Burning the candle at both ends...

ARTEMIS ASHER 🌿20🌿 PART TIME STUDENT | FULL TIME PAIN IN THE ASS [FAERIE]

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svgexmagoro‌:

Sage nodded as she tried to remember the instances. Was it that she was being a good listener or she similar didn’t mind the younger girl talking away while she worked? “So it seems. She’s a nice kid overall. The customers all love her.”

“She has the uncanny ability to endear herself to just about anyone,” Artie noted with a smile. “She’s also the one who did the mural on the side of the library.” If there was one thing that came naturally to Artie, it was talking about Cat and showcasing the girl’s many attributes. It was certainly far easier for the fairie to speak about the mermaid than it was to speak about herself.

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svgexmagoro‌:

She nodded in acknowledge that all their pets seemed to be named after art supply brands - at least that is what she’s being told. The girl was an interesting one but it was hard not to be fond of the young waitress. 

“About me?” Now that came to her as a surprise. Sage didn’t speak much - in fact, when it came to Catalina and her, it was mainly the younger girl talking away while Sage busied herself with work. 

Artemis couldn’t help but grin at the surprise in the woman’s tone. Nodding she said, “Yeah! She loves sharing the dishes she tries and absolutely loves that you’re such a good listener. Honestly, just being a decent person in general goes a very long way where she’s concerned.”

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svgexmagoro‌:

“A fox.” It seems that Catalina and this ‘Artie’ - as the younger girl put it - had more than one pet and they came in all sizes. “From what she’s.. exclaimed. There’s a ‘Krylie’ which I assume is the same Krylon you’re talking about. A ‘Craylie’ and a- what was it? Kylie?” Honestly, Sage was surprised she even remembered this much. The girl talked so much that eventually, the chef tuned her out at some point. 

“She’s a sweet girl.” was all the compliment one could get from Sage. It was refreshing to see someone so optimistic about everything. She definitely lightened up the mood at the restaurant. 

“Whoa!” Artie exclaimed as she made a face. “The third menace is Kobie, short for Kobra. Nothing to be confused with a Jenner here. He’s a ferret. Craylie’s short for Crayola, and that would be the fox...just for clarification, Cat’s a big fan of art supplies,” she provided with a grin.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I’m not aware she can be a little much for the average person. She’s done nothing but rave about you though, so I appreciate any frustration not having been released...yet...”

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svgexmagoro‌:

“I hope you don’t find the urge to do so in the unforeseen future either.” Her eyes narrowed at the mention of the ferret. While she trusted her own employees to not do anything stupid - well, that stupid - this girl was only by affiliation to that petite and shockingly cheerful girl. “The dog Catalina brings around is enough.” 

She didn’t react but it was nice to know that the girl was being well looked after, despite the odd conversations they were having. “She’s rather… optimistic, that one.”

Artie could only grin, the mischievous glint in her eye never going away. She would never risk Cat’s job like that, but the idea of having caused the new chef to question the faerie was entertaining enough. “Krylon isn’t one to worry about,” she reassured. “He follows Cat around more so as a means to keep an eye on her. If she ever happens to show up with a fox though...”

She allowed herself a small laugh. “I think that’s putting it rather mildly, but it’s certainly a refreshing take. She reminds me everyday that there’s always some sliver lining to things, if one can just take the time to look for it.”

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svgexmagoro‌:

She observed the young woman before her, not quite sure how she felt about the description she was given by her. “Are you trying to scare away newcomers from working here?” A brow arched in question, “Is your girlfriend aware that you’re spreading stories like that?” Sage had never believed in ghost stories or anything of the like so she was far from being scared. Curses and all of that simply didn’t exist. 

“I assume it’s fortunate that Catalina hadn’t met this former boss of yours otherwise, she wouldn’t take the job.” It was odd that the girl brought her dog with her all the time but as long as it stayed out of the kitchen, Sage had no problems. 

Artie held up her hands, as if in surrender, and shook her head. “Nah man, just sharing some history on the place. If I were trying to scare off newcomers, I’d have brought my ferret with me and claimed I found him in the soup or something.” She couldn’t help but laugh at the second question. It was obvious that Cat’s gift of gab had once again placed in the company who new who the faerie was before she actually introduced herself. “She knows I have the information, but she’s not one for ‘scary stories’,” she replied.

Artemis just smiled and said, “Less fortunate, more careful timing. I never would’ve let Cat work in that kind of environment. It’s not conducive to her manner of seeing things, if that makes sense.”

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svgexmagoro‌:

“So…” One had to admit, she was enlightened with the stories this young lady was tell her though her face didn’t not betray her amusement. Instead, Sage sat back with her arms folded and her legs crossed. “Not only did this restaurant fail a few times, but it’s also haunted?” The chef looked around the place, as if the ghost would just appear out of nowhere. “I guess no one told the boss before they bought this place.” Sage tilted her head off to the side to stretch out her neck. “The manager hired me.” Implying that she wouldn’t know who the boss was either. 

“Yet they were fair enough to keep your girlfriend around?” Perhaps this was a way to gauge the employees she inherited with the restaurant. Honestly, Sage didn’t care as long as everyone was doing their job - this included her own step sister.

“Oh, no. It’s not haunted,” Artie replied almost immediately, as she shook her head. “It’s cursed.” The faerie clarified with a smile. “Big difference, man. None of the annoying things like the lights going bonkers, or things moving on their own when they shouldn’t. Certainly not a bill for the destruction that might come with ‘things flying off the counter’ or whatever.” She used air quotes around pretty much every thing she listed, because even though she wasn’t a total skeptic, she was still a little skeptical.

Artemis shook her head, her smile faltering a bit. “No, she was working over at the Sapphire at the time. The boss was...eccentric, to put it mildly. A raging bitch, to put it bluntly,” she said.

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svgexmagoro‌:

“This place’s a lost cause?” She had heard from the real estate person that the restaurant had been passed along numerous owners, but Sage believed that she could keep this place going. Most of it was because she trusted her own cooking. “Why did you stop working here?” 

Artie shrugged, not really feeling it was fair to say it was a lost cause to the face of the new chef... “Not exactly a lost cause, but it certainly hasn’t found it’s ‘right person’ yet, ya know?” she said. “A lot of people think it’s because the last successful owner was a woman. Her name was Jaqueline O’Shaunessy, but most people just called her Old Lady Ire, because she was from Ireland and small town folks aren’t known to be very creative. Anyway, some of the old white guys in town didn’t like that she had the best business, so they ran her off and rumor has it she’s cursed this place to see nothing but ruin anytime a man so much as thinks about owning it. She has left this jewel in the rough to only ever be held and kept by the hands of a woman,” she finished, leaning conspiratorially. “So who knows, if your secret boss identifies as a woman, this place might be lighting up soon enough.”

As good as she was at sharing information that wasn’t hers, the question made her falter. Granted, the other woman had already humored her enough to stick through the story, she couldn’t rightly deny her the answer. “I had a disagreement with the owner at the time.”

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svgexmagoro‌:

She looked over and noticed the girl sitting there. Artie. She believed the name was for the other as one of her waitresses was always gushing about her Artie despite not actually knowing who this person was. “I hear it was bad for business.” She said with a small shrug, as if to say that it wasn’t her call. And it wouldn’t be, since she was just the chef to the public.

Artie chuckled and said, “There hasn’t exactly been a lot that’s been good for business at this place. I used to work here about three owners back, and my girlfriend started working here about one owner back, but having lived her my whole life I can honestly say it rarely goes more than a year without it passing hands.”

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svgexmagoro‌:

Sage sighed as she sat down at a table in the corner of her restaurant - one that she hid her name as the owner under the guise that she was only hired as a chef. Someone had returned a plate, complaining that it was too bland…only to be fine with it when Sage sent it back out without any adjustments. “Can we ban people from coming?” She muttered to herself as she stared at said customer enjoying their meal. Because realistically, she could but she shouldn’t be picky about her customers as long as they paid for the meal.

Having been waiting for Cat to get off work to walk her home, Artemis happened to be at one of the empty corner tables when she noticed the new chef come out. “I mean, you guys do have a sign that states you reserve the right to refuse service so...” The fairie shrugged as she trailed off indicating that in her book, banning certain people was complete acceptable - if not encouraged.

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cxtaliina‌:

“She did?” She looked over to the smaller mermaid, wondering just what she could have said about her - or maybe she was being too presumptuous to think that Catalina talked about her at all because this ‘Fer’ was only talking to Tomi. Glancing around the duo, she spotted said mermaid around a Christmas tree. 

“Oh yeah!” came the sound of a reply as Julian made his way over to the girls. “Cat loves to tell us all about her friends, and I love to ask her about everyone cause I missed you guys,” he admitted freely. “And yes, that includes you too, Amaryllis.”

She didn’t know where she was supposed to go but the invitation had pointed her towards the hotel. Dallas had to ask the front desk but eventually she found her way to the ball room and already, she saw a group of people. Since they were in the middle of a conversation, the DJ just.. stood there by the entrance, hoping that Tomi could spot her. 

Tomi was quick to reciprocate the hug, and cold only beam as the older mermaid she know new as Fer complimented her joke. Granted, as taken as she was by the beautiful woman and as happy to see her friend Julian once more as she was, Tomi’s attention was immediately drawn to the ballroom door as the others continued to speak amongst themselves.

No sooner had she been drawn to look in that direction than she noticed a familiar face make its way through. Excusing herself politely, she headed off in Dallas’ direction in a practically a run. Tomi didn’t actually think that the DJ would take her up on her offer, but was so glad to see that the other had -even if it turned out to just be for a moment- that when she reached her, Tomi wasted no time in wrapping her arms around her in a hug that likely slightly lifted the shorter girl off the ground a bit. “You came,” she whispered, mindful of the proximity of her lips to the other’s ears.

Catalina was glad that everyone was getting along - not that she had any doubt. Both Fernanda and Julian were the best people she ever knew growing up so it would be ridiculous for anyone not to love them. “I did! I told them about you too, Ryllie!” She beamed at the brunette, oblivious to uncertainty the other girl was feeling. “You’re Seanie’s best friend so.. so.. you’re my friend too!” She pounced forward to wrap her arms around the other. “I’m so glad you could come!” 

Her eyes strayed when Tomi excused herself to greet someone by the entrance. Releasing Amaryllis from her hug, her smile only widened when she saw Tomi hugging the stranger. It seemed that the girl met a new friend and Catalina was excited on her behalf. “Oh! Oh!” She patted incessantly on Artemis’ arm as she pointed at the scene. “Who is that? Who is that? She’s pretty!!!!”

“Ow, ow!” was all she managed with each increasingly insistent pat on her arm. Artemis had hardly been paying attention, her stomach already dictating that food was of utmost priority, when Cat began to try and get her attention. Even then, it wasn’t until her girlfriend mentioned someone was pretty that she finally turned around to look in the direction Cat was looking. A look somewhere between confusion and curiosity crossed the faerie’s face as she caught sight of the newest arrival. “Well, well,” she intoned. “I mean, I don’t know who she is to Tomi -though I’m guessing at least a friend....but I do know she’s the new DJ at the canopy that everyone’s been talking about.”

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cxtaliina‌:

fcrnvdvxsvlvzvr‌:

There was something so reassuring and heartwarming about how the two girls before her interacted with one another. The way Artemis spoke, and looked at her cousin right now washed away any lingering doubts that she may have had about the faerie from her initial impression. It dawned on her that she hoped someday someone might look at her the same way, and a sad smile crossed her face before she replaced it with a much happier one.

“You’re totally fine, I get it. Besides, something tells me if it were in a witchy way, I’d have had a much harder time finding Cat,” she laughed, before easing herself onto her feet. “Well, I guess I’ll go ahead and get in touch with Julian and gather my things from the hotel. I’ll message you when I’m on my way back so I don’t…interrupt anything…”

“Yeah, go get Julian here!” She was ecstatic that both her cousins were going to live with them even if it meant to be a temporary thing. All her favourite people were going to be under one roof, what more could she possibly ask for? Catalina felt amazingly fortunate that Artemis and Fernanda seemed to be getting along. There was no question that Julian was going to get along with her girlfriend either. 

“I didn’t mean to run away…” She pouted sadly. That wasn’t her intentions at all but when her father started to take the engagement more seriously than he ever did before, the mermaid got scared and fled. Of course, Cat didn’t even think about the consequences by doing so or how it might have affected everyone else. “Interrupt what?”

Artemis just watched as Fernanda dropped that little bomb and then promptly sauntered out the front door without actually answering Cat’s question...which just meant it was up to her to figure out how to do just that. Turning back to the mermaid she just smiled and said, “I think, she meant like interrupting a conversation, you know. No one really wants to be that person that just randomly comes in on people mid-conversation, and doesn’t know what the topic is or if it was important. You know, stuff like that...”

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cxtaliina‌:

fcrnvdvxsvlvzvr‌:

“In all honesty, I don’t really think ‘home’ is necessarily where we grew up, so much as where we feel free to be ourselves the most,” Fernanda replied with a soft smile, and a reassuring squeeze to her cousin’s hand. “Something tells me you’ve found yourself a nice home here,” she added with a small glance at Artie, “And I hope to get the chance to find a home of my own too.” There was a lot more depth to her latter words, but she didn’t feel now was the time to go into that.

Laughing heartily at the faerie’s reaction, it took her a bit to catch her breath again. Blues twinkling, she just shook her head and said, “No, I don’t think that’s considered racist. Maybe if you’d tried to say in ‘whale’,” she said, cracking up again. Taking another bit to calm back down, she simply smiled and said, “If you’ll have me, I’d be more than happy to stay. I’m sure Julian will have no qualms with it either. I swear sometimes I think you two were meant to be conjoined twins or something.”

“I did.” The world was generous enough to lead Catalina into finding the family she had here in Fallcrest. The Scooby gang and Auntie Dee, along with many others in town whom she felt was ‘home’ to her. While she was happy with her cousins, and her father back when her mother was still alive, she couldn’t help but think she was … happier here with her new life. Catalina couldn’t help but send Fernanda a questioning look when she voiced her wish to find a home herself. 

“Fer, you know you’re always welcome. Like Artie said, mi casa es su casa. I… want to say you don’t even have to ask but this place is more Artie’s and Auntie D’s..” She chuckled, “He’s my best friend, Fer. And so are you! And since we all grew up together, are you even surprised?”   

“I’m glad.” It was the first thing Artemis had stated with absolute resolution this entire meeting, and the look on her face as she gazed down at the younger mermaid only served to set it in stone. If there was anything she had ever been more certain of, than how happy she was to have Cat in her life, the faerie couldn’t thin of it right now.

Glancing back over at their guest, she was quick to chirp, “Nope, she’s right. No need to ask. Auntie D’s always told me she and my great uncle had always hoped to fill this place with kids of their own, and since they never really got a chance to do that, she’s more than happy to open her doors other people’s kids.” Realizing how creepy that last bit may have sounded, she quickly added, “But like in a foster kind of way, not like a crazy witch kind of way- I’m going to stop talking now.”

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cxtaliina‌:

fcrnvdvxsvlvzvr‌:

Fernanda knew this was a conversation that would never end well for them. They both had a stance on the matter, and neither was willing to compromise. She also knew how to pick her battles, and considering she’d just found her cousin, not was not the time to engage in this one.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Catalina,” she began, “Our upbringing doesn’t exactly lend itself to fostering anything but the idea that people have ulterior motives. I’m in no position to hold that against you. I genuinely plan on staying for a while, and I hope that the news I’ve just given you won’t affect our time together.”

Her lips thinned into a hard line as she leaned into her girlfriend, still feeling very guilty for accusing her cousin of having a motive behind her visit. Fernanda never lied to her so she had no reasons to believe she would start now. “If you want, you could stay here.. Right, Artie?” She looked up to the other before back down, “I mean, you said that you aren’t sure where you’re staying and.. and Artie said we have plenty of room and.. and that you’re welcomed - and Julie too.” 

Reaching over, Catalina took her cousin’s hand gently in hers, “I missed you so much, Fer.” She smiled, “I’m really, really glad that you’re here. I would visit home.. but I don’t think it’s a good idea right now.”

Artemis had admittedly made a conscious effort to remain focused elsewhere as the cousins conversed. Not only was the topic at hand not one that really had much to do with her, directly at least, but it was also clearly a touchy one. She had already managed to stick both her feet in her mouth so far, and she had yet to grow a third one so...

Her attention was brought back when she felt Cat lean into her, and was quick to catch on to what the smaller girl was saying. “Oh! Yeah, definitely! Mi casa, es su casa! ... that’s not racist is it? I didn’t mean it like that. I just- Yes, my house is yours.”

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fcrnvdvxsvlvzvr‌:

cxtaliina‌:

Wiggling out of her cousin’s hold, the smaller mermaid moved forward and wrapped her arms around the very confused faerie. “I’ll make sure you meet Julie next time. We should really all hang out together.. I miss it.” It had a while since all three cousins got together and she genuinely missed the fun times they had together. Getting together was a good idea and it would even be better if Artemis could join them; all the people she loved was in one room. 

Letting go of her girlfriend before immediately taking her hand in hers, Catalina led Artie towards the living room. “Yeah! Let’s talk in here. What did you want to talk about anyways, Fer?” She didn’t know what it was but if Fernanda wanted to do it in a more private location, it must be important.

Fernanda made no effort to hide the pleased smirk on her face as Artie seemed to practically squirm under her gaze. The mermaid was raised to be a power-player, and whether her family appreciated the outcome now or not, she took to her role like - well, like a fish to water. “I’ll be sure to get him back up here, even if just for a visit during the holidays,” Fer reassured the shorter mermaid, before following both younger women into the living room.

Truth be told, she had no idea how to address the matter but, she was here now and Cat had to be informed at some point. “I’ve replaced my mother on the board for RDZ enterprises, and with Julian having gifted me his shares, I have enough leverage to essentially be my uncles’ boss…like, if I ever had to pull rank, that is. I’m not really too interested in shaking things up where those two rabid piranhas are concerned…no offense…”

At the mention of having Cat’s cousins together for the holidays, Artemis relaxed and even smiled at the idea. She knew that family was immensely important to Cat and how much the issues with her father had upset her, so having a means to ease that in any way sounded fantastic to the faerie. “That’s excellent! I’d be more than happy to have you guys stay here with us...place is kind of big for just three ladies.”

She allowed herself to be lead to the living room, and took a seat next to Cat. She wasn’t entirely sure where this was going or what she herself would even contribute, but Cat seemed keen on keeping her there. Brown eyes went wide at Fernanda’s words as she thought, Oh, it’s one of those talks... It took everything in her not to go over and high-five the blonde, but she couldn’t speak as to how successful she was at schooling her features...

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fcrnvdvxsvlvzvr‌:

cxtaliina‌:

“O-Oh. i thought.. I thought I told you about Julie.. He’s, well, he’s our cousin.. And.. He was - did I really not introduce you to Julie? You’d love him too. He’s really nice.. and.. and..” She looked up at Fernanda briefly before looking very apologetic to Artemis. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was in town.. and.. and I got really excited.. And we wanted to talk somewhere.. And …And I thought that it was best to talk here where it’s just.. well, us.. I didn’t think … I’m sorry..”

Fernanda didn’t ease up on her hold on her cousin, even after the other woman explained herself. She had seen tempers like that before, and in her experience once they flared, there was little to be done to actually put out the fire until it burned itself out - usually burning a lot of things down in the process. Granted, that was likely the same experience that the other had with Cat’s family, especially if she never actually met Jules. “Julian is basically a boy version of Catalina,” she said with a small laugh, in a bid to lighten things. “I’m…honestly just glad that they’re both now safe and far away from the rest of the family. I don’t blame you for your wariness, though I do wish you’d opt for different ways of expressing it.”

She had one tiny mermaid looking at her absolutely devastated and apologizing profusely, and one -what she could only assume was- a very tall mermaid looking and sounding every bit like Artie was about to be made to physically pay for every time Cat apologized...Artie really wished Cat would stop apologizing. “It’s not your fault,” she said to Cat. “I should’ve honestly just asked, and hey! Maybe then I’d have already gotten a chance to meet him. Uh, but you said you guys wanted to talk, so we can just like, go to the living room and stuff...”

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fcrnvdvxsvlvzvr‌:

cxtaliina‌:

Catalina didn’t reply when Fernanda gave her the benefit of the doubt. Sure, she was pre-occupied with other things, but she was family. Nothing was more important than family. However, Sebastian did throw a wrench into her life. Her attention returned at the mention of Julie. Her eyes widened when Artemis seemed almost mad about not know who this Julie was. “Julie?” She was confused. The mermaid talked about Julian all the time so why was her girlfriend asking who he was? “He’s my- uh..” She looked up at the taller mermaid, “H-he’s our cousin..” Her hands that were gripping on the material of Fernanda’s outfit tightened out of nervousness. “…Are you mad?”

Fernanda could very well do with being just about anywhere but here at this very moment. It was awkward to think that her cousin’s girlfriend had somehow mistook her for something other than Catalina’s family, and it was eve more awkward to listen as Cat made things just much worse by not being clear as she spoke. Granted, she also wasn’t about to just leave her cousin here. Fer did not know this other woman, and the temper she was demonstrating only caused the blonde to reach out and pull her small cousin closer to herself. “I think all parties involved could do with a little simmering down,” she said evenly.

Between the question Cat asked, and Fernanda’s reaction to her, Artemis realized she need to take a step back. She may be able to hold her own agains the taller woman, but in all honesty Artie wasn’t necessarily feeling that luck would be on her side if she tried it... Taking a deep breath, she said, “No, I’m not mad. I’m sorry. I was just, very, very, confused. You kept talking about spending all this time with Julie and never really told me who they were, and then you brought someone new to the house and didn’t really tell me who she was either other than her name, I’m just- processing, is all.”