that time he put cigarettes to my skin, I think of you. Because you stopped him. You came home from school and stopped him.” Maddie’s words were mixed with the salt from her tears, “You have never been anything but a hero to me and if no one else sees it that way, then – then piss on them.” She managed to shake the words from her lips. “You’re my brother. We are in this together. No matter what happens, I am not going anywhere.” Her hands fell back into his, squeezing them tightly. “No matter what.”

Eyes sparkled still with the thousands of tears, years worth of them having hidden behind his eyes now clearly able to see as strength melted away. Ethan wanted to crumble there on the small couch in his sister's apartment, curling up there forever to live in this moment for age or until he was fully ready to feel anything again. He heard the words she said like bandages over the wound many years of pain had carved into him. Ethan couldn't ever bare losing his sister again. He wanted her to be there by his wife the day he died old and grey surrounded by grandchild and love with the ability to say they made it through to the end of this life - he'd be waiting for both of them in the next. Ethan, after all, would've promised them eternity in one way or another. Someone had to protect the little bird before she knew how to fly and prepare the way for the next. Ethan wanted to sob and tell her they should've never parted - never stopped looking for each other because his single regret right now at this very moment was she hadn't been there to see him at his happiest. To have him gush about the girl, he knew he was going to marry even before she did through the days he chased her, and the moment they had their first dance at the wedding, he could've predicted.

He was still scared to death that Bethany wouldn't understand, but there was a galvanizing effect in these tears he'd sobbed, and she was crying. It sured up bones and strengthen the soul. "Will you come with me to tell her? I - I doubt I'd be able to think of the right words without you there. I can't do it alone, little bird?"

LOCATION: Evie’s house

WITH: @ethan-strauss​

As soon as Evie opened the door to Ethan, she stepped forwards and engulfed him in an excited hug. “You are a hard man to find.” she couldn’t remember the last time the two of them had actually sat down and spent some quality time together, what with her almost midlife crisis and Ethan working a lot. But somehow they had managed to find an afternoon where they were both free and Evie had tons to fill him in on. “I have so much to tell you, I feel like we need to turn our phones off so no one can disturb us.” Evie joked lightly knowing that they would both be gossiping like teenage girls within a matter of minutes. 

Ethan needed his best friend. If he was truly honest as he almost always was Evie was his best friend and he had neglected confiding in her things she should’ve known. If anything Ethan should’ve told her all the secrets he held knowing from the moment they’d become friends she’d somehow understand. They shared a similar mind after all and the same love for food and his wife. Accepting the embrace he gently set the bags of carryout down before scooping her up in a similar embrace holding her tightly for a moment glad to see her again. Smiling he let her go nodding in absolute agreement with that statement. Phones off, forks up and all the gossip and the catching up they could do. “Phones off absolutely. I brought our favorites to - so we can hole up for a few hours - days if need be to talk.” Ethan breathed gesturing to the bags he’d just sat down. “We have a lot to talk about”

Madison nodded her head with his words. She quickly grabbed two glasses of water, setting them on the coffee table before taking the seat on the couch next to him. Madison tucked her legs under herself, toes hanging off the edge of the couch as she chewed on her bottom lip. Part of her began to fear that he was going to tell her that no one could know they were related and that his new family was far more important than she was. She swallowed thickly with his news. “I – I know she’s pregnant. I didn’t want to say anything. I just saw it on Instagram, I think.” She ducked her head, as if it was bad thing she found out. It was public – there was no reason for her not to know but part of her wished that Ethan had come to her sooner. She lifted her gaze, blinking a few times as she nodded her head. “What do you need?” Madison tried to keep an even tone, though the words were shaky as she picked at the skin around her thumb nail. “We have as long as you need.” The perk of living alone – she didn’t have to worry about being interrupted. “If you don’t want me to be a part of your family, I would totally understand.” The words spilled over her lips and she felt a few tears starting to run down her face. “Especially with a new baby on the way, I – I don’t want to mess anything up for you by being that sister that shows up after twenty years and ruins your whole family.”

Ethan's eyes went wide and wild for a moment, hearing her throw out words and statements he would never have thought or could ever imagine saying to her. Was this what she thought? Even before he was able to tell her plans and the idea he had, Ethan was aware of how horrible a human being he had denied her part of him - denying her access to fill the spaces missing in his family until the supposed right time. He knew there wouldn't ever be a right time to reveal it all. Reaching out to her, a calloused hand brushed away her tears, shaking his head. "No - no. Don't you dare say that ever again. You are my family. I only just got you back, and I never want to lose you ever again." Ethan spoke bolding, cupping her face now with both hands lip trembling as he felt on the edge of a high precipice. There was no going back from what he was about to ask of her. "I reacted badly to her telling me she was pregnant. We kept putting it off, telling each other we weren't ready, excuse after excuse, but I - I've always been terrified what a baby means - what it changes. Terrified of ... of becoming a dad. You don't remember all of it. Not everything we lived through or what was endured before you came along and how it was so easy for me to react the way I did to end it all. What if I end up like him is the one thing I'm most horrified of becoming or that the child won't feel loved or... in any case, I've been avoiding my wife. Maddie, I haven't been happy about any of this. Even though I want to and to be excited, I'm terrified. Personally, I always had the idea that any of the badness in our parents would die with me because you are the most perfect little life that has ever existed. You're living proof beauty still exists. Bright starlight flickers in your eyes, and you have the biggest heart. Over the past weeks - sleepless nights and nightmare days - I know what I need to do. I know what I need to do to make things right. It scares me of what I have to do, but Bethany deserves to know why I'm afraid, why I reacted the way I did. Maddie, I need to tell her about my childhood. To tell her about ..." Ethan's hands started to tremble, feeling the weight of blood that had stained them once upon a time. He felt again the life he had taken, and the fear he had of Bethany never wanted to touch those hands again. What would she do when the truth was out in the open and the woman who looked at him with loving eyes saw he’d murdered an abusive parent and lived in such a hell as they had? "Maddie, little bird, I want your permission to tell her because it's your history too. It exposes both of us. It will put all the cards on the table, and my child is going to need its Auntie to read to them and be their family. She might not ever look at me the same for the things I've done, for a life taken in self-defense but I want to tell her but only if you are okay with me telling her everything" Ethan cried now entirely breaking with the final words "I want to make the world right for my child even if she never looks at me the same. I don’t want to hide who I am anymore or who you are to me"

When Ethan replied, all Maddie could do was pace her apartment. Back and forth. Back and forth. It didn’t take him long to get there but the wait was almost excruciating. At the sound of a knock, Madison was pulled from her pacing, heading toward her door. The sound of Ethan’s voice had her pulling to the door open as quickly as she could. It was so broken. Maddie didn’t hesitate to wrap her brother in a hug. Much like the first time she saw him. She threw herself around him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. “I’ve missed you.” Maddie mumbled into his shirt before stepping back to let him in her apartment and shutting the door behind him. “Do you need anything? Water? Wine? Snacks?” Maddie spoke quickly, wringing her hands as she asked. She wasn’t sure if he needed or wanted anything, but she was so glad that he was there. There was so much to catch up on.

Stepping into the apartment as the door shut, he could picture the hallmark version of this moment - the ideal way any of this should've been presented. Stepping in that door, he should've handed her an envelope, and it should've been the ultrasound pictures of Bethany's baby - his baby. After she'd be very shocked and surprised at the news, he'd smile and say something witty followed by exact sentiment. Ethan's words would've been something profoundly deep and touching. Words would fall from his lips like poetry, singing to her heart, and singing the desire he had for her to be his sister openly. The truth had been told, and Bethany loved him still. The babe would need an aunt at least one on his side. His child would need an aunt to read to them and teach a child how to be a wonderful person because while it was too late for him to be pure, the little one was light and who better to help guide it than an incredible aunty who no longer had to pretend they weren't related. Everything was alright, and that was how things should've gone. Tragically it wouldn't be no, not even by a long shot. A secret history was to be revealed, and Ethan could lose everything with one true story about himself.

Maddie felt like she hadn’t heard from Ethan in quite some time, but since she knew Bethany was pregnant, she figured that he was busy with that part of her life. When her phone vibrated and she saw Ethan’s name, her stomach twisted into a knot. Her brother. He wanted to see her and asked for her to pick a time and place. She quickly typed away. Asking if he could meet now and at her apartment, she sent the text back. It was like he knew that she needed to see him, needed to talk to him. After all, since she had been here, Maddie felt like she felt like she had lost herself. Keeping her phone in her hand, she kept his text open, awaiting his response. Even if he wanted to meet somewhere else, she would be there. Maddie quickly texted that. Just to be clear. He didn’t have to come to her apartment if he didn’t want to. 

Lost in thought he was drifting through his consciousness, through endless situations and horrible happenings and terrible potential outcomes he was only jarred from his worried mind by the vibration his phone gave off. Fumbling Ethan fished his phone out of his pocket and responded immediately shooting back a text. Shortly not too long after he'd done that Ethan was almost there. Two minutes after that there was a knock. A weak voice, a broken voice, was behind her door. "Maddie - I've got to talk to you. Can you let me in, please? I need my sister. I don’t know who else to talk to."

“Some people are afraid.” She chimed back and nodded her head. It was hard for her to see her beloved dog as anything scary which was why it had gone over her head. “He doesn’t normally approach people unless he’s called, so this is an one off situation. Not that I’m trying to defend myself or anything.” She hurriedly said with a wave of her head. “His name is Cooper and he’s very charming but real mellow.”

“That’s true. Probably why the leash law exists not because people have been bitten, but most are afraid they will be, and people like to sue other people. Tends to be how it goes more often than actual incidents,” He mumbled, an unfortunate side effect of being a cop knowing the law. It was exhausting at times, “Cooper is nice. He probably heard me calling one of my friends by their last name, which is Cooper really loudly. They just got engaged”

For one of the very few times in his life Ethan had no idea what to do or how to approach the situation at hand. Even when he was little and had been in the situation that had caused him the anxiety he felt now there had been a clear idea of what to do and what not. Hell, even in his line of work there was always a clear idea of how to proceed even when one hit a wall investigatively ... Ethan felt lost. He was struggling. The only way to explain to Bethany what was going on in his head he would need to tell her the truth. Telling her the truth meant uncovering a past that haunted him every day and scared him at the possibility it would be what he'd become. Telling her meant losing the way she looked at him and it would change everything. Would she love him or would she be terrified of the man she thought she knew? Ethan loved Bethany with every fiber of his being and the thought of her thinking less of him was destroying him on the inside. Perhaps he had made up his mind of what to do already but it was not just his secret history to tell but of the sister he had yet to tell his wife was his only family left.. Biting his fingernails, Ethan waited for Maddie having texted her a time and place to meet. He needed her - he needed to talk with his sister about everything..

Location: Outside Tappin’ Boots

With: Anyone @edtstarter

“Fucking get off me!” Cass shouted as soon as she shook off the bouncer’s hands off her arms, not even bothering to glance at whoever was around before kicking the wall of the bar, frustrated beyond words. Cass, not knowing what else to do with herself, ended up just laying there on the ground, completely spent from the fight she had just started and hadn’t been able to finish because before she knew it, she was thrown out from Tappin’ Boots, right when she was about to land another punch on that asshole’s face. It hadn’t been Cass’ first bar fight but it had been the first in a long time, and she was still pent up with so much adrenaline that she almost didn’t notice when someone was standing close to her. “Can a girl just be able to fucking suffer in peace around here? Damn,” Cass said with a roll of her eyes, though she couldn’t even see who she was talking to, due to them just being a silhouette against the streetlight.

"I'm not going to arrest you if that's the next question. I should, but it looks like you've had a rough night." Officer Strauss breathed. In such a small town, he knew it wasn't easy to catch a break around here, and even small-town cops had a shit rep. Yet he did give everyone a chance now and then, and it really looked like she'd had better evenings. Extending a hand out to her, Ethan breathed in deeply. "Do you need a ride home?"