#interaction.thea

“So, how’s your mom feeling about the re-election coming up?” Cora questioned, sipping on the large lemonade in her hands between sentences, the sounds of rushing rides and screaming people the perfect soundtrack to a good day. “If Kathleen had re-elections every few years to worry about, I think she’d lose her mind.” An amused huff of laughter fell from her lips as she nudged Thea’s shoulder with her own before glancing around as she searched for a ride to allow them to fall victim to. There were roller coasters and round ups galore, but she was searching for something faster, more dizzying, louder. Maybe then the thoughts of the man they had in common would be drowned out. “Okay, how about that one?” She pointed toward a ride in the distance that seemed to be slinging people around based on gravity alone, a mischievous grin curving on her lips. “Could be fun?”

There were so many high-priced bakeries in Summit Lake, ones that she in fact liked to frequent, but none of them really compared to the comfort that long-running Lucky Joe’s gave her as soon as she walked in. The atmosphere was warm and bustling that early in the morning, the air smelled like fresh-brewed black coffee, a favorite morning habit of her mom’s, and bagels and cream cheese for days. Really, really good bagels and cream cheese, in fact. “So tell me,” She questioned, finally grabbing her cinnamon raisin bagel from the pick-up counter, already slathered with a thick serving of a brown sugar cream cheese. “What’s going on in the world of Thea these days? Still working your life away at that bar? Which is... really cool, by the way. I was at the masquerade event and it was absolutely gorgeous. Minus the split second when a guy spilled a drink on my dress, but it’s not like I paid for it anyway and the guy was kind of cute.” Her nose scrunched endearingly, thinking of the budding friendship she ended up with because of the spilled drink.

Pizza was his one true love; which was a shame coming from a food culture with some of the best flavors on this side of the planet, but it is what it is and Sammy relented to being a sucker for a good slice of cheese pizza. Especially when it came from a local phenomenon like Basic Kneads. Now that the joint was back open, he'd been at least three times in the last week alone, making the moment he walked through the doors this time his fourth. No shame, he reminded himself as he wandered through the tiny dining area to reach the counter to order. His gaze landed on a familiar face just in front of where he stopped and his lips curved into a grin, "Well, if it isn't Thea Harris as I live and breathe."

Sage followed along as Maggie skipped along ahead, light blonde hair twisted into a braid as her linen dress ruffled about in the breeze she left behind, both taking in the events happening around them. The older blonde had never stepped foot in a renaissance faire before that day and if it weren't for being asked to drop the little girl off with her father who was somewhere within the event, she probably wouldn't have even noticed it was happening. Yet, she couldn't help but be fascinated with how many people seemed to turn up and go all in for it, glancing around at the unfamiliar faces and admiring their costumes, until one in particular caught her eye. "Thea!" Sage called out, then speaking up for Maggie to come back to her for a moment, stopping when the toddler was at her legs to glance over the fellow bar owner and friend. "I really didn't expect to see anyone I know here. You look... amazing."

“I’ve never felt this bored, like, in my entire life,” Cora whined, placing her chin on the cool bar top, drink in her hand yet no motivation to actually drink any of her. Her gaze landed on her friend across the bar, a pout curving on her lips. “It’s like, what do I do, y’know? I’m always just around. I ran out of money to do anything that’s actually fun awhile ago and it’s not like I’m going to go back to my parents and ask for an allowance, that would totally be giving Kathleen exactly what she’s wanted for years now. My dad sends me a little here and there, but after I’m done paying for all of the necessities, there’s not much leftover. No trips across oceans or spa packages or weekends in the mountains.” A long sigh followed her complaint. “Just leave me here, Thea, wasting away to nothingness seems fitting.”

“How did I not expect you to show up,” Cora stated, a grin growing on her face as she noted her best friend approaching the vowel renewal venue. She couldn’t help but to leave Markus behind for a moment, allowing him to find his own way as she spoke to Thea. “So this is like, wedding-official now, hm? You better be careful, I spotted Kathleen on the way in and wherever Kathleen is we knew Mama Harris isn’t too far behind.” She hummed, their mothers always more attached at the hip than she and Thea turned out to be, but she liked to think that she and the woman beside her still turned out close enough to share things like who they’re into and what they’re up to.

Cora was always bouncing back and fourth between hairstyles, always in the market for the best product, never being able to make up her mind. A very fitting trait for her personality, finding it easy to want this or that, yet never truly sticking to one thing. Maybe it was way she loathed the sedimentary family lifestyle of her parents, always looking somewhere for excited, chasing the next shot of adrenaline, from the moment she turned eighteen. That particular day she had wandered into the salon in Summit Lake, hoping to scope out the new hottest hairstyle, deciding she was board of her current one when she woke up that morning and only found existential dread when looking in the mirror. Of course, Cora figured that might have less to do with her hairstyle and more to do with the downward spiral her life had done since she turned eighteen, but a hairstyle was much easier to fix. The woman at the check-in desk pointed her toward the waiting area, asking her to have a seat until her time slot was ready, and so she took a seat, unknowingly sitting near a familiar face, one that brought an amused grin to her lips when she recognized the woman. “Thea Harris,” She greeted, settling in with a magazine on her lap. “Fancy seeing you here.”

The entire city seemed to know who Thea was, including her boyfriend, who mentioned knowing of the woman just a few days prior and hinted at Cora potentially getting to know her (for what seemed like a possible interest in running for mayor in the upcoming re-election himself). Of course, she was sure that his definition of getting to know the woman hadn’t been screwing her, but what can she say? What started as a friendly chat at Holy Spirits led to one thing and then another and who was she to resist a good time? Providence Peak seemed like a good time if you were interested in running into your ex-wife who just randomly showed up in the same city as you or rekindling some kind of love-hate relationship. Compared to the life Cora had prior to showing up, the hustle and bustle of traveling (and even the ever-thrilling life of being in lock up), she was bored and what better way to cure boredom than to go snooping for information on someone under the guise of something else? It had always been her favorite game to play. Getting laid was just... an extra special bonus, but she didn’t let it distract her from her ultimate goal of getting to know more about Thea and as she made her way back from the bathroom toward the bed, her gaze fell on the few family photos the woman had set up. “Are these your parents?” She questioned, gently picking up the frame before glancing at the woman. “Cute. Who would’ve guessed the mayor’s daughter is out here slinging bottles in a church for a living, which is super cool in it’s own right. I’ve traveled a lot and I’ve never really seen a bar like yours out there.”