natalia.

✦ ZION MORENO, TRANS FEMALE, SHE/HER ✦ NATALIA LUNA RIVERA the THIRTY-TWO year old has been in Hidehill for HER ENTIRE LIFE and was a CHILDHOOD FRIEND to Jade Parker, the first murder victim. Whispers on the streets are that the RECEPTIONIST AT THE PET DOCTOR who lives in HADLEY PARK. She is said to be EARNEST and CRITICAL but I guess we’ll find out for ourselves. 

x

Claymore was one of the places Nancy went to have a glass of wine and settle into her thoughts. Deep down inside, all she wanted was to make those around her happy, but it seemed to get increasingly more difficult as the days went on and lives were lost due to this Shadow creature playing these downright disgusting games with people’s lives. Today was no different, she was sitting there, a glass of red wine in hand, sipping away at the glass contently when she heard the voice of a friend calling out to her.

“Nattybear!” she smiled wide once she realized who it was, settling the glass down and standing to her feet so she could go over to wrap her arms around the other in a gentle hug. “As always! Just me, my thoughts and a glass of wine. How about you?”

—————    

the good mood and the hug is unexpected, but that might be just because natalia is not in the best mood. still, she forces a smile, brings an arm up to squeeze nancy's, acknowledging, returning, appreciating the contact. "why don't you join me?" she asks, hoping that the other girl will agree; there is something entirely too depressing about sitting here alone when she was not meant to be, when she expected to have a companion tonight. she will do her best to banish it from her mind though, and doubly so if nancy joins her. there is no use in sitting around depressed over a missed date when she could be having a good time with a friend instead.

"have you eaten?" she asks, fingertips finding the menu that sits in front of her, nails tapping idly against the surface. "i was considering grabbing something to eat; wine is a menace on an empty stomach."

Despite spending day in and day out dealing with the heat behind the line, Crawford still chose to bear the summer sun on his day off. He’d assumed his regular position— sat back on a stained patio chair with his legs kicked up on a plastic cooler, one of the chilled cans of Pabst in his hand. Music played from inside, leaking out the screened door. Perhaps best of all was the cat curled on his lap, purring softly and setting the calming tone.

Hearing his name, Crawford tilted his head, lazily looking in that direction. “I got a pack in the kitchen,” he replied, smiling softly at his own joke. This wasn’t Cookie’s first visit, nor would he assume it be the last. He scratched behind Cookie’s ears, making no attempt at getting up or returning his little companion. “Don’t worry, Nat. I’m just getting my visitation hours in.”

—————    

a familiar sense of relief floods through natalia at crawford's words. every time that cookie gets out, he comes here. the first time had been the worst - she had cried, she had called her dad, she had ranted and raved and was on her way back home from an hour long search when she spotted him on a porch a few houses down. it's better now, less anxiety inducing, less terrifying. still, she worries that one day she will not find him here. at least that day is not today.

"cookie," she groans, plaintive. it's not until she reaches the step that she can see the senior cat there, perched on crawford's lap as if belongs there. "silly cat. thank you for keeping an eye on him," she says, addressing the man now. she doesn't know what she would do if cookie went to a neighbor that wasn't nearly as willing to deal with his shenanigans. at least she knows that he is safe here. she climbs the steps now, heartbeat slowing at last. "you know, he only sits on me if i'm trying to sleep. guess that means you're his favorite?"

it's entirely too easy to wear yourself out when you're running around after a kid, but natalia wouldn't have it any other way. with no kids of her own - and no partner, no kids in the near future - it is somewhat of a blessing to be allowed to babysit for parents that live in the area. though she doesn't always have the time with her full time job, she lives for the opportunity to spend an afternoon with a house that is filled with more laughter and light than cats and dogs for once. this is interrupted by a knock on the door - or maybe not.

"ledger!" she exclaims upon opening the door. "welcome, welcome. come in - ro' is in the bathroom, should be done soon i suppose. but while i've got you here-" she leads him to the kitchen, presenting the dinner that she has just pulled from the oven. "it's vegan so i understand completely if that isn't your thing, but it's free and hot and ready to go. plus i may have let rowan - very carefully! - stuff some of the shells. she washed her hands three times, i promise. minimal germs."

location: hadley park tag: @natalialunar

Halle had considered the trailer park to be her home for as long as she could remember as her father didn’t make much money so it was all her parents could afford, but she never minded that they simply lived within their means. They were happy and she had learned that if you’re happy that’s all that mattered in life. She followed in her father’s footsteps and pursued what made her happy too which was singing and playing her guitar. With the money she saved up, she was able to get her own trailer, which was more so storage for band equipment, but still, it was home. The friends she had grown up within the trailer park community had their own trailers now too — a symbol of adulthood for them. 

She liked living in the trailer park and having her friends close by and she did feel safer knowing most if not all of her neighbors. Natalia was one of those neighbors three trailers down and she found herself knocking on Natalia’s trailer door out of boredom. “Nat, are you home? Let’s go do something fun.” Confession, she didn’t know if her friend was actually there or if Nat might be working and she just looked like a crazy person. 

—————  

a rough day ends with natalia sitting alone in her living room, too overstimulated to deal with the animals that spend their time vying for her attention. the dog is at her feet, rough fur against her bare leg. one of the cats is on the back of her chair, purring too loudly in her ear. another cat threatens to sharpen his claws on her furniture, quickly reprimanded. and then all of the chaos is interrupted - a ringing knock and a voice that she would know anywhere. it's just enough to break through the curtain that has fallen across her home on this fine afternoon.

natalia opens the door just as halle's declaration comes to an end - there is a smile on her face already, happy to see such a familiar face. when the going gets tough, the tough go out and do something fun... right? anything has to be better than lounging around her trailer and contemplating quitting her job.

"well hello, halle!" she exclaims, now face to face with an old friend. with someone in front of her, it is all too easy for the harsh realities of the day to fall away. losing animals and getting yelled at, nothing her fault but blame laid at her feet... it doesn't matter now. distraction in human form. "i would love to. what fun things do you have in mind?"

it’s time to give up the ghost. two glasses of water, a glass of wine, and a trip to the bathroom later, natalia settles back at her table with a somber disposition. there’s no denying it at this point - she can admit that to herself now. five minutes late is acceptable. ten minutes even, maybe fifteen with a warning text. half an hour? she’s been stood up, and now she’s going to have to deal with that blow to her self esteem. wallowing in self pity can wait though, she thinks, the moment that she spots a familiar face.

“nancy?” she calls out, close tables and wine on an empty stomach doing away with the worst of her inhibitions. besides, the other girl is sitting alone. maybe she’s a little bit lonely too. “all by yourself?”

“one, two, three, four... wait. one, two, three... four...” having just returned home from work, natalia stands in the middle of her living room, spinning in circles. for each number there is a corresponding free roam animal - she never has to worry about her guinea pigs getting out, after all. one, waffle, two, juniper, three, pancake, four, brownie... one, juniper, jumping up at her thigh. two, waffle, curled up on the ottoman. three, brownie, playing with the curtains. four, pancake, sniffing around her discarded shoes. “cookie?”

five minutes passes her by, and at the end of it she is outside again - shoes reclaimed, wilting in the summer heat, and walking through yards with only one destination in mind. “crawford!” she calls out when he comes into view. “have you seen cookie?”

open : @hidehillstart​ location: claymore

Jordan was stressed out and it felt like the stress was never going to end. Since use usual bar was closed down for the attempted murder of Brandon, he was sitting at the next best spot to get day drunk. Ordering himself a whiskey, he sat there staring at it on the counter in front of him. He had been drinking a lot lately and he knew the path he was heading down wasn’t going to help him with any of his life problems at the moment. Still, he brought the glass to his lips and took a drink. He savored the burn in his throat and glanced at the person next to him who had just sat down. “Day drinking too, huh? It’s really starting to become a normal thing around here with all this shit going on.”

—————  

it's somewhat strange, she thinks, being in a bar when the lights are still on, the sun still streaming through the windows. there are people walking by outside, enjoying their normal day with normal activities, and natalia is... here. it's certainly an interesting choice, and not yet one that she has come to regret. she'll see how she feels in the morning. "when it doubt, drink when the sun is out to judge you," natalia replies. she punctuates the statement with a sip of her drink - something fruity and sweet that she has already forgotten the name of, if she ever knew it. she's not much of a drinker, but recent events will turn anyone into a hedonist. "what else is one meant to do with a day off these days? stay home where there is no one to make sure you are safe? not that it feels much safer out and about..."

location: rose salon ! open starter: @hidehillstart​

nicolette was sat on the front bench drinking her smoothie and thinking of how much she did not want to be at work today… not after this whole mess of a situation the town was in. the murder, the kidnappings, all of it was becoming too much. she sat on the bench outside of the salon just watching people go back and forth… curious how people could walk around so carelessly as if their wasn’t someone copycatting the shadow this very moment. her father told her stories growing up and how terrified the town was when he was just a little boy. but now… living it she understood. 

someone caught her eye as they approached the bench, “good morning.” she said with a small smile before taking another sip of her smoothie. “there’s room if you need to sit?”

—————  

with a few hours to go before her later shift at the pet doctor and nothing much needing done around the house, natalia has dedicated her free time to walking through town. there is something comforting about being simply one person amongst too many to count; something that makes her feel small in a good way, as if nothing terrible that she could ever do would ever really matter, and that the little bits of good that she puts out into the world make just that little bit of difference. of course, with all that has been happening here in her hometown lately, it's just as easy to get overwhelmed with all of the people - how is one to know who is safe, who isn't?

someone's voice breaks natalia from the chaos of that potential spiral, and she finds herself greeted by someone just a few feet away - and with an offer at that. what could it hurt? "thank you," she says with a smile, doing her best to banish those horrible thoughts before they can truly plague her. she takes the offered seat. "and good morning to you as well. i must ask - your smoothie, it looks delicious. where did you get it?"

open : @hidehillstart location : maggies front yard/horwick

Maggie had decided to spend the day working on her front yard. With the season starting to come to an end, it was time to tend to the flowerbeds and get things ready for fall decorations. She was kneeling on the grass, pulling the brightly colored flowers out by their roots when she heard someone coming up behind her. Sitting up on her knees, she glanced behind her to give them a welcoming smile. “Are you here to watch me do all this hard labor by myself or are you gonna be a doll give me a hand?” She held out a garden trowel out to them, waiting for them to accept.

—————

though natalia doesn't live anywhere near horwick, she is the type of person to take near daily walks, and sometimes it's nice to have a change of scenery. the people never seem to mind, usually ignoring her or even sparing a friendly greeting. in that it's not quite as friendly as her own neighborhood - where people always have something to say, starting a conversation even with a passerby. this right here is another change of pace. "oh, i don't mind helping," natalia says, stepping forward and taking the offered trowel. though this is strange, she has enough garden experience that she doesn't feel completely out of her depths. "just point me in the right direction."

Location: Club Envy Open to everyone @hidehillstart​ Rory had clocked off his shift but he knew his night was nowhere near coming to an end. With shots in his hands he knocked them back before pouring himself a drink filled to the brim, turning around to face out to the crowd somebody caught his attention before he could walk around to the other side of the bar and enjoy the night for himself. A quick swig of his drink and he offered the other person a smile, “I’m off the clock, is this something that requires me to work for free or just a friendly chat?”

————— 

natalia is not much one for the club scene, but she can find her way to such a location from time to time. this particular occurrence has a reason at least - a loss at her job; a regular event for sure, but one that is enough to leave her craving human contact. with her dad out of town and friends unavailable, this seemed... innocuous enough. now though, she's not so sure. only one drink in and hesitant to try anything else, she's beginning to feel out of place.

and then someone approaches her. "i guess it depends on what you would call working for free," she says with a sheepish smile. "anything you would recommend for someone who doesn't drink a lot? i like vodka and fruit, if it helps."