suspicious minds

Oh, look! It’s [TABITHA DYER]! I heard they’re [45], a [FEMALE], use [SHE/HER] pronouns, have been in town for [TWO YEARS] and are actually from [CINCINNATI, OHIO]. They are currently working as a/an/the [MANAGER AT MERMAID’S ALCOVE] and living in [OLD BRIDGEPORT]. You know, I personally think they look like [CARLA GUGINO], but that’s crazy, right?

“I wouldn’t say I’m in need.” Nia spoke, taking a look at the item in her hand before she spoke again, really admiring the work that someone had put into it. “Granted, the bow is at least pretty, but, one spill of a red wine or one snag of the fabric and I think it would be ruined. Granted, it is cheap, but I don’t know if it’s worth it.” she shrugged. “But you don’t think it’s worth it? I’ve never really owned one, and I’m more than okay with red or green for Christmas events if necessary.” she admitted. “What’s your typical go to for holiday functions?”

Tabitha smiled at the woman. “If you’re having this much of a debate about it, you might as well get it. I think that means you want it and need it,” she pointed out before looking back to the rack of clothing. “The bow is definitely unique, so you should get it.” She seemed like the kind of woman who could pull it off. “Me? Oh, I’m a big fan of green and red. Silver, occasionally too. Gets me away from my usual black and more neutral colors too.” 

Jamey was wiping down the counter near the cash register when Tabitha showed up. He kept cleaning the countertop while she asked about the morning. His large shoulders went up in a shrug while he answered, “Pretty good, I guess. The usual. Emily was late again, but y’know what’s new.” The breakfast rush was nothing Jamey couldn’t handle on his own nowadays, but having help was always good. Honestly, Jamey didn’t mind working mornings to have the rest of the day off. “Look, the Joneses are the cutest couple in this town. I don’t mind them coming in here telling me they get this lifetime Bridgeport resident discount everywhere else gives them.” He said and the goofy smile came across his face.

Tabitha was happy to be at work. She liked her job, and genuinely enjoyed talking to people, seeing as she was a very social creature. “I’m really not surprised, I’ll have to talk to her about it because we really can’t be having that when we are slammed in the mornings,” she said, grabbing a few of the things she would need for the day. Then, she let out a laugh. “I’ve never heard of a lifetime Bridgeport resident discount, so that’s hilarious that they call it that,” she said, shaking her head. “You can take a break in like ten minutes, if you want? I don’t mind stepping in for a bit.” 

Where: Lighthouse Cafe

“Hey, how did the morning go?” Tabitha asked Jamey, raising a brow. She had just gotten in for lunch rush, that was usually when she was most needed as manager. The breakfast crowd was usually pretty tame, and she wasn’t much of a morning person anyway so it all worked out for her surprisingly. “Did that one older couple come back in and try to talk you into that discount that definitely don’t have?” 

a closed starter for tabitha ( @tabithadyer​ ) 

thomas   carried   a   large   plastic   bowl   of   soup   up   to   tabitha’s   door.   evan   (bless   him)   had   just   made   so   much   soup   for   the   family   and   friends.   a   smile   came   o   thomas’s   face   thinking   back   to   the   their   time   in   the   kitchen,   the   kisses,   the   dancing   and   of   course   just   being   next   to   their   soulmate.   thomas   blinked   out   of   the   memory,   laughing   at   how   they   had   probably   been   standing   there   for   probably   a   good   five   minutes   without   even   ringing   her   doorbell.   they   rose   their   hand,   pressing   the   button   and   taking   a   step   back   from   the   door.

      There were a few places in Bridgeport that he’d become accustomed to as a means to get away. Whether or not Cal could easily sink into the background and fade among the faces if it were busy, or sit in a quieter setting with the quiet din of only a few patrons, the Lighthouse Café had become the first and favorite of those little havens. Too often he sat with his MacBook open to continue color balancing and overall correcting hobby photos (never work photos) in a little corner, sipping away at a cup of coffee until it began to darken in the world outside. Today would be one such day, the pleasant fall atmosphere making it all the more welcoming to his attempts.

      He’d found a quiet sort of kinship with Tabitha, though over his one year here they were little more than acquaintances. He couldn’t quite place it —the something similar between them that had a silent sort of understanding. In too many instances, when faced with socializing, he felt himself brace inwardly, remember the practiced mannerisms of being a person … it came more naturally with Tabitha. He appreciated her approach. “Oh, hey Tabitha. ” Eyes shifted from the screen of his open Lightroom to her features and he offered her one of his more sincere smiles. “ It’s not so bad. Little colder than I’m used to lately, but I’ll live. Yours? ” A pause, as if he needed to consider what he’d order, “ Black coffee, little bit of sugar. Thank you. ”

Tabitha found Cal to be a very interesting person, and she had enjoyed getting to know him. Meeting people was the best part of her job, and for some reason, she was just able to vibe and understand them well. “Right? It’s starting to get chilly outside and I don’t know how I feel about it. I hate jackets,” she cringed. “It’s going well, thanks for asking. We’ve been busy but you picked a good time to come in because the rush just died down.” Hearing his order, she nodded. “Black coffee, a dash of sugar. You got it. Anything else or will that be it for now?” She asked, not needing to write that down. Even with more complex orders she didn’t really have to. 

thomas looked down at their outfit and then looked back up to tabitha. “i - well - one simply does not know when or where you will meet your next …  something in life, first impressions are everything,” thomas replied, somehow their warn and thinned english accent becoming heavier as they spoke. “oh god yes and not a moment too soon, this semester i agreed to an eight am lecture and i am shooting myself in the foot everyday for agreeing to it.”

“Actually, I think you would look weird in regular, non-high end clothing,” Tabitha said, changing her mind about things. Thomas had a very specific look, and it worked for them. Whereas, she would look pretty funny in clothing that wasn’t relaxed and bohemian. “Eight in the morning? That sounds absolutely brutal. At least you learned your lesson and probably won’t do it again, though. How is attendance?” 

Old Port Tavern  

@bridgeporthqstarters​

Status: Open

“Now see this, is more my speed.” She held up her beer to cheers before taking a generous gulp. “Unpopular opinion, thanksgiving is the best holiday because it’s about food. Family too, but mostly food. No one has to dress up, put out loads or decor or worry about gifts. She was never want to really celebrate holidays anyway, never having a reason to until now. Her daugher being back in her life meant she had reason to get a bit more excited.. “ I went to the halloween dance but left early. It’s all too loud and showy for me. The only thing I like about Halloween is the candy. What about you?”

Tabitha was very much a night owl, and she usually did hang out at the bars in Bridgeport during the evening. After taking a sip of her martini, the brunette glanced to the person next to her. “I’ll agree to that. Thanksgiving food is the best food,” Tabitha commended, nodding in agreement. The family part, however, she wasn’t so sure about. She didn’t exactly have one these days. She wasn’t on good terms with her parents, and hadn’t seen her siblings in years. “Yeah, that dance was interesting to say the least. Not my cup of tea either.” People’s costumes were amusing though. “I just like the tradition of All Hallows’ Eve. The history of it is pretty cool.” 

Where: Lighthouse Cafe

Tabitha was a couple of hours into her shift at the cafe when she spotted a familiar face. She had gotten to know Cal a bit from the times he had been in the cafe, and their paths had crossed in different places a few times since then. “I got this one,” she told one of her servers before she headed over to his table. “Hey, what can I get for you today, Cal?” Tabitha asked, a smile on her facial features. “Are you having a nice day so far?” She had time for some small talk and whatnot. The cafe wasn’t too busy, which meant for a nice little break. 

Harper loved this time of year. There was something about Halloween that made everyone’s artist side come out. She loved to see what sort of costumes people came up with. The woman had also decided she needed a nice big pumpkin to carve for the banana house.  “Sure, why not?” She replied as she figured that it couldn’t hurt. Harper was the type of person that found that sort of thing interesting, and of course was never one to turn down any sort of advice in her life.

As the young woman said yes to the reading, Tabitha gestured for her to follow her over to the picnic table. “Don’t worry, it’ll be free,” she assured her as she took out her cards and held them in her hands. “Spirit guides please be wiht us during this reading. We are looking for clear messages that will most benefit her highest destiny path,” Tabitha said out loud as she knocked the deck of cards into her hands three times. “Is there anything going on in your life that you’ve had questions about?” She asked, raising a brow. 

WHERE: Petting Zoo - Spooktacular WITH: Anyone/Open @bridgeporthqstarters​ NOTES: Capping at 5 since the event ends tomorrow! (0/5)

“I’m sorry, you’re going to have to excuse us. My four year old doesn’t have manners sometimes.” Anni apologized as she watched her daughter push through people to break the line for animal treats, desperate to feed a goat as if she hadn’t already fed one twice. “Hallie, come here please.” Anni called, moving and taking her daughter’s hand, escorting her to the back of the line. “We’re working on patience, I promise she gets told no, and even though we’ve done this four times now, she keeps coming back.” Anni laughed. “Maybe I can convince her to get food after this. What do you suggest that children enjoy?”

“It’s no problem,” Tabitha said, shrugging her shoulders. She didn’t mind children. She didn’t have any of her own, but didn’t dislike them. She just never had a desire to settle down and have children. “I like her personality, she seems like a little firecracker,” Tabitha commented, letting out a laugh. “That’s a great question, and to be honest with you, I have no idea. I think there’s a stand around here with chicken tenders and fries, those are usually a big hit with kids, right?” 

location: Scarefest! At Big Al’s Drive-In  status: open @bridgeporthqstarters

It was nice to live in a town with traditions. It felt safe to look forward to things. And every October, Fiona looked forward to watching scary movies with a big bucket of popcorn. So when the teen at the snack stand informed her the popcorn machine was broken, Fiona felt the familiar pang of disappointment. “Broken?” She repeated, her brow wrinkled with frustration. Quickly, the teen offered to upgrade her slushie drink to a bigger size. “Thanks,” Fiona said softly, walking away with her Cherry Blast slushie and longingly staring at the bucket of popcorn she passed by. As she sipped her slushie too fast, a sharp pain splintered her head, stopping her dead in her tracks. “Holy shit balls,” She exclaimed loudly, rubbing her forehead before smiling weakly at the person staring at her.

Tabitha had been at the drive in enjoying the film. She didn’t do much family stuff with her parents when she was growing up, but the drive in was one thing they did occasionally. It was nice to have those memories every now and then. Her childhood was pretty much a disaster besides that. Holding a bucket of popcorn, she watched as someone took a sip of a slushy and seemed to get a brain freeze. “You okay?” She asked, an amused smile on her facial features. “That’s the worst feeling, but sometimes you can’t help yourself because they taste so great.” 

thomas   looked   to   tabitha,   a   new   smile   coming   across   his   face.   thought   they   had   been   in   bridgeport   for   almost   twenty   years   they   sometimes   felt   like   a   fish   out   of   water.   it   was   a   weird   thing,   even   after   meeting   so   many   parents   and   many   of   them   becoming   friends.   he   knew   it   was   mostly   in   his   head,   but   either   way   thomas   welcomed   and   loved   tabitha’s   friendship.   “i   think   it   did   too,”   thomas   said,   laughing   and   shaking   his   head.   “oh   i   would   but   this   is   new   armani.”

Tabitha couldn’t help but roll her eyes when Thomas mentioned their outfit. “Why would you wear Armani to a pumpkin patch?” She asked, raising a brow. She had to tease them, she always did. “I don’t think I own any designer clothes, hell, I couldn’t even tell you where half of my clothes are even from.” Tabitha always had an eccentric style. “So, how are things going at work? Is the fall semester almost over?” 

Where: Pumpkin Patch

Tabitha had been spending the morning trying to see if anyone at the fall event would be interested in a free tarot card reading. It was almost Halloween, so she had gotten a few takers that were in the mood for it. Walking up next to someone, a smile appeared on Tabitha’s face. “Excuse me, are you interested in a free tarot card reading? I’m picking up on a strong energy from you,” Tabitha said. “No pressure, but if you have any questions or advice, the cards are always good to ask.”