#nomadelaide

Lupe had thought she had seen Addie before earlier that week but she had passed by so quickly it just felt like one of those deja vu moments. Like watching a memory in real time and as the week went on, Lupe had forgotten about it. Until she was standing at the register looking out the window and saw a familiar face walking down the block. It was unmistakable now. Her face, her walk, her everything. Lupe didn't always remember things but she remembered people. Or at least she tried to and she was pretty sure she would never forget Addie. Mostly because Lupe could never forget her time in Morocco. She had the tattoos to commemorate it and everything.

She was quick to call back to Copper that she'd be right back as she ran out of the store, hoping to stop Addie before she got to far. "Adelaide!" She called out, mostly to shock her into stopping before she was smiling in her direction. "It is you! I thought my eyes were deceiving me but look at you, here in front of me." Lupe slowed to a stop, pausing to catch her breath as she took Addie in. "I prefer looking at you under the sun but I suppose the gloomy backdrop of Cardinal Hill has it's certain charms too," she teased, still not able to believe it.

Fall had always been best enjoyed by Eden in the park with a Jane Austen book, normally Pride and Prejudice, her body leaning against a tree that was a mix of orange, yellow, and greens. Everything was changing, not only the seasons but the way that she felt about life itself. She'd often get like this, all melancholy about what the future held, being pessimistic until something proved otherwise. But then she thought of the night at the carnival with Monte, and warmth quickly replaced all the coldness that caused her worry.

The sound of footsteps pushed her out of her head. Her attention now turned to Addie, Eden couldn't help but smile. The two of them had a lot in common back in school, both coming from big families that possessed magic abilities. It had always been a comfort to have someone to talk to about those types of things, and when Addie would ask for any help at school, Eden was quick to offer. Cupping her hand over her eyes to block the sun, she waved the woman in her direction. "Addie, hey, how are you?"

Located at Hometown Grocers

Eve hadn't been holding their breath to see Addie walk through the door of their cafe but on the day that she did, they had woken up with a feeling that a shift was in the air. To be fair they had been feeling it since their brother had returned home but that was something they still weren't willing to fully unpack. They yearned to talk to someone about it, to have someone understand and see them but at the moment they didn't have enough trust. Especially when people seemed to love their brother, missed him even and they didn't want to ruin whatever community he had left here. Despite it all, they loved and cared about him. But this wasn't about him and as they finished going through the morning rush with their team, their eyes drifted to the door as it opened and let in the cool air. They tried not to seem surprised, more pleased as Addie walked in and when she looked over at Eve, they pretended they didn't see her for a moment. "Addie!" They said, coming around the counter to greet her. "I was starting to think I imagined our conversation," a light tease as they pointed at a table near the window with a big comfy set of chairs near it. "How do you like your coffee? I'll have that out to you quick. Are you hungry? Please tell me you are, we just added a couple of new things," they told her and set it down on the table before taking a step back. "I'm glad you came."

"Your sister says we should start a club. The ones who leave and come back," Alex teased as he sat across from Addie at the Emerald Dragon. There were parts of him starting to wake up again, feel present even. He still felt somewhere caught in the ether, like his body was one place but his soul was in another. Being home was finally starting to help more than hurt and in that healing he was hoping to re-connect with people he hadn't seen in a long time. It was the least he could do, especially if he was forced to leave again. Alex couldn't even think that far ahead right now.

He set his chopsticks down to reach for his soda and smiled. "It's really good to see you, Addie. You uh adjusting okay to being back here? I'm not," he admitted with a laugh, feeling like she might understand where he was coming from. "But at least the food is delicious so that helps."

Lupe was sure she could have slept a lot longer, her body was exhausted. But when the sun started peeking through the blinds, it was enough for her to slowly start to wake up. But as she did, she was suddenly aware of the presence of someone else on the other side of her bed. The night came flushing back to her but there was no panic, instead a smile as she slowly turned her head on her pillow and found Addie next to her. She stayed there like that for a moment, letting the memories of the night play over in her mind, not an ounce of regret present. Still, she wasn't sure if Addie would feel the same sentiment when she woke up. So Lupe took in the quiet, before she reached out to gently brush Addie's hair from her face and followed it up with a kiss to her forehead. "Morning, sunshine," she told her softly and pulled away to lie flat on her back. "Did you sleep alright?"

"You know, not to be sentimental but you being here has been one of my best birthday gifts this year." Eve smiled as they joined Addie on one of the couches in their living room. Their house was full of all of their dear ones, they were somewhere in a nice balance of intoxicated and had just smoked with their brother so they were in their sappy part of the night. Making sure that the people there knew that Eve valued their place in Eve's life. Eve was caring but sometimes sentiment of real depth didn't come as easily off the bat. At this time of year though, Eve found themselves being so happy to be alive they wanted to celebrate everything that made it possible. And their community was a big part of that.

"Please tell me you've had enough food and libations, there's so much so just know I will be sending you home with leftovers."

After a long phone call with Addie, Eleanor was filled in on all the changes in her friend's life. Many of them had been ones that she'd really hoped for; all Nell wanted for her friends was for them to be happy. To see themselves the same way she saw them. She knew that the people close to her would have to feel negative emotions, as being alive required a lot of hardship. The two of them grew much closer after their talk in her office. It was then that it was confirmed that magic was real, and all the lore that surrounded Cardinal Hill was so much more than that. Knowing now that it was history allowed Nell to go into one of her favorite modes, research. Looking into everything she could, the pieces fell into place.

A favor had been put in, something that Nell normally didn't try to do, but this one felt needed, and she had to use her perks of knowing so many people for something. She'd been helping with some wellness workshops and remembered Addie speaking about her past with dancing. It felt like the perfect time to ask to use the studio for a few hours and also continue helping with people's wellness. Although she pretended to be a ballerina, Eleanor was far from one. However, she thought it wouldn't hurt to try, and since she was so inexperienced, it might help Addie relax.

When the two made their way to the front doors, she smiled brightly at the other and took out the key. "I pulled some favors and got us the studio for a few hours. Thought you might want to teach me some tricks on how to be a sturdier dancer." Before placing the key in the lock, she turned to face Addie, her face softened as her head tilted. "Or is this too much? Cause we can do something else if you'd like."