Lorelei Scott

Kai’s breaths were heavy as he held the cloth against his bloodied shoulder. It should’ve healed by now, though whatever had been in that bullet was by no amateur. They had intended to hurt him last night. “Fuck fuck,” he breathed, before hearing the door. “Shit, one second. I’ll be with you in one second.”

The bar wasn’t a place Lorelei had ever frequented, though given recent events, she couldn’t help but to want to take a bit of the edge off. Having lived in Holloway for her whole life, she was more than used to strange occurrences. Though, nothing even close to what had happened here. Nothing violent. Stepping inside, her head moved immediately to the man, Kai, another lifelong Holloway native. Concern flooded her face as she stepped closer to the bar itself. “Kai, are you alright? I mean, I can see that you aren’t but...Would you like some assistance?”

Ronnie’s eyes didn’t leave the book until the woman introduced herself and then the human looked up, a smile on her face. “Sorry… of course. I think that makes a lot of sense. I’m a writer so… i suppose my research can become even weirder at times.” She laughed awkwardly, she hoped that no one would ever see her search history sometimes. “I’m Ronnie. I just moved into town a few months ago.”

Lorelei’s smile widened, head tilting as she took in what the other was saying. “Thank you for the understanding, I’m certainly appreciative. A writer? How wonderful. I really admire people who have the capability to create like that. I struggled enough with my college essays.” She joked. “It’s great to meet you, Ronnie! Welcome to Holloway. Can I ask what brought you to town?”

“I think so too,” Joey nodded gently, glad to be sat at the table as she tried to let herself relax. No one had seen her loss of control but the older witch. She was okay. “Yes, a nurse. I enjoy what I do. But you don’t need to buy me a coffee for that. It’s my job. Thank you though, that’s sweet,” she laughed a little. “Hmm, no, I get you. I can sense magic,” she said quietly. “No, no. I’m just tired.”

Lorelei did her best to provide a calming energy for Joey, understanding how things like this felt when they happened. Though it had been years, Lori herself had experienced similar happenings when she was younger, just after her family turned their backs on her. “That’s quite the take, but I’ll remember that. No treats just for being a nurse. Got it!” Chuckling, she took a sip of her coffee, settling further into her chair. Nodding, her lips formed a small ‘O’ at Joey’s confession. “That’s a fine talent to have. It’ll come in handy more times than not. But...” Leaning forward, Lori lowered her voice. “You must be incredibly tired, dear. That had a pretty good oompf to it. Have you been having trouble resting? It is very important for everyone, but especially those of us with...Additional capabilities.”

Anyone who knew Elliot knew that he loved books. And after the stories he’d heard about the town, and the things the locals had said… he wanted to do some research. He needed to know what had drawn Ronnie to Holloway. He was looking over a shelf when he heard the woman. He moved to help her. “Hey, it’s okay. Happens to the best of us. Let me help.” He picked up a couple of the books. “Looks like you were doing some heavy reading.”

Lorelei began collecting the books closest to her, straightening them in her arms before accepting those the man was offering. “That’s comforting to know. It’s funny how little we think of others’ blunders, yet our own feel so big.” Standing, she ran a hand over her blouse, straightening herself following the flurry of activity. “I guess it does look that way, doesn’t it? I wasn’t planning on reading each of them cover-to-cover. I’m a Veterinarian, you see. And, unfortunately one of my long-term patients is proving to be quite the challenge. Ergo...Research.” Laughing, she shook her head slightly. “Not that you necessarily needed to know, but...I’m sure this looks rather odd. What about you? Looking for anything in particular?”

Ronnie dipped down, bending her knees to help the red head pick up her books. She smiled gently, holding out a large black book. Her eyes couldn’t help but glance at the cover as she did and when the woman went to take it, she held on tightly. Something telling her to grip on. “Sorry… oh yes of course, this is yours.” She smiled, slightly embarrassed by her behaviour. “I do it all the time, it’s normal. 

Lorelei smiled gratefully when the other began to assist. The small hindrance when accepting the black book was noticeable, though not something she called attention to. Of course, she was sure her selection may have seemed odd- books full of veterinary medical knowledge and various animal diseases- though it didn’t strike her as fully as it might have another. “That’s alright, I appreciate the help. Thank you! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.” Chuckling, she gripped the books as she stood, maintaining her balance against a nearby shelf. “I’m Lorelei, by the way. Lorelei Scott. I’m the town Veterinarian.” She explained, glancing at the stack of books. “If that makes this make any more sense. What’s your name?”

Sighing softly, Lorelei tipped her head to the side, eyes scanning the plastic-clad spines of each book on the shelf as she went. Her right arm was already overburdened with several titles, though it seemed as though she were still searching for one more. The witch’s eyes lit up as she found whatever she was looking for, pulling the book from the shelf and attempting to add it to her pile. The act of turning, however, seemed to prove too much. Tripping over seemingly nothing, Lorelei propelled forward, her stack of books landing in a scattered semi-circle around her. “Damn it.” She whispered under her breath, hearing a set of footsteps approaching. Glancing up, she offered an embarrassed smile. “Don’t mind me. I’m just...Making a mess.”

Joey could feel her emotions calming as she manage to control how she was feeling. She nodded. “That is a good way to look at it, some spilt coffee hasn’t ruined the day, I’m going to be positive. She moved, following the older witch and taking a seat at the table. “Yeah, long shifts, late shifts. I’m a nurse. I don’t mind you asking,” she told her. “I spilt my coffee on you and you’re going to get me a new one, that’s kind of you,” she laughed a little. “I yeah… okay, then that was more than just spilling coffee.” She could feel the air around them both, if she really concentrated, she was sure she could sense the magic and she knew the other witch could around her.

“That seems like the best choice to me.” Lorelei agreed gently. Perhaps in her younger years she would have made more of a fuss of things, though for the most part she had always been an easygoing person. “A nurse! Oh, well that settles it. I most definitely have to buy you a coffee now. Think of it as a ‘thank you’, if it helps. But, all superheroes deserve coffee.” Lorelei nodded definitively, turning to make her way back over to the counter. Once the transaction had been completed and she’d returned to the table, she took a seat gracefully before pausing to allow Joey to continue. “I thought it might have been. Suspected, you might say. After all, that kind of trajectory doesn’t come out of nowhere. Is that something that happens often, dear?”

location: Holloway Cemetery For: Open @hollowstarters​

The hour was still early in the day as Saorise stepped through the gate of the cemetery and back onto the streets of Holloway. An aura of magic still surrounded her as she carefully avoided the spikes of the iron gates. To her right side, hidden behind an overgrown stone stood the coffee she had left there earlier, now cold. A reminder of the time when Agnes had waited for her after each and every ritual. She picked it up, taking a sip.  A shadow in the corner of her eye made her turn and she flashed a smile. “’morning. Your out here early. Visiting the cemetery or just passing through from a night out?” The magic she had left behind was slowly disappearing, but Saorise still did not want the elder council to know about it. 

While the cemetery hadn’t ever been a place Lorelai was known to frequent, even before her unceremonious exit from the Holloway Coven, this morning it seemed as though something had drawn her there. It was early, she’d stopped in on her way to the clinic, unsure of precisely what she was expecting, or even hoping, to find. Things were quiet when she arrived, the fog of dawn still clearing from the expanse before her. 

The woman’s voice startled her, and Lorelei turned abruptly on her heel, fingertips flying to the base of her throat. “Oh, gosh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t even hear you walking up!” Chuckling, she dropped her hand. “I’m just...” Taking in a deep breath, she searched for some sort of answer that might make more sense than the truth of the matter. “...I don’t know, to be honest with you. I suppose this just...Felt like the place to be this morning.” She shrugged, offering a smile of her own. “And what about yourself?”

Joey let out a breath, grateful for the other’s kindness. She needed to pull herself together. “Yeah… these things. Emotions and… spilling coffee,” she gave a small laugh. She wondered if the woman in front of her could tell what had happened but she wasn’t going to admit it to her. “Worse things in life than a spilt cup of coffee, huh?” she smiled gently, pulling herself together. “Yeah, long shifts. Tired. Do you want to sit and get a coffee? My treat, the least I can do for spilling mine on you. Do… you know?”

Lorelei hoped the other was beginning to relax- she truly wasn’t upset by what had occurred. Despite her tendency to lean into a Type-A personality, her job had long ago taught her not to sweat the small stuff. Spilled coffee most definitely fit that bill. “Yes, that does sound on point.” Smiling, she offered a nod. “Absolutely. The way I look at it, if this is the worst thing that happens today, it has been one hell of a good day.” Raising her eyebrows, Lorelei chuckled. “Long shifts?” She asked, expression settling. “Might I ask what it is that you do? I don’t mean to pry, of course.” Nodding, she turned to spot an empty table nearby. “That would be great! We can settle right over here, if you’d like.” Though, she shook her head at the woman’s offer, placing her cup on the table before reaching into her purse. “Please, allow me. Let this be my treat- it’s the least I can do.” The question came and Lorelei smiled softly, nodding slowly. “I believe I do, yes. Which solidifies even more my want to assist, if I can. Even if it does mean simply listening.”

Joey let out a breath, trying her best to compose herself. She couldn’t let anyone in public know she’d lost control for a moment… even if it was hard to hide the exploding coffee. She was tired and she’d been working hard both in work and with her magic. She just needed to sleep and she’d be okay. “I am still so sorry, are you okay?” she asked the other, glancing back at her. “Yeah, that’s usually the saying, isn’t it. And yes, we’re in a whole place that sells coffee.” She smiled a little. “No, no. I’m just really tired, lost my focus for a moment.”

Waving her free hand, Lorelei offered a genuine and soft smile, nodding. “I’m okay, really. There isn’t anything to be sorry for. These things happen.” Her eyes ran over the woman in front of her, paying close attention to her expressions, as well as her tone. Being a witch herself, and having gone through periods possessing little control over her magic, Lorelei had some small inkling of what might have happened. Though she was never the type to make assumptions. “It is, but I find that it is so because it is true. In my experience, at the very least. Yes!” Chuckling, Lorelei took a sip of her coffee. “Ah, understandable. I’ve been there myself a time or two. Anything I could help with? There’s nothing like venting to someone who might as well be a stranger.”

Joey was exhausted. She’d done a nightshift and had spent most of the day reading, losing track of time. She often struggled to sleep during the day but she was now overtired and instead she’d decided to go for a walk.

She’d headed into the town square, grabbing a coffee. Yawning, she picked up her coffee. She felt the warm liquid through the cup, focusing on the energy, the movement of the particles. Her magic feeling a little unstable and yet strong when she felt so tired. As her fingers touched the cup, the liquid exploded. The small sparks leaving her fingertips. “Shit,” she breathed, now covered in coffee… as was the person beside her. “I am so so sorry.”

Three months into her time at Veterinary school, coffee had become part of Lorelei’ lifeblood. She’d managed to make it through her Bachelor’s program with minimum dependency, but the work it took to become a DVM seemed to ramp that up to 1,000. While she had told herself graduation would bring separation from her addiction, reality brought no such luck. So, as with every other evening, Lorelei found herself making her way into the coffee shop. Once she’d received her order she glanced at her watch, calculating whether she would rather enjoy the cup in-store or begin to make her way back home. It was then she heard the small explosion, and felt the warm liquid dripping down the side of her arm. “It’s...That’s alright.” She said, eyes falling upon the other witch. “No need to cry over spilled coffee. I hear this place has plenty more.” Offering a small smile, she turned to reach for a napkin. “Something bothering you?”