VELLICXORE

Where: The Split Rail Saloon

FRANKIE had a hand hooked in the back of his friend’s jacket, keeping the guy upright before he could knock over another stool. He offered the surrounding people a tight, apologetic smile. “He's fine, he’s done,” Frankie said before his buddy could argue, steering him back a step. “I’ve been trying to tell him for the last twenty minutes," he muttered. His friend's slurred drunken words about the mayor echoed through the establishment and his grip tightened.

PEARL adjusted Karolina’s saddle strap, giving the girl a quick nod of encouragement. Guiding her in a slow circle, Pearl let a smirk play under the brim of her hat. “Saw someone today,” she said casually to him, letting the words hang. “Doesn’t mean it’s worth a whole story… unless you’re ready to guess who.” She rolled her eyes slightly, letting the pause stretch. “Though I guess you’ll figure it out eventually.”

closed starter for @vellicxore (pearl) WHERE: the overlook motel, highway between timber cove and montrose WHEN: late night

PEARL had grown to be a night owl, something inherited as a business owner. She had responsibilities and sometimes that included dropping off prospective clients at the end of the night, no matter how late. She watched the lighter flicker as she approached him, shaking her head at him, giving him a familiar shrug. “It’s a part of the job,” she said. Her gaze softened on him for a moment, memories of the dock flitting through her mind. “You always do like showing up when I least expect it,” she teased, tilting her head. "What are you doing out here?"

this place was way too fancy for him. niko wasn't quite sure what exactly led him to the vineyard, considering that he hadn't really set foot on it before. curiosity, maybe. nonetheless, it was quite relaxing, when he wasn't thinking about the fact that he felt like a fish out of water. "everything's nice. he replied, which was true. the wine was nice. though, he never really had bottles that were more than ten bucks anyways. "should i be going somewhere specific?" maybe there was a secret passage or something, and this was her subtle way of asking him to ask her about it.

SHE let her gaze sweep the vineyard before resting on Niko, noticing the slight hesitation in his posture. “Nothing in particular you need to find,” she said lightly, voice calm. “Though there are corners most people never see. Quiet spots at the right time… worth checking out if you’re curious.” She tapped the edge of her notebook, faint amusement in her eyes. Pearl rarely gave away the hidden treasures of the valley, but when someone arrived at just the right time, she could make an exception.

Though they really shouldn't have, Pearl's musing on the matter made Sadie chuckle. It certainly was — it was also the perfect way to exit the scene and for a moment her tired mind entertained the idea of the late mayor actually skipping town in the middle of the night as news of his untimely death spread around town; she even dared to go one step further drawing a vivid image of him sitting on a distant beach, colorful cocktail in one hand as he scrolled down over the article about his own demise. Shaking her head to push those thoughts aside, a chill ran down her spine for even imagining this to be true. There was a body or so the article said — personally she hadn't seen it, nor was she ever going to get the chance to. Not that she even wanted to. "I'm finding it hard to believe that." Sadie chuckled again. On the photos she'd seen France always looked crowded with people, but perhaps that was the big cities. Like Paris. The outskirts where vineyards stretched across miles of land were probably just as picturesque but less populated. "I thought you skipped because you hate Valentine's Day." The redhead teased her with a slight smile. "I try to pay as little attention as possible, honestly. And I consider myself one of the lucky few whose life hasn't been touched by the news." Though the death of a mayor called for elections or someone rising up to the position; someone who had ties and a mission. And that alone could easily have an effect on all of them. "Are you paying cash or card by the way?"

PEARL leaned against the counter, the hum of the pumps mingling with the late-night quiet. Her fingers traced the edge of her bag as she pulled her almost dead phone out. “Valentine’s Day,” she said flatly, though a trace of amusement lingered. “A holiday I try to ignore, though apparently the wine industry refuses to let me off that easy.” Her gaze drifted over the lot. “Well, anyways, look at this. Better than overpriced chocolate, if you ask me.” She swiped a few photos onto the screen: golden sunlight over grapevines, rows of plump fruit ready for harvest, the quiet beauty of the outskirts of the countryside. Her eyes flicked up at Sadie, a small smile ghosting her lips. “Try not to let the mayor’s drama ruin your peace, or your memory...” she teased, pulling her credit card from the machine. "It's getting warmer out, we should go for a sunrise ride sometime like we used to."

PEARL watched him, silent, letting his words fill the space without a flicker of reaction. She did not step closer. She let her gaze linger on his, wondering when it would be the last. “The past doesn’t dictate the present.” She stepped around his cart, deliberate, leaving the aisle open between them. Her gaze returned to him briefly, calm, unreadable. “The club… handled, hmph. I hope you’ll keep it that way. You know that, actions speak louder than words, Tobias.” Truthfully, the last thing she wanted was another alarming headline. It didn't help business, selfishly.

Tomas could only imagine how lost he looked in a place like this. Clearly, he was not shopping for himself. Honestly, he was about to just say screw it and resort to buying a bottle of cheap wine at the store. But before he could a voice spoke up, probably sensing how uncomfortable he was. That must have meant she knew all of this better than most. "Kind of. My neighbor is more or less of a wine snob, kind of want to repay her somehow for something but I feel like I am drowning here. Any recommendations? Something that won't hurt my wallet nor will have her asking me too many questions. But still better than some Boone's Farm type of wine that college kids always seem to buy when they're underage."

PEARL considered him quietly, eyes moving across the bottles before settling back on him. “You’ve got a couple options,” she said. Her notebook closed with a soft tap against her palm. “There’s a tasting going on today if you want to sample a few things first.” She glanced toward the set up nearby. “Or I can point you toward something people usually like without much debate from the receiver and the buyer.” She met his gaze again, patient and open. "Sounds like your neighbor’s earned the gesture. Hopefully, either option should make the gift part easier than standing staring at a sea of Boone's Farm labels and hoping for the best.”

The sound of a familiar voice had Sadie glance up immediately, a soft smile finding its way on her lips. She'd been too busy throughout the day to check her phone for any updates. She wasn't sure Pearl would have had the time for such either. Exhaustion was easy to spot written over her features, even if the woman was good at hiding it. "Sure." With a single click the amount was added to woman's bill. "I guess the mayor became too much of an uncomfortable figure." Sadie shrugged, her stomach twisting at the ease with which words rolled on her tongur, then turned the newspaper around for the headline to be readable. She normally didn't care about much of what was going on around town — it wasn't like she didn't care, but she'd figured the least she knew, the better. It kept her out of trouble and it made her dad happy, so it was a win-win situation. "Tell me, how was France?"

PEARL caught the smile and returned it easily, leaning against the counter as Sadie rang her up. Her eyes drifted to the newspaper when it was turned toward her, scanning the headline with quiet interest. “Well… that’s one way to make the news,” she muttered lightly, though the comment carried a hint of dry amusement.

PEARL was certain most people would love to be in her position right now. Yet she was probably one of the few souls who wanted nothing more than to walk straight out of it. She nodded absently, tossing vegetables into her basket. For a fleeting second, she felt like that sixteen-year-old girl again — the one who used to feel everything when it came to him.

“I'M obviously focused on the avocados,” Pearl said, glancing down at them and then back on his gaze. Plus, what was there to see? A history of naive hope? Distant memories that blurred with time? He was a remnant of the past—something she was learning to let go of. The past didn’t offer anything she could use now.