archived

          VELMA PUSHED UP HER GLASSES. She looked over at him and noted the phrasing he used. He didn’t sound excited about it, but Velma was always willing to have an extra hand. Sometimes she just enjoyed the company. “ Normally it’s the owner, or someone with a vendetta. ” She trailed the flashlight along the accompanying wall to see if there was a continued sign of the substance. “ I think working together would be beneficial. The rest of my team is still on their way up here, so it’s just me at the moment. ”

           “ I WON’T ALLOW IT, ” Ophelia said with a shake of her head. She quickly snatched up the checkbook and stubbornly shoved her card inside. Perhaps it was a matter of pride for the two of them but she couldn’t fathom him paying. Ophelia didn’t like the idea of being indebted to anyone and that’s what the meal payment would have become in her mind. “ It was my idea to go to dinner after that boring award show barely fed us anything. ” She would never admit it aloud but the night had been a good time. Ophelia had insisted that they wear complimentary outfits and his ensemble had looked stunning onstage. She tugged at the lobe of her ear, a weird compulsion to continue justifying her actions. “ Not to mention you won best TV Actor and Scene Stealer. It was a big night and I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t pay for dinner. ” 

          PARIS GAVE A SMUG SMILE. “ I’m sure it’s possible - I certainly read it. ”  She doesn’t quite smile at the attempted joke, or truly acknowledge it. Paris was tightly wound and that wasn’t something that was untrue very often. “ You have until midnight to send me an error free article. ”          

         CLARICE TRIED TO KEEP FROM GRIMACING. She was intrigued by the red thread that tied them together that was called Hannibal Lector. “ Is howling how you hear it ? ” Perhaps this was all too much at once but she felt the compulsion to be honest. “ It always sounds like screaming to me. ”

          “ YOU COULD HAVE JUST LEFT IT BEHIND. It was kind of you to return it to me. It requires thanks, ” Cinderella said softly.  She didn’t take the kindness of strangers for granted. The world could easily be so cruel and unforgiving. People who decided that wouldn’t be their path were something to treasure. “ Hm, lose yourself. ” She repeated softly. Cinderella watched the leaves rustle in the cool wind, and the hue of the sky. “ It’s quite the place to do that. Perhaps when you’re losing yourself you’re just finishing other bits. As if this corner of the world lets you be another facet of yourself. ”  Ella felt almost silly saying it aloud, but she didn’t think the woman would mind. “ You have nothing to apologize for. ” Cinderella insisted, shifting where she stood. She didn’t know how to find the right words. Home was always a loaded subject, and she didn’t want anyone to feel a sense of discomfort with it. “ I’m Cinderella by the way. ” She added after a moment, a warm smile to echo the sentiment.          

         MELODY SHRUGGED. Perhaps it didn’t go down as smoothly as water, but it certainly had a better taste to her. “ Everybody’s got their own tastes, even if some of them are poor. ” A smile crossed her lips in her attempt to make fun of him.  Her hands had moved across the napkin to doodle his signature jacket and Led’s Zeppelin t-shirt. Melody took a moment to admire it, before flicking her gaze back to Hyde. The crooked smirk is something she can’t quite capture, but she tried her best. Melody suppressed a smile, “ Not drawing people, just friends. It keeps my hands busy. ” She looked at the napkin briefly, adding a signature in the bottom right hand corner. “ You can have it though. ” Melody said lightly, sliding the doodle closer to him. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable or anything. Plus she thought it a better practice to give it to the subject. 

          CINDERELLA STOPPED AT THE VOICE. Step-Mother had sent her to the market, but she had decided to take the long way home. Something about the cool wind on her face was nice. Or perhaps she was just grateful to get a break from her house. “ Oh, thank you, ”  Ella turned to smile at the woman, tucking a braid behind her ear.  She gingerly grabbed the apple, tucking it neatly back into her basket. Cinderella rose an eyebrow toward the woman, leaning in slightly. “ Have you lose things you haven’t found ? ” She asked, a sense of genuine curiosity in her voice.