the detective

Demir: Are you available? I have something I'd like to discuss with you.

Remy: My life.

Things seemed to have settled down since the Festival, just like Azra had expected. It was almost as if the town collectively seemed to accept that she was pregnant with the next Athanas and then move on towards the time capsule. Truthfully she was excited to see what it held, and to see if there was anything else that would happen to throw the town into chaos. She really loved how much she could do with chaos, especially since it was easier to scoop up power in it. Something that her brother had yet to learn. 

She had just been walking down the street when she heard the other woman speak, though it was hard to tell if she was talking to herself (concerning) or if she was saying something to Azra (almost as concerning if she thought they had been conversing). “I think that you might have missed showering this morning,” Azra pointed out, though her voice sounded more gentle and concerned than she actually felt, “But other than that, I think it would depend on how much of the news you’ve been reading lately.”

The doors of the station slammed shut behind her. She hadn’t realize how much force she had been walking with since she’d left her place until she heard the sound. It nearly made her jump, but what surprised her more was running into Azra. Although most the place was likely over the news that she was pregnant with Vidal’s baby, Adina was not. It had just recently reached her and frankly she was concerned about what this all meant leading up to the unearthing of the time capsule. 

As Azra spoke, she sighed. Maybe she shouldn’t have left her place in such a rush. She tugged at a loose strand that fell from her bun on the way here and spotted a ramen stain on her shirt. Great, she was starting to look like the other—albeit lazy—cops around here. 

“Kind of left in a rush.” She brushed herself off, knowing full well it wasn’t going to do much at this point. “And let’s just say I’ve read enough news to get caught up.”

Cassia had been meaning to go to the bank ever since the festival, just to make sure that the money that they had made actually got into their bank account before they spent it all on art supplies.  There just was something about going to the bank - even if it was just to use the ATM that somehow seemed as daunting as actually talking to a bank teller. Cassia knew that it was irrational, but it didn’t stop them from putting it off until they absolutely needed the money in there to pay their bills. 

Sighing in relief that it was over, they overheard someone talk and it sounded like it was to them. Looking over she saw Adina looking disheveled…which was a look that Cassia truthfully knew too well.  “Um…are you okay?” Cassia asked, a little concerned about her appearance. 

For the first time in weeks, Adina took a real deep breath and flashed Cassia a genuine smile. Maybe this wasn’t the right time for that, but it was good to see them again. She’d heard how well their art had done and she was a little bummed she’d missed it. 

When they spoke, she chuckled softly and scratched at the back of her head. “Yeah, actually.” She chuckled again. “I promise I feel better than I look. I’m just a little behind in work and finally catching. Thanks, Cassia. How are you? I heard your art was a success.”

♠. open starter.

The sound of the bell ringing as she opened the door to enter made Estelle smile just a little. After stepping out of the doorway to insure she wasn’t blocking anyone from entering, she took a deep breath and let the smell of the coffee and baked goods wash over her. The cafe was one of her favorite places, if not, her number one favorite place. She was nothing but rude without her cup of liquid nectar from the gods above. This was her first time being to the cafe since she’d been back and she wasted no time in making her way to the counter to place her order. 

“Good morning.” She said with a sweet smile on her lips. Image was everything in this town and she was taught that she had to be a lady at all times. “I would like a large mocha with a bit of cream and an egg and sausage breakfast sandwich.” She paid for her meal and went to take a seat in one of the booths. She was reaching into her purse to grab her phone when she saw someone approaching, someone who certainly didn’t have her order. “Can I help you?” She asked with a small smile to lessen any particular sensitive feelings or misconceptions about her tone.

Coffee not made in her crappy, cheap pot at home. Just the thought made her smile. She took a deep breath and let the scent of fresh beans linger in her nose. Today’s roast smelled of hazelnut, chocolate, and maybe a hint of cherry. She hoped it was a dark roast. She took another sniff. Definitely dark roast. She chuckled softly to herself, but she tried to brush it off as an exhale. Was her nose extra sensitive after weeks of isolation? She shook her head and tucked a hair behind her ear. 

“I’ll have a large coffee with room, please,” she said, as she made her way to the counter. In seconds it was in her hand and she made her way to the self-serve cart, stirring in a dash of cream and two brown sugars. She found a comfy chair not far from the door and took her first good sip when she saw Estelle walk in. She let the other order and took a few sips while she waited. Then, when spotted a chance she walked over. 

“Estelle, right? I don’t think we’ve officially met. I’m Adina.”

Adina emerged from her place, her hair a tangled bun atop her head while a faint whiff of weeks of ramen and smeared pen ink wafted from her. From the moment she heard psychics and seances she locked herself away and dedicated herself to putting together cold hard facts not false science. She figured if this was how the people wanted to operate then, perhaps, she wasn’t going to get her evidence directly from them. She went back through all her notes, revisited the list of people on her board and their connections. She recalled as many conversations as she could remember overhearing. She searched for notes, newspaper clippings, official filings, anything that could back up what she thought her gut was telling her. It quickly descended into weeks of chaos. A mountain of papers littered the floor between her bed and her desk. Maybe if she just organized them well enough something would come together. Something had to come together, right?

Then, it all started to crack. New evidence: Azra was pregnant with Vidal’s child and July was missing. The latter seemed to be getting buried. She only found it when she snuck into the station and saw the missing persons file laying about.  Frankly, she couldn’t blame him if he decided to skip town, but it just felt too suspicious. It wasn’t until Adina left the station that she realized for the first time in weeks, she had something to keep her going.

Azra pregnant with Vidal’s child. July missing. She repeated them over and over in her head, walking through town with a spring in her step. Was it sick that these are the kinds of things that keep her going?

OPEN ! 

he knows that he’s unnecessarily tense ,   irritable ,   driven to distraction by his once - friend’s return.    he shouldn’t obsess over it.    he shouldn’t even allow himself to dwell on it.    christian’s got bigger and better things to think on and worry about than this    –    so why does it bother him so? 

christian is drawn from his thoughts by a tentative nudge at his shoulder ,   one that ,   despite himself ,   causes a sharp exhale born of annoyance as he swings around to glower at the person trying to get his attention.       “   what is it?   ”       he grinds out ,   and then wishes that he hadn’t snapped.    that’s not going to win him any favors.

She hadn’t left her room in weeks. Sure, she’d gone out for necessities, but she thought if she just holed up, looked at the evidence, got the right phone call, something would come together. She continuously moved pictures around on her board, tried to remember a conversation she’d heard or a picture she’d seen on social media. It drove her mad. Why did every piece of evidence feel like it pushed her farther away?

Thankfully, after her desk becoming askew with crumpled papers and half-formed thoughts, Adina had made her way into the world again. She’d come out of her haze to remind herself that she needed to talk to more people to find more of the missing pieces. More importantly, she didn’t want to lose herself more than she already had to the mystery. 

Weeks had passed. It felt longer. The stacks upon stacks of papers littering her room could make anyone lose time. Crumpled papers flowed out of the waste basket. Her clue board sat as a reminder of every loose end. None of it made it sense. Everyone she asked, none of them could make it make any sense of it. Even the chief, she had put so much faith into couldn’t give her an answer she was happy with. Would she ever be truly satisfied?

When the news broke that December was still alive, she had a brief moment of relief. She lifted her head from her files and took what felt like the first real breath in a long time. Inhale. Exhale. It was good news — at least that was how it seemed. Her eyes widened, her lips parted like they might crack a smile. 

After she exhaled, her gaze found its way to her board. Still so many missing clues, so many loose ends. She never thought any of it lead to Emilio. That was just the easy answer like cops on shows who believe it’s always the wife. No one wants to do more work than they have to. They just should. That was why she got into this in the first place. 

She pinched the bridge of her nose and tossed another paper full of notes toward the trash pile. 

“I need some fresh air.” She sighed and headed out. 

Constantin was pretty sure that the lights going out wasn’t a huge deal.  It happened all the time, it was probably a storm or something wrong at the power plant. It wasn’t really anything to worry about.  He figured that he’d just go back to his hotel room and like watch TV (until he remembered that he couldn’t do that) or take a nap and then once he’d wake up the power would be back.  Which would be easier if he could remember how to get to get to his room in the first place. It’d be a lot easier if the lights were on. 

“Um…hi?” Constantin said, wincing at the light that was suddenly in his eyes, “Are you looking for how to get to your room too?”

Constantin. Definitely not who she had expected to run into, although she wasn’t exactly sure who she was expecting. She lowered her flashlight and finally let herself take a deep breath. It was probably foolish letting her guard down at a moment like this, but she was no good to anyone if she was this tense. It was easy to spiral in darkness. 

“Hi, Constantin.” She chuckled without smiling. “Uh, no, but I’m guessing you’re lost. Do you need some help?”

harley: the pots around it

harley: just the pots

harley: i don't know how no one's seen it before

harley: was it moved???

adina: probably.

adina: was there blood on the pots, too?

harley: about an hour ago?

harley: it was in the kitchen cupboard with all of the pots

harley: at the very back

adina: did you touch anything else?

adina: don't touch anything else.

“Excuse me,” he extends long winding arms out to try and shelter his precious eyes from being blinded. He barely notices who it is until he finally glances through his fingertips to the person that’s currently trying to leave him senseless, “Jesus Christ, why do you have a flash light?”

Admittedly, now is a good time to have a flashlight. Now is a good time to be able to see in the dark. Chandler isn’t thinking about the fact someone amongst them is out there killing people, though. He isn’t even thinking about the fact this may have been planned. Of course those two thoughts are not spared in a mind as cluttered and narrow as his, he looks at Adina now the light is lowered and he can actually see, “Bloody great, now I can’t even go and steal the minis from the hotel room, can I? You’ll be the first to rat me out.”

“Chandler?” She lowered her flashlight and had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. There was a strange relief in her constant annoyance with her ex because it was predictable even if their relationship had not been. He wouldn’t have a flashlight. She would. A more subtle example of their yin and yang. 

“I think the better question is: why don’t you know after all our time together that I always try to be prepared for any situation, especially with a killer loose?” She fought back another eye roll. 

With every word out of his mouth, it was getting significantly more difficult not to give into the comfort of simple irritation and when he admits to wanting to steal hotel supplies, she finally gives in. A full eye roll. “That’s seriously what you’re thinking about right now?” Of course, it is. 

harley: So

harley: I found something you may want to see:

harley: [insert picture of a trophy with dried blood on the bottom and the words 'MOST MOVING PERFORMANCE: EMILIO ATHANAS' inscribed on its surface]

adina: where did you find this?

She didn’t want to admit it, but the blackout had terrified her. It wasn’t a surprise. In fact, she thought it might happen sooner. Darkness always made the world a criminal’s playground. That was basic criminal 101. Maybe knowing that was what terrified her. Anything could happen. With every step, even with her flashlight, she felt like her heart was beating so loud, she could hardly hear anything else. That was probably why she hadn’t heard her phone constantly buzzing in her purse. It was just a distraction, or white noise, from anything else that might be going on. 

When she finally pulled her phone out of her bag, it had just been to check the time. It was a silly habit. She had a watch, but sometimes just looking at the time on her phone grounded her back into reality and out of her head. Not this time. This time she got hit with an influx of notifications. 12 missed calls. 

“Shit, shit, shit.” What the hell is going on? She frantically called back, hoping to get an answer. She knew, to get that many calls, it wasn’t good. She just hoped she’d called back in time to hear whatever it was sooner rather than later. “Come on. Answer.”

Orien: Anyone pack candles? Lol