sage magoro

Mick was quick to follow suit out of the cruiser as they approached the scene. “Yeah! There’s a fucking problem, this bitch won’t let me in for service unless I’m wearing a fucking muzzle like half he sheep in this town.” She recognized the man even before she got a good look at him. “Ease up, Danny boy. Your brother’s badge hasn’t quite been able to excuse his mouth as of late, I don’t think you’ll be getting away with trying to shield yours behind that either.” The man seemed visibly deflate as he took note of the Sheriff.

She turned to Sage and said, “This fella here is Daniel Foyer, the younger brother of one our junior deputies, David Foyer.” She made sure to emphasize ‘junior’ as a reminder to Danny that his brother was still, in fact, holding the same rank as when he began his career 20 years ago. Turning back to he man she simply said, “This is a privately owned business that can dictate how, and to whom, they render services to. They are in no way obligated to cater to you. I on the other hand, am a civil servant. I am obligated to serve the town and its people. And seeing as you’re currently very much breaking the town’s mask mandate by standing less than 6 feet from multiple people without a mask, I’ll have to ask you to please step inside the back of my vehicle….unless you’d like me to get the cuffs.” As he begrudgingly climbed into the backseat of the cruiser he shot out, “I didn’t even vote for you.” To which Mick just shot back, “Yeah, well. your mom did,” and shut the door.

Sage was not at all pleased with this Daniel Foyer and it was clear that he was on some power trip solely because his own brother was a deputy albeit a junior role. Regardless, she let Michaela handle him since she did have higher authority over all of them and focused her attention on her own staff instead, checking to make sure they’re alright. It looked like Cat was the first person to talk with him before the others came in to help after they realized what was happening. She looked around and eventually spotted the girl hugging that dog of hers who always follow her around. It looked like she was uninjured so that was a good sign. The chef will have to check up on her personally after they’re done with this.  “I did not foresee that you’d have to be doing your job when bringing me back.” She sighed as she watched the man in the backseat glaring back at her. “Thank you. For handling that.” 

“Oh, I think your staff is perceptive enough to know when I’m studying their every move and when I’m watching a master of their craft at work,” Mick said with small chuckle, eyes never leaving the road. “As for young Miss Rodriguez, she and I go way back. She knows that as long as I don’t see her with a spray paint can in hand, anywhere near private property, without the proper permits and permissions….she’s got nothing to worry about from me.”

“If you say so.” Though one could barely hear it, there was a subtle playful tone in her words, “I.. had no idea. She did say she liked painting and a canvas was simply too small to draw one. Apparently a wall is much preferred despite her.. petite size.” She sighed, “Please don’t come arresting the girl at the restaurant if it happens.” When they neared the restaurant, she spotted a small commotion at her entrance. Her eyes narrowed as she waited until the car stopped to get out to approach the scene. “Is there a problem?”

“Best approach, to anything really,” Mick agreed. She herself had one hell of a week that just seemed to be never ending at this point, but at least there was some reprieve in the few hours of slumber between each day.

She let out a chuckle at the dig, and said, “I find that a near empty dining area makes it far easier to be able to actually see the kitchen and truly appreciate the artistry and skill that goes into each dish.”

Sage looked out the window, subtle smile still there. “Careful, the staff might think you’re just making sure we don’t poison your food with how you’re gawking in our direction.” She mused, “Don’t scare my staff, please. Especially Catalina.” That girl was just a bundle of pure joy so similar to her sister but Sage had a feeling that the girl was very nervous when it came to speaking directly with her. Surely Sheriff Miller would have the same effect. 

Mick hummed and said, “In this town? That’s actually far more likely than you think. I suppose the only semblance of reassurance I can provide is that anything that you witness happen from here on out, would’ve happened all the same only now you have a bit more information with which to approach it. As opposed to some of the mundane old-timers who genuinely just think we get a lot of shitty storms…”

As they pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street, Mick just chuckled and said, “I might just have to start coming in for an early lunch instead of a late dinner then.”

Sage had half a mind to just move out of town but she had her restaurant - and she had a feeling that Hunter wouldn’t want to move either so the only thing she could do was just - deal with it.  Still, with this knowledge, she had no idea how she was supposed to help in terms of being a council member. “I’m just going to take it a day at a time.” No point in fretting over something she couldn’t control. 

She threw a glance at the Sheriff, smiling at the comment. “Was that what you’ve been doing? Here I thought you just wanted to stop us from closing early.” 

“Trust me, there’s at least a handful that would forever sing your praises if you managed to get them out of doing whatever it is they need to be doing at this time,” Mick grumbled, knowing her team like the back of her hand. “But, I can also understand the desire to take it a step at a time and needing some time to process. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t caught completely off guard, given that your first Council meeting will be Friday.”

At the mention of needing to head back, Mick sat up in her chair and said, “Oh, right. Shit, sorry. Forgot I technically only borrowed you.” Standing up, she grabbed her keys and began to lead them back towards the cruiser. “I do hope your boss isn’t too upset with me.”

Sage was sure the other wasn’t lying, but didn’t comment on it. Surely her own staff had moments when they’d rather have their jobs be interrupted for other things. “Well, I’m sure I’ll still be taken off guard one way or the other. Even if Nikita somehow shifted in front of me - again.” She sighed, already not looking forward to the coming meeting. However, Sage wasn’t one to complain and to just... power through it so this meeting was going to be treated the same. 

“Fortunately, the customers don’t come in until later.” The morning was really prepping for the afternoon and evening. There may be a couple of people who waltz in during the day, but those could be covered by anyone. It’s only later when the kitchen really needed everyone on deck.” 

Mick grinned and said, “I mean, if you need further means by which to find a bit more believable, I have an entire team on the force that would likely be here with just a simple text…” Not that the Sheriff blamed her, of course. Evan in her own situation, Mick had taken at least a full 24 hours to really process everything and let her new reality sink in. Hell, even years later she was still finding out new things.

Her brow furrowed at the mention of supervision. “Oh, you mean because of Kyle? Trust me, there’s no better stop-gap for that little lady than Niki herself, so they should be fine.” ‘Should’ being the operative word…

Sage gave a hint of a smile, “As incredible as this is, it’d be rude of me to pull everyone from what they’re doing just to do show and tell.” In time, she’ll have to get used to it. Something told her that even if she witnessed everyone’s secret, she will still have a hard time believing it. “For now, I think Nikita’s demonstration will suffice.” 

The chef gave the Sheriff a look, not completely believing her but there wasn’t much she could do except hope that Hunter will behave... enough. Just thinking about it had Sage giving out a tired sigh. “Hopefully.” Shaking her head, she straightened her back. “Well, I should be heading back.” 

“Enthusiasm for the supernatural world doesn’t always translate to something benign,” she stated, her tone even and matter-of-fact. If anyone would know, it would be her after all. “However, I shall trust the word of all three present here and assume there is no threat to consider.” Glancing down at the red panda still in her arms, she maneuvered the critter into her jacket and zipped it up to keep her mostly hidden. “If we’re done here, I think I’ll go ahead and get her back to the lab where she’ll be able to relax a bit more and hopefully change back so she can start on some of those pending diagnostics.”

With that, Kyle stood and headed out of the office, looking like a either a pregnant woman about to pop or someone who just indulged a little too much at dinner…

Sage watched the two exit the room, leaving just her and the sheriff alone. “I saw it happen before my eyes but still, it was unbelievable.” It literally happened in a flash that Sage wouldn’t have believed Nikita shifted if she didn’t speak. A talking red panda. Sage was completely mind-blown to say the least. “Perhaps someone should oversee when Hunter meets Nikita...” Kyle’s mention of addressing the ‘issue’ was a bit concerning despite not fully understand what she meant exactly. 

A look of confusion crossed her features as she glanced between the Sheriff and the Chef, her hands never pausing in their soothing motions. “What’s the problem with the sister then?” she asked. “Is she a matter of concern? Because if she can’t be trusted, and you foresee it being an issue, I can address it…” Kyle trailed off knowing Mick would know exactly what she meant. The hunter knew there were possible threats in their midst on the regular, and some were just not within the margin’s of law enforcement or the Council to properly address. She herself had no qualms about it though.

“T-There’s a problem with H-Hunter?” She frowned as she sat there without intentions of moving from her spot for as long as Kyle was going to carry her. “I..I thought she was pretty fr-friendly.” She glanced up at her friend, then over to the Sheriff. “At least.. wh-when I talked with her…” She mumbled. “She’s friends with Luke and.. and the others.. S-surely, that’s n-not a bad sign.”

Picking up on what Kyle was putting down, Mick was quick to shake her head and say, “No! Hunter is not a problem. As a matter of fact, she’s already been made aware of the supernatural, the only thing we’re aiming to keep from her is the fact that Sage is apparently capable of a range of emotions. Something I’m glad to see you’ve been working on yourself, since you at least bothered to ask about addressing the problem instead of just doing so…”

Turning back over to the chef, she asked, “So…any questions come to mind?”

“If anything, my sister would be very enthusiastic about all of this.” She sighed, “But I promise, she means no harm.” Her sister wouldn’t hurt a sole, unintentionally.. the girl was very clumsy at times that it stressed Sage out. Her eyes turned to the Sheriff when she was prompted for questions.  “I.. no.” Well, that wasn’t quite true, however she had a feeling that asking how shifting logically works probably won’t get her any answers that would make sense to her other it just being ‘magic’.  “Just even seeing this in person is.. unbelievable.”

Kyle was already in motion before the binder even made contact with the desk, and had her arms out at the ready to catch the falling red panda that seemed to have replaced her friend in the blink of an eye. “Unfortunately, startling her seems to be one thing that still has her default to reflexively shifting into her smaller form. We’ve been working on minimizing the situations in which she randomly pops out an extra furry ear or what have you, and it just seems the better she got at that the more this became the go-to. Bit messed innit?” she asked rhetorically, already running a soothing hand up and down the furball’s back.

Nikita whined as she cuddled into Kyle’s arm, which had been her comfort zone since the first time she shifted before the other. “That… t-that doesn’t m-mean you n-need to scare me into s-shifting.” The girl was sulking because she was sure that she would shift if they asked her to if the point was to show Sage - although she might feel a bit shy because she didn’t know the chef very well, and it was just weird having someone watch you shift. “I..Is this .. w-why you wanted t-to see us?” The red panda just melted with all the scratches and the rubs she was getting. This wasn’t all that bad. 

“It’s just so much faster when you do it as a defense reflex. And come on, let’s be honest, it’s not like you’re not enjoying Hayworth’s patented comfort techniques to help you calm back down,” Mick pointed out. “I mean, there’s a reason I called you both in here.”

The sheriff turned her attention to Sage, who seemed to have already gotten acquainted with the critter. “If your sister could see you now, she might throw a fit.”

Watching their furry friend snuggle into Kyle was very endearing that Sage eventually stopped scratching Nikita’s ear and took a step back. As cute as the red panda was - and one she could look at so up close, Sage did not forget that this was still the young forensics she was talking to just a moment ago. Although it was rather jarring to be hearing and seeing the panda speaking to them, she was sure that treating the other like an actual animal was a bit insulting. 

“Let’s not mention it to her..” She shifted her focus to the sheriff. “Hunter would never drop it.” Sage could already imagine the giddy smile her sister would sport once she learns of today’s event. 

No sooner had she received the text message from her boss, than Kyle had begun the process of cleaning up, knowing it would only be a matter of minutes before a certain someone came bursting into the morgue -forgetting what a morgue was used for- and that was not how she wanted to start off her morning,

Finishing up just in time for Nikki to come rushing in, it took another ten minutes to talk the shifter down and convince her to just make their way over to the Sheriff’s office. As they sat their, Kyle once again said, “Whatever she wanted us here for, I genuinely don’t think it’s about being in trouble mate. If that were the case, you wouldn’t be here.”

Nikita was just working on a case when the text came in. Although it wouldn’t be the first time she received a text from the other, they were mostly about reports and results. Rarely it was to tell her to meet at her office. And without any reasons following that text either! Nikita wasn’t going to text back and ask why so the first thing she did was to put away her files and report so to be safe. After she was done, she sped walk over to where her friend was. 

When she got there, Kyle already knew what she was going to say and had been trying to calm her all the way to said office. “What if.. if w-we did something wrong a-and we just didn’t know? L-like a miss in a report or something..b-but it… it turned about to be a v-very serious problem? What if we’re getting f-fired? I don’t.. d-don’t want to be fired. I r-really like this job!” 

“No one is getting fired today,” she called out from the now open door. “…well at least no one in this office at this current moment. We’ve still got an entire day’s worth of work and a new Chief Deputy who is much, much, less amenable to some of the guys’ remarks than the Kid was so…” She shook her head as she stepped in after Sage and closed the door behind them, making suer all the office blinds were down and closed.

Mick turned back to ‘Odd Couple’ before her and knowing that Niki was probably already on edge, she just randomly picked a binder from her shelf and slammed it on her desk without warning right in front of the shifter, as she looked to Kyle and said, “Catch!”. Meaning, of course, that she catch the now flailing red panda. “Fun fact, Niki holds the record for fastest shift into her animal form in the entire town.”

Her eyes widened at the site before her. Although seeing Nikita turn in almost the speed of light, surely this wasn’t the best way to be getting the other to turn. Was it? Sage actually felt bad for the other when the Sheriff deliberately surprised her in order for this to work. “Oh.” However, she assumed that this was what Kyle was here for as the woman was already calming down the shivering red panda in her arms. “Must you scare her?” She sighed as she took a careful step towards Nikita. 

She definitely looked like a real animal but Sage was having troubles wrapping this around her head even though she saw the woman shift before her eyes. “That’s.. incredible.” She whispered as she raised a hand towards the other, only stopping just before she could actually touch her. “May I?” The red panda nodded and the chef carefully petted the animal, almost instinctively scratching behind the ears.

As she began to pull out of the parking spot, and headed in the direction of the station, Mick glanced over at Sage and said, “I’ve gone ahead and texted Nikki Myers and Kyle Hayworth to meet us in my office. There’s plenty of people who I’m sure would be willing to help in the department, but just as many -if not more- that are still very much in the dark about everything.”

The drive was a rather short one, all things considered. Mick figured the lack of traffic was due to the early hours, which also would explain why the department was a little scarce. It was a good thing though, less people in the station, the less she had to worry about at the moment. She did still pop in on the new Deputy to loop her in and have her keep an eye out. Opening the door to her office, she held the door open for the chef. “After you.”

Sage glanced back, surprised that it was going to be Kyle and Nikita whom she was going to meet. “Would it be better if I knew what they are prior to the meeting? Or at least, what I will be seeing?” Could one tell that Sage was not a fan of surprises? She really had no idea how to go about this since this was nothing she ever experienced before. Her sister would’ve been more excited but she wasn’t Hunter. 

Once they got to the station, the chef grew quiet as they went inside - already keeping an eye out for Nikita and Kyle. “Where are we doing this exactly?” It was odd, coming to the station. This might actually be the first time she ever approached this building altogether. 

Mick took the time the chef spent in the back sending out a few text messages to get things set up at the department. Mainly to Kyle and Nikki. The latter to be prepared to shift, and the former to be prepared to deal with Nikki once she shifted. She also sent one to Keagan to keep her in the loop of what would be happening elsewhere in the department. It was only fair that the new deputy be aware of what she’d gotten herself into.

As Sage walked back out, Mick picked up her stuff and nodded towards the door. “Come on, I’ll drive us there. I’m not in the squad car, so no worries, no one will think you’ve been arrested or anything.”

Sage simply nodded and walked with the sheriff towards the car. Although she didn’t have evidence against it, but she had a feeling that no one would suspect her to be arrested if she was riding in the back seat of a squad car. Her sister might find it hilarious, but let’s not entertain that if she could avoid it. 

“So.. who would I be meeting up with for this.. reveal?” There were only a few people she knew who worked at the department and Sage did not spend her time guessing who’s what like Hunter had been trying to do. 

“That’s a very fair point, though in all actuality isn’t that how we as humans end up encountering each new thing in the world around us? I thin the main difference here, is that there are two parties whose well being hangs in the balance when it comes to this particular ‘discovery’ and that would be the unsuspecting human coming up against a world of beings far stronger than themselves and the beings themselves who are at risk of the unsuspecting human’s fear and reaction.”

At the question of what time would be best to visit the department, she glanced at her watch and said, “Now would work, if your boss is okay with you taking the time, of course.”

Sage only pointed a look towards the Sheriff. This visit was really going to be a test for how well she can hold her expression no matter how what she was going to see. Now she could only hope she didn’t hurt anyone’s feeling. “Oh.” She had not expected she would suggest now to be the best time but it was still early and her staff were all here in the back prepared to open anyways.” Very well. Let me just drop this in the back.” She walked to the back to drop off the rag and also pick up her belongings, telling Hunter that she’ll be back soon - maybe. Not long after, she reappeared. 

Mick meet her gaze and simply replied, “No, there really isn’t. But, at least in this manner it will be a more controlled situation. It’s never ideal to pull the veil back and show a person there’s an entirely other world coexisting with theirs but, at least from personal experience, it’s best to know about it and then see it than to witness it at its worst and learn about it that way.” The manner in which she earned her title and current position was something still very much haunted Michaela’s idle thoughts.

She smiled, not really having expected anything else. “Well, I suppose we’ll just have to agree to disagree on that front, but the truth of the matter is that if Ollie himself is considers you have something to bring to the table, then the least you could do is humor him.”

 Sage nodded, “I doubt there are many things that would bode over well if someone sees the worst of it without a clue what to expect.” She cleared her throat as she turned around to walk over to the next table to clean up, “Well, what’s a good time to visit the Sheriff’s Department?” The chef figured they should at least plan a date instead of spontaneously showing up and asking them to reveal their other form. 

The chef couldn’t help but feel like it must have been out of desperation that the mayor decided to reveal such news at a Halloween party of all places - especially when the Sheriff is now telling her that there were supposed to be a few protocols before one knew about this world. “I guess we’ll see how this goes...”

“I’ve come to notice that. She seems to really be in her element when she’s doing the ghost stuff,” Mick noted, having watched a few of the woman’s videos leading up to their ‘visitors’ arriving. “If she wasn’t inclined to believe they existed before, I’m sure she certainly is now…”

Mick nodded and said, “If visual proof is what it will take for you to begin to process this in earnest, you should come with me back to the station, I know a few folks who would have no issue with you learning of their supernatural nature and would likely be able to provide the needed proof.” At the mater of not knowing how she could help, Mick chuckled and said, “You’ve become a pillar of the community as a whole, you ‘help’ run a successful business in town, if anyone would be able to provide the Council with an earnest perspective of how things are perceived by the human community in town, it’s you. Believe me, that’s a lot more help than you might ever know.”

“Yes.. she is.” Sage wouldn’t be able to answer if that was a good thing or not. She was just satisfied that Hunter wasn’t causing too much trouble. She did have a bit of trust in Luke because the girl did have the braincell sometimes. Not all the times, but still better than none. 

The owner of the restaurant felt a bit apprehensive - mostly because she genuinely had no idea how she’d react whether for good or for worse.  “...There is no method to be mentally prepared to see what I’m assuming I’ll see.” She crossed her arms, rag still in hand, “I’m mostly in the kitchen. And Hunter is more of the social butterfly. If you recall, I was simply existing at the counter until you joined me.”

“I do appreciate them but, not as much as the simple fact that ever since your sister has taken to honing her baking skills, she’s managed to stay out of half the trouble she and the Ginger Giant normally manage.” Mick had gotten to know both women and knew they were generally harmless, but that didn’t mean it made it easy on her end of things when they managed to get caught trespassing or doing something stupid for the internet.

She let out a chuckle and said, “Well, depending on who you went up to, you might not have to ask to get the goods. Though, I was more so  wanting to make sure that you were actually processing it at all. You strike me as the kind of person to want to take the most pragmatic approach and not spend too much time on something, only for it to occasionally backfire.” The question she got let Mick know that even if a bit at a time, Sage was definitely working to actively acknowledge their reality. “It really depends on how he person came to find out about the supernatural world. I think you and Hunter are the first that I’ve ever heard of getting to learn about it from the town’s mayor at a Halloween party.”

“I will have to agree with that.” If not for the potential of the business, it was surely so that Sage could keep an eye on Hunter and not worry about the other getting in any trouble aside from setting an oven on fire. Maybe. At least it gave her sister something to focus on. “She does do well when she focuses.” 

There was a subtle smile on her lips “I may be but honestly, it doesn’t even feel real for me to wrap my mind around it.” She commented. “I don’t think anyone would expect to learn about this at a Halloween party that their sister insisted they went. Not quite sure how I would be of any assistance.” Hunter was more willing to help. Sage liked to keep to her own business.