soft

this town was suffocating. lux had always thought so even as a child, and being stuck here was her own personal hell come to fruition. she had been about to get out. she had been so close and then it was ripped away from her.

"oh, luuuuux-," rhiannon sing-songed as she skipped over to the park bench. this wasn't the first nor would it be the last time lux morrison was caught ruminating on a park bench. the redfields and the morrisons had always been on friendly terms like most witch families in town. of course, lux probably didn't see rhiannon as much more than an annoyance. "are you going to spend all day on here?"

Arriving at the diner just a tad later than the already late birthday boy, Isabel manoeuvred her way through Sal's, doing everything in her power to keep her eyes off Robbie as he attempted to consume an entire platter of party food. Honestly, she felt the urge to do the same, but she opted to wait, instead heading to the counter to order a beer. Her hand kept lifting to her hair, too aware of the blonde or concerned that it was more tousled than it should be? Who's to say? "Wait, does Sal's still do shots or was that just a fever dream I had?"

Rhiannon was just about to compliment Quinn on her gorgeous outfit when she heard her speak. Oh my god! Was Rhiannon the only one witnessing this right now? She looked around her, trying to gauge if anyone else was gobsmacked. "Isabel?" Rhiannon followed up with a bright and beaming grin, "You look amazing, oh my gosh. The blonde looks so good on you! From one former brunette to another, welcome to the club. Only, like, I've been blonde forever. Like how you were brunette forever. Anyway, wow. I love it."

"Maybe one day, I mean, not many people in this town to workshop my material on. Most of you are boring or too scared of the evil witch." Meghan found this thing cute; if it were anyone else, she would be annoyed. "Sacrifice, maybe, brothers to try to murder. And what are you doing, Rhiannon?"

"That's called self-preservation. That and some of us just think you suck," she added in a moment of absolute petulance. Rhiannon couldn't help it. She was hurt so she was petty. Looking at Meghan was painful, forsure. Meghan Morrison featured in, like, every memory from Rhiannon's childhood. Unlike Gwen, though, Rhiannon was also pissed as hell when she saw her. "What, was once not enough? You want to shoot for double failed homicide? I am just letting you know that you should stay the hell away."

Keith held up his hands, an apologetic smile on his lips. "I'm so sorry, Rhi. I should've coughed or something." His hands lowered, one of them rubbing the back of his neck. After everything she–and the rest of his friends–had been through, he should've had more tact than this. "My ass appreciates it." The word 'ass' honestly felt weird coming from him and he cringed a little before asking, "How are you doing?" They were all probably so over him checking up on them, but he couldn't help it; he had almost lost them all.

"Don't sweat it, Keith! Besides, your coughing would have only activated my fight or fight response," she joked while flashing him a bright grin. She couldn't help snorting when he said 'ass', grateful that he took the plunge and tried it out. "Wow, that was good. Thank you, I appreciate your appreciation." Keith had been totally over concerned since... well, everyone knew 'since'. And that was okay with her, really. "I'm okay, really. Did you hear Jamie was out of the slammer?"

Finally, after what had felt like five hundred years, Jamie had managed to leave the Underground and come up for air. Of course, she had been in and out of med bay the entire time, but she could admit that she had also been hiding from everything that had happened. Obviously, she had still been in contact with her friends, but this was the first time she had seen Rhiannon in person since prom night and she could have cried. "Excuse us." She briefly acknowledged the person her friend had been ready to fight, and pulled Rhiannon into the tightest hug, her voice muffled against her shoulder. "Hi."

Rhiannon turned with a bright grin when she heard Jamie's voice. Her heart could have burst at the sight of her! It didn't have the chance, though, as Jamie pulled her into the world's tightest hug. Rhiannon smooshed her back just as much, feeling her eyes sting as she did. They had survived. Jamie was here. "Hi." Rhiannon eventually, barely, pulled back from their embrace to look her over. "Oh my god, I missed you, J. I thought they were never going to let you out."

"Sorry!" Ivy laughed as Rhiannon turned to face her, not having meant to sneak up on her. "You know, with reflexes like those, you would be the one teaching classes at the inn in no time!" Considering what had happened at prom, she could only hope that the survivors were looking into all the different self defence options around town. And the inn could always use another capable witch. "Think you'll ever stop by?"

"What? No way. Do you really think so?" Rhiannon couldn't help but grin at the very idea of it. She would be lying if she said she never thought about Ivy's Inn. Before, she was just trying to finish school in this new bizarro version of reality. Now... she wished so much that she could use her magic to do more. And her fists. Rhiannon considered Ivy's question quite seriously, squaring her shoulders a little before answering. "Yes... Yes, I think I will."

Andrew didn't know Rhiannon; he had seen her around before, but he was sure they had never spoken before. He nodded his head at the sudden spark, happy to have the help. Witches always proved to be the most helpful, and definitely the most dangerous, "I mean, I am exhausted from scaring all the townsfolk. Hard being a monster." He smiled as he took a long drag. "Want a drag?"

"Just wait until they discover pitchforks," she tossed back but her eyes were becoming less and less narrowed by the second. He didn't sound like a monster, right? Actually, he sounded kinda... She didn't know, deflated or something? Not that she should let her guard down! No, Rhiannon Redfield was ready to go down swinging at any moment. "No," she replied quickly. Gwen would kill her. A pause, and then... "Maybe."

Andrew was avoiding the house; he needed a minute away from all the chaos of everything. Most of it wasn't even the people; it was him, he had been thinking again. Walking around the town, he just wanted a minute, but in Havensdale, he wasn't sure it was possible.

"In a manner of speaking," Rhiannon replied, narrowing her eyes briefly as she sized him up. She might not have known Andrew Choi personally but she knew where he lived. Not cool. She lift her hand up, using her magic to spark a flame from her fingertips. Both a warning and a helping hand, right? "Taking a break from your dastardly deeds, hm?"

Gwen let out an exaggerated sigh of relief at her little sister's promise but, even so, she too crossed her fingers and knocked on wood. There was no chance in tempting fate, after all. She was not enjoying the smug look on Rhiannon's face and to hide her irritation, Gwen took a big sip of her own tea. "I feel like you aren't actually talking about cups of tea. Might I remind you, Rhiannon Redfield, that we are in the middle of a situation here. So the tea might just have to wait, regardless of how friendly and available it is." There, hopefully now Rhiannon might drop the subject. Gwen loved her sister, but she did not particularly love talking about the state of her (non-existent) love life with her.

"The way you've caught me," Rhiannon grinned, barely fighting off a loud laugh. She could tell her sister wasn't exactly thrilled with a) Rhiannon's undeniable (but cute!) smugness and b) the topic of her love life. She rolled her eyes, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "Right, I've got it. Situation. Wrong place, wrong time... Something to circle back to after we live to fight another day and successfully avoid ending up kibble." She nodded to punctuate her point and grinned to soften the blow. She pressed her lips together, willing herself to change the subject. Alas, she simply had more to say! "I'm just saying! There's hardly any of the usual complications. No messy situationships attached, no beyond evil behaviour, no obvious and painful pining. It's just nice, is all I'm saying. I'm done! I swear."

Blair held her hands up, in no desire to get into a fight with the younger girl. "Trust me, it wasn't intentional. There's going to be no ass-kicking on the menu today, thanks."

"The day's still young, there might still be a side of whoop-ass on the way. Not between us, obvi-," Rhiannon rushed to add with a playful grin. "We're all good. How've you been, anyways?"

Alison pulled her hand back, as if she had been burned. She had not meant to startle Rhiannon, had simply put her hand on her students' shoulder as a prelude to asking her how she was. "No, I should be apologizing to you. Although...language."

"Shit- I mean shoot, Miss Halliday. Knee-jerk reaction, you'll have to pretty please not hold it against me." Rhiannon flashed a charming grin as back-up, pushing down the embarrassment she felt over this particular blunder. "Start again?"

Meghan tried to hold back a laugh, but it slipped out. "I was so worried about it." She rolled her eyes with a smirk.

"Wow. As usual, your wit is undeniable, Meghan. You should give up your day job as an evil witch and become a comedian." If Rhiannon could punch anyone today, it would be her. There was no one that she hated more. No one that she'd loved or looked up to more. "Don't you have some puppies to go kick or something?"

Gwen would have to be blind to not see the flash of sadness across her little sister's face at the familiar phrase, and she instantly felt guilt rush through her. How stupid she was, to turn what was meant to be reassuring into a memory of their mother. "Don't curse us now," she laughed. Then it was her turn to have her smile fade. "I don't know what you're trying to imply with that." Despite her words, Gwen could feel her face flush a little. "I should offer everyone a friendly cup of tea."

Rhiannon laughed, too but feared her sister had a point. She didn't want to tempt fate, especially not in Franks' where everyone was supposed to get along. It was the rule. "I take it back," she said, crossing her fingers and tapping the wood of the table to cancel out the bad luck. As Gwen's face flushed, Rhiannon had to do everything in her power not to grin ear-to-ear. "Mhm," she managed, covering her mouth by taking a long sip of tea (as always, her mom was right about it helping). "All I'm saying is, some cups of tea are friendlier than others. And some cups of tea are also very cute and available."

Having Rhi here meant that at least Gwen could keep a physical eye on her little sister. But she wished that she hadn't suggested that they go out to Frank's, because then Rhiannon would have been at home, and home was safe. "Yes," she agreed, making sure her voice was steady and confident. "I love that way of thinking. Tea solves all problems." That's what their mother had always said.

Tea solves all problems. Hearing Gwen say it, the exact same way their mom would, made her heart squeeze. "A little cup of magic," she said quietly, pulling her smile back on as she sat beside her sister. "See? We have nothing to worry about it." Rhiannon sat back in her chair, nodding at Gwen. Then, suddenly, she flashed a grin and said, "Just let me know if you want me to take a convenient bathroom break so you can offer Jenny Moore a super friendly cup of tea, too."