it's locked

       cassie finds the idea of the avengers as a band hilarious, and her own imagination is enough to get her laughing. their band would last all of a week. ‘ they can hardly work together on their actual job, they could never be a band. ’ something tells her someone would get a guitar smashed over their head, and as cool as that may be, it doesn’t exactly scream successful rock stars. ‘ they’re heroes —- like, you know, superheroes. they fight villains, they save people? they’re cool. ’ even when they are trying to crush your hopes and dreams. just the mere thought that they’re the poster children of everything cassie has ever wanted, and the fact that she grew up with them is almost enough for her to forgive them for it. ‘ i’ve got to be harsh though, it’s how i keep my successful second date rate so high. ’ cassie shrugs, as though this wasn’t an odd conversation. it’s really not to her though. it’s nice, casual, relaxing. ‘ all i heard was professional daters are pretty, so … thanks. i think you’re pretty too. ’

     “well, bands fight all the time! it’s part of the deal.” she doesn’t know if that’s actually true, but nancy’s only ever really heard about bands when they’re breaking up or splitting off or taking a break. bands seem like more work than romantic relationships. “heroes?” okay, so nancy really shouldn’t be so skeptical. nancy has worked with a secret spy organization and helped take down a terrorist organization by finding out one of the members was her contact for the spies. heroes shouldn’t be too difficult to swallow, but nancy tends to draw the line at the supernatural and most of the time superhero stories have some sort of magical element to them. “what makes them superheroes?” hopefully that doesn’t sound too derisive, but she’s kind of skeptical. can you really blame her? “can i have the contact information for these successful second dates? just to make sure you’re not over-inflating your accomplishments.” nancy asks playfully with a tip of her head. “see, not listening to your date means you automatically lose five points. sorry, it’s the rules!”

      “you got a pretty good eye on ya’ there.” he understood that. it was one of the reasons he wanted a place in brooklyn. but that didn’t matter anymore, whenever they all got back to where they were from, it wouldn’t be possible. “i don’t think i’ve heard of river heights, but i get the feeling. what do ya’ do for this ‘job’ of yours?? ah — yeah, i do. guess you could say it comes with my job too.”

     “thanks! i do my best.” it’s part of the whole job-slash-hobby of detective work, being able to read people. spotting if someone is unhappy to be somewhere or, on the flip side, happy to be somewhere is pretty basic in terms of reading people. the amount of times nancy has called people out for being unhappy somewhere ( their own wedding, looking for their missing fiancee, on an old-fashioned train ) is pretty high up there. it’s nicer when she noticed someone’s pleased. “i’d be a little surprised if you had heard of it! it’s very stereotypical small town usa.” river heights looks like it was plucked out of a 1930′s novel, all idyllic colors and small businesses and gossip hidden behind closed doors. “oh! i’m an amateur detective. the cases i take are usually for family friends, or people who come to me looking for help. what do you do?”

     “ring-a-ding-ding, doll. this morning is just the cat’s pajamas.” he’s a little too amused by himself, accepting the offered napkins and patting himself dry. though, it didn’t do much other than that, a large brown stain still remained on his chest, “ahh, yeah, the big company lawsuit case i told you about got bigger and they’re asking for more. nothing really interesting but, still - -” he gestures to his chest again. “- - don’t want to go looking like this.”

     “oh my gosh, dad, no. no, don’t - do that. i’ll pay you to not do that.” nancy laughs the words out, shaking her head as she stifles her giggles with the back of a hand. the fact her dad just said the cat’s pajamas is a little too much. ned will be hearing about this. “that sounds like a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo i wouldn’t understand.” it’s a lie - she’s read all of her dad’s law books. “well, i guess it’s a good thing that i’m the best daughter ever and have an emergency dad stuff stash in my apartment.”

     “i’m just swell, nancy - -” he gestures to the stain with a forced grin. “- - i always look forward to my morning disasters!” it’s so typical that he would break one chain of constant fiascos only to be plagued by another. “especially when i don’t have another pressed shirt! it’s always good fun!” he just wanted one morning to go smoothly – is that too much to ask?

     “swell, huh? so we’re going back to the 1930′s?” it’s a goodhearted jab at her dad’s sometimes outdated vocabulary, a smile spreading across her face as she bunches up some napkins and offers them to carson with a shake of her head. “always! what do you have to do today, dad? big case?”

      for the first morning in weeks, carson drew had managed to not dunk his tie into his bowl of whole grain cereal. he had, however, managed to pour his entire cup of coffee onto his freshly pressed shirt. “seriously…”

     this is so typical dad. he’s both a pro at his job and a pro at always, somehow, messing up his clothes before he even makes it to the office. “ - - - you okay, dad?” she can’t quite keep the laugh out of her voice.

baby, it’s cold outside; games that make you want to curl up by the fire, drink hot cocoa, and play in the snow. perfect for when you’re missing wintertime.

make me choose: per-marre asked: ghost of thornton hall or legend of the crystal skull? anon asked: ghost of thornton hall or shadow at the water’s edge?

    “sounds like you got a hectic life. happy to do it. oh, plenty safe to assume. born and raised in brooklyn. feels good being back near home turf. so, you travel a lot, then??”

     “you could call it that. i’m glad i didn’t misread you, then - that would have been awkward.” she laughs a little, “it’s always nice to be home. river heights - where i’m from - always feels more comforting than anything. yeah! i go all over the place for my...job? it’s not really a job, but i don’t know what else to call it. you mentioned being back, do you travel a lot?”

*A Silly, Cute Love Song*

‘ people can fall asleep to whale noises? that’s a THING? ’

     “yep. some people think they’re soothing.”

              a badge. it doesn’t seem too dangerous. but then again, two countries fought a war over a chopped down flagpole once—there goes the british empire with its splendid ideas and fragile ego again. her dark eyes divert from the file only momentarily, catching the glint that polishes her eyes into real emeralds. she understands it— the hysteria of what moves you; a passion. hand sameen a nano, a grenade, or better yet, a sniper, and you will see for yourself. ‘ so, this badge could be just… ordinary. gotta say, nancy, never pegged you as a gossiper. ’ she teases, despite her semblance barely showing any sign of it. ‘ got any solid leads yet? ’ the file her fingers had a grasp on contained pictures and notes shaw did not bother to really read or see as she preferred direct information rather than riddles ( solving them was harold and root’s job, and jumping straight to the action was her thing anyway ), so instead she closes it, tossing it gently atop the rest of nancy’s cases. ‘ huh. ever tried a less… amicable approach? you know— blackmailing, extortion, force? might save you some time. ’

     there is something about mystery that just draws nancy in. she thinks it might be genetic. kate drew was a spy for the anti-terrorist organization cathedral and even though nancy found that out not too long ago it must have something to do with this drive to solve things that haunts her. friends and strangers alike approach nancy for help with things and she has never turned anyone down. not once. “it’s not gossiping if i’m getting you in the loop. if you’re going to help me you need to know about all the players, right? here -” she sets her stack of folders carefully by her feet and reaches for one perched on the arm of the sofa. it’s thinner than all the rest and doesn’t have a title yet, but she offers it to sameen. “this is everything i have so far. there’s also some notes in my journal i still need to add to that, but, that’s just about everything you’ll need to know.” nancy crosses her legs beneath her and sits up on her knees for a moment, readjusting herself. “a few. there’s diana keller, who’s a competing collector. ms. kapski, the woman the badge was stolen from, had a party to show off the badge when it went missing during a power cut. it’s possible that keller took it for herself. there’s also klayton kapski, who’s ms. kapski’s son. he’s kind of sketchy but i can’t really put my finger on it. maria blackthorn is also someone i’m looking into, she’s the nouveau riche type who might have ties to the mafia.” she lists off before blinking in surprise. “what? no! no, i don’t do anything like that. no! gosh, i’m trying to keep more people safe and happy. if i resorted to blackmail or, or force, or anything like that, i would be as bad as some of the people i investigate.”

        the moment in which cassie’s brow furrows is brief, hardly noticeable, maybe even less so because they’re walking. of course she watched the star wars movies as a kid, she remembers being super into them, but not much else. she’s lost as to what the reference should have been. ‘ probably definitely a good thing. jabba gave me nightmares for like, a month or something.. ’ or she just truly recognizes how gross he is now and hopes younger her got that. cassie almost offended that nancy doesn’t know who the avengers are though, and she has to stifle a gasp. she gets too excited about educating people on this stuff and, sometimes, she says too much. she won’t this time. ‘ the avengers? honestly, i might have to break up with you before our date if you really don’t know who they are. ’ she’s joking, of course. as hurt as she may be, it’s understandable that nancy doesn’t know who they are; what with the different universes thing going on here. she doesn’t even catch a look at the card, but she nods anyway. ‘ i still can’t believe you would exploit a system that had enough faith to certify you. like, talk about taking advantage of people’s trust. ’ cassie rolls her eyes, but there’s no sort of attitude about it — maybe not aside from an overly peppy one anyway; she’s not quite sure she’s stopped smiling since the conversation started. 

     “jabba still gives me nightmares.” she jokes, a laugh falling from her lips as she shakes her head at the thought of the weird womanizing blob thing. gross. gross and weird. she’s glad she’s never had to deal with anything like that in her lifetime, just fake ghosts and various ‘curses’ and the occasional kidnapping. though being locked in a compacting garbage compactor was pretty gross and weird. “i really don’t know who they are. is it a - a band? it kind of sounds like something a heavy metal band might call themselves?” nancy offers with a blink. it doesn’t really work with the context she’s been given, but let nancy ask her questions. “breaking up with me on the grounds that i don’t know one thing is pretty harsh, cassie.” a grin lights up her face and she shakes her head. “this is what i’m certified to do - go on dates with varying people and then report back how good a dater they are. for professional daters the forms are pretty hard, so i hope you’re on your a-game today.”

‘ that is such a lie! i’ve seen a couple and wow-wee – they’re like, two neds, at least. speakin’ of, is he comin’ too, or is he stuck at – ew – college? and for that, i’m forever grateful. normally i’d use the store radar, but i’m already tired, so, google it, m’dear. ’ bess giggles, popping another gummy bear in her mouth as she talks. ‘ were you even a scout? ’

     “two neds is impossible - i’ll permit you one and half ned, though. just a half.” she teases back, tucking a strand of hair behind one ear as she tugs her phone from her purse, the lockscreen set to a picture of the eiffel tower she took while in paris. “he’s stuck at ‘ew college’. he said he would try to slip away, though.” she google maps fifth avenue and offers the screen to bess. “you lead the way! i was! for - about three meetings when i spotted a conspiracy between three of the other girls where they were threatening some of the younger kids to keep their cookie-selling grounds clear of any competition.”

@ndrcw

     the thing about detective work is this : it makes you keep odd hours. during the day people are always out, stepping over every manhole cover and grate so that she can’t get a closer look without getting stepped on. when you’re looking for a way down into forgotten tunnels buried deep underneath a city of life and sound and constant foot traffic it’s hard to find time during the hours the sun is out to check around that one odd manhole. someone’s carved odd markings into the middle of it and at varying degrees around the circle, and nancy has been dying to get a closer look. thus her sneaking through the night-dark alley at some late hour ( a glance at her watch tells her it’s near two in the morning ) in jeans and a sweater. the sleuth creeps towards the manhole and is on the process of crouching down to get a better look when -      she didn’t even notice the car in her typical manner of focusing in a laser-like way on one thing and ignoring everything else around her until a voice is breaking her out of her trance, the light of her cell phone gone dim and useless in the wash of light. “ - - - looking for my - earring! i think it fell somewhere around here earlier today and i didn’t notice until i got home.”

– ‘ PERHAPS – ‘kay, yeah, i am, but still. i’m tryin’ here. alright, here. no clear ones, though! those are always the best. we need to go to ralph lauren, and just – EVERYWHERE on fifth avenue. wait, really? you’re lettin’ me? NANC! oh, i love you so much, have i ever told you that? ’

     “new york city boys are probably way different than at river heights. i’d bet most of them aren’t even one half of a ned. of course. you know i only like the orange ones anyways. let’s go, then! can your shopping senses lead the way or should i google it?” nancy grins and raises her hand to her forehead in the girls scouts salute. “scout’s honor and everything, bess! you sure have, and - ditto.”

     “ha ha, very funny, bess. are you practicing for the next cute guy that catches your eye? sure, i’ll take a gummy bear. what stores do you have in mind - i’m in your debt! you can drag me around wherever you want for one full day, no complaints. promise!”

            ❛  yeah, but, in case you didn’t know, screaming also usually means whatever you’re missing is bad. running away is usually the safer bet but, hey, that’s just a good natured hint from me. if you wanna run to the danger, i won’t stop you.  ❜     actually he will. that’s kinda his JOB of sorts; to save people & kept them out of danger. he’s a superhero. sort of. the team was kinda loose now, sure, but that didn’t mean tommy turned a blind eye to bad guys out there. at the same time, though — that also means he’s in the same boat as her, running to the action, but he rationalizes it with the fact that he’s running to STOP it not to SEE it. reminder: SUPERHERO. he can run faster than sound, he doubts she can do the same.      ❛  in their defense, they can’t really check out. the check-in-manger-guy is in on the whole thing so he wouldn’t let them if they tried. plus they can’t just leave either, they’re only here because their car broke down a mile away which was the fault of the fake mechanic they saw here earlier. so, no car. they’ve got no phone signal. the nearest repair shop is twenty miles away — and closed, not to mention. by the time they figure out in they’re in danger the power is cut so they can’t use the room phone. there’s a pay phone but when they try to sneak out to use it the psychos ram it with a car. i mean, obviously, they eventually do call the police, as one shows up. they get to the manger’s office by some secret underground tunnels and get the phone there but the psychos show up before they’re able to say anything to the police so the phone is hung up by said psychos. police don’t know whats up so they just dispatch the sheriff who, as i said before, is killed. one backwater town officer against three serial killers? ‘course he was gonna get killed.  ❜     he actually appreciates the plot of vacancy. the people in it aren’t actually incredibly stupid. in fact they even survive & manage to kill all the serial killers !!! but he can agree with her, there are many horror movies that play the police a lot worse. vacancy doesn’t bash them too much. at least, that’s his opinion.      ❛  at least, in this, they make the police smart enough to dispatch an officer when they get that first call. plus the officer pulls out his gun at some point. only real problem is they didn’t send in more officers after the first one didn’t respond or return all night. THAT’S the main flaw of it.  ❜     but, of course it’s going to have a flaw. it’s a horror movie, made to scare the pants of you !!! if all the police showed up & solved the whole issue it would take away the whole point of it. tommy shrugged at her.    ❛  i’m just not. some are alright but i’ve also met a few who think that just because they have a pistol and a badge they can handle anything and they can get pissy when people try to help. they’re why superheroes have any kind of bad rep, in my opinion.  ❜

     “i’m going to be honest with you -” partially because she’s not a great liar and would rather prefer to shoot straight instead of beat around the bush. “- and tell you flat out that i understood approximately fifty percent of what you just said. did you even stop to breathe?” nancy blinks at him in a mix of wonder and confusion. he just spewed the whole plot of a movie she’s never seen and now doesn’t really want to see ( serial killers rarely work together, what is that? ) in her direction at a mile-a-minute rate. “what i did understand sounded like a whole lot of coincidences though. their car broke down and the only auto-shop around is run by a murderer? and then the only motel around is also run by a murderer, who’s in on it? who’s idea even was it in the first place to put these two places so close to each other? were they always run by tandem murderers?” she shakes her head but there’s still a smile on her face because this is a pretty nice conversation, even if it’s mind-boggling in a few ways. “wait - superheroes? like, vigilantes who base themselves off of comic book heroes?” those do exist. nancy has talked with a few before, when she was working in scotland on the whole thing with a terrorist group and a spy organization and her mom’s death. just over the internet for a little bit. “but i do understand the part about them getting annoyed when people tried to help. the police where i’m from are really good, though! when i was under arrest for being framed for arson they let me out of the holding cell so i could figure out who really did it.”