[attemptedperfection]

Woooow I must really suck if I haven’t posted anything since the holidays. Honestly the last six months have kinda fucked my life up and I was just starting to get my shit back together when this whole unfortunate thing with the pandemic came around. So, I’m super super super sorry for basically just disappearing and if you don’t want to continue our threads I’ll totally understand. But I’ll try to get replies out tomorrow or the next day. Don’t feel obligated to respond. 💕

[attemptedperfection]

ooc;

Sorry all - the holidays had me super busy. I’ll be getting to replies for all y’all hopefully by the end of the day! Enjoy this cute pic of my puppy in her Christmas sweater until then!

@wildyoungandtrapped @heartonanoose @fuckmeupindie

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“I knew there was a reason we were best friends,” Calla teased lightly with a grin as she grabbed two bags of buttery popcorn down from the cabinet and the butter out of the fridge. She stuck the first bag into the microwave then got a small bowl, cutting several pads from the stick of butter to melt once the popcorn was done. “The buttery-er the bettery...er,” she said with a laugh. 

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“And the biology section is...” Eli trailed off, glancing around the huge library before she pointed in the right direction and he nodded. “Sounds like her. Anything STEM related and she’s all over it. Thanks.” He moved to head that way but Radar was more reluctant. The dog didn’t bark but he didn’t stand either, tail still thumping on the floor loudly as he stared at the girl expectantly - no doubt wanting some attention. Radar was a killer war dog but without his vest on to tell him he was at work he could be stubborn. “Radar, recall,” Eli ordered and Radar gave him a reproachful look but stood and moved to Eli’s side once more. “I’m sure dogs aren’t allowed. We’ll be in and out as soon as I’ve gotten Dylan, I promise,” Eli told the girl in an apologetic voice, giving Radar a look. 

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Eli squeezed Lydia’s hand back tightly and he gave his mother a sharp look, jaw clenched. “That was entirely too personal a question, Mother,” he told her in a restrained voice, brown eyes hard. 

“Calm down, Eli,” Katie said gently but she too was giving her mother a disapproving look. “However I do agree. You didn’t have to answer her, Lydia.” 

“You really didn’t, it wasn’t any of her business,” Eli agreed in a softer tone, glancing down at his girlfriend and squeezing her hand again gently. 

“Alright alright,” Laurie relented, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. But when she gazed at Lydia again, her eyes were gentler and more friendly - closer to the way she looked at her own children though not quite the same level. “I’ve given you enough grief. I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries. Eli is my only son now and I’m…protective. Probably overly so.” 

Eli relaxed slightly but still frowned at his mom, shaking his head. “Too far this time mom. We haven’t been dating long enough to be asking her those kinds of things. Could you stick with favorite colors and hobbies?” he told her, though his tone too was gentler than it had been before as well. 

“Very well,” Laurie said as two valets pulled up, each with Eli’s truck and Laurie’s rental car. “For now, why don’t you give us the address of where we’re going. Katie can put it in her little map thingy on her phone.” 

“Mom, seriously. Google maps has been a thing for ages. You need to upgrade from the brick you use,” Katie complained, pointing out the old beat up Blackberry phone her mom was gripping while pulling out her old iPhone. 

Eli gave the address and assured them he’d try not to lose them in traffic anyways before opening Lydia’s door and getting into the driver’s seat himself. He groaned to himself and then turned to Lydia, his eyes full of embarrassment. “I’m so sorry for her,” he told her with a shake of his head. “She doesn’t know when to quit.” 

[wildyoungandtrapped]

Lydia just shrugged as she watched him climb in. “It’s fine Eli, I understand. You’re her only baby boy.” She pushed a hand through her hair, still nervous. “Umm, so I know this is too early in the relationship to ask this, but have you thought of kids? I mean not with me specifically but just in general? I know you have a few years on me so it might be something you’ve considered.”

She fidgeted. It wasn’t something did often, but asking the question made her nervous. She wiggles in her seat, switching the leg she had crossed on top a few times. She picked at her nails, trying really hard to hise how anxious the question she’d asked made her. She wanted to know where his mind was at, but also worried that they would have completely different views.

[attemptedperfection]

Eli considered Lydia’s question carefully and then nodded as he headed off down the road. He was a careful driver and made sure to pay attention to the road while also making sure not to let Lydia think he wasn’t also paying attention to her. “I’ve thought about kids in a... theoretical kind of way. I think I’d like to have them, maybe one at least. I guess I’d consider more just depending on several different factors,” he answered honestly, taking a careful right turn and glancing in his rear view to make sure his mom was behind him still.

“My parents struggled a little bit when we were growing up. I mean, we always had everything we needed and we were happy. But there were times I’d peek through my door to see mom going through bills, red stamps and marks and final notices. I don’t want to do that...” he admitted, taking the opportunity at a red light to look over at Lydia. “I want to be able to do more than just make ends meet and stretch a dollar to go farther than it does. If I had a kid or kids, I’d never want them to not ask me for... I don’t know, a new outfit for school because they were secretly worried it’d be the clothes or the electric bill.”

[attemptedperfection]

“Actually, I have extra movie theater butter or if you’d prefer something sweet, I think I might have another bag or two of kettle corn flavor,” Calla said, raising her eyes to the ceiling as she thought about it. She pushed herself off the couch and padded back to the kitchen, thanking her lucky stars for basically the entire bottom floor of the small townhome to be pretty open so she could still see Daryll from the kitchen. “I can even put extra butter on the buttery kind too,” she added with a laugh, knowing that’s more than likely what she’d do for herself as she was notorious for having a preference for practically a pound of butter on her popcorn. 

[attemptedperfection]

“Oh um,” Elijah scratched his ear and gave a slight smile, trying to maneuver Radar to stand behind him. Though it was hard to hide a 68lbs shepherd malinois mix with a loudly thumping tail in a quiet library. He was sure the dog wasn’t meant to be in the library but maybe he’d be able to get away with it. “Yeah actually. Maybe? I’m looking for a little girl, 11 years old, blonde hair, I probably a little chatty and possibly annoying other library goers... I know better than to think she’s in the children’s section of books. Maybe computer science or math?”

[attemptedperfection]

Calla let out a heavy sigh and squeezed his fingers before taking her hand back. She was always just a little bit weird about physical contact with people, considering how her life had taken a turn a few years ago, though out of everyone in her life - of which there were not many - Daryll was one of the only ones she didn’t mind making contact without asking first. She shook her head as if to clear the conversation from it and smiled. “Enough serious talk. This is supposed to be a fun, relaxing day. I’m still a bit snacky. I could make us some popcorn? That’s totally acceptable to eat at nine in the morning right?” she asked, wiggling her grey sock covered toes at him. 

[attemptedperfection]

Calla laughed and shook her head slightly. “We’ll discuss a name change if it ever comes to that,” she allowed, but her face grew slightly more serious and she looked at her hands in her lap. “Honestly, I dunno if I’m even cut out for the marriage thing. I mean.. you know me as well as anyone. Do I seem like the settling down type to you? Before this place I barely lived in any one apartment for more than a few months at a time. I have like... three pieces of furniture. I’m a little bit... messed up in the head. Sometimes I don’t even know why you’re friends with me,” she admitted though the very last sentence was a bit lighter and it was more teasing than the rest of what she’d said. 

[attemptedperfection]

Calla abandoned all thought of watching TV in favor of turning to fully face Daryll, giving him a considering look. “Well we’re both much too young and pretty to give up on dating,” she announced with a decisive look on her face. “We’ll make a pact. If we’re both still single by the time we’re thirty, we’ll just marry each other. It’s not like we don’t already know each other and get along. And I’d like to think Clara likes me at least a little bit.” 

[attemptedperfection]

Elijah was out on a jog with Radar when he got the call, coming to a slow stop so he could pull out his phone while the dog sat dutifully by his feet. It was his sister Katie, asking him to please go pick up Dylan at the library. He wanted to say no. It was his first day off in over two weeks and all he wanted to do was take a nice jog through town and then drink beer on his couch in his sweatpants. But Katie knew he’d never say no to seeing his niece and he gave in pretty easily. 

He thought about taking Radar home first before he went to hunt Dylan down but he was only two blocks from the library and fourteen from home. He figured Dylan probably had her bike anyways and Radar was well behaved enough maybe he could find Dylan before anyone paid them any attention. With that in mind, he and Radar jogged the last two blocks to the library and slipped in through the side entrance. 

[attemptedperfection]

“Hey, that’s totally fair,” Calla said with an approving little nod, her eyes moving back to the TV screen but she wasn’t really paying much attention to the show. “Sometimes people can be good people but that doesn’t mean they’re good people for you. Must be harder too when you’ve got a kid. Can’t imagine what that would be like. It’s hard enough dating when it’s just me. I think I’ll give up on dating...or who knows, maybe I’ll be a lesbian instead,” she teased with a smirk. 

[attemptedperfection]

“Hmm, something funny or maybe something criminal... Should we hit up Hulu or Netflix? Or go old school and just find something on cable?” Calla asked, lolling her head over on the couch to look at Daryll questioningly as she flipped the TV on. Eventually they settled in on some bad movie playing on SyFy and Calla’s thoughts wandered for a minute before her gaze settled back on her best friend. “What ever happened to that girl you went on a couple dates with? You haven’t said anything about her lately.” 

[fuckmeupindie]

attemptedperfection‌:

“Yeah, I know I know. But you know I get when I get a case. These people hired me to find their daughter,” Calla said, putting her thumb in her mouth to lick off some of the syrup while she leaned against the counter. “They think she got recruited to some cult or something. I thought they were just worried parents and she was off with her secret boyfriend somewhere but I dunno… the more I keep digging the more I wonder if they’re right.” She shrugged her shoulders and picked up her plate and coffee. “Let’s go to the couch. All I can promise is that I will TRY not to fall asleep on you,” she told him with a smirk as she led the way back through the first floor of her small town home. “What’s Clara doing today?”

Daryll tensed. He couldn’t imagine losing his daughter. His whole life would be over, his world would collapse. It was nice that she was spending so much time dedicating herself to this. “A cult? Really?” He asked, a little unbelieving. But hey, it could happen. “I hope she’s okay…” He murmured, snatching a piece of bacon for himself. “You’d better not, you’ll make me cry.” He teased, pouting slightly as he followed her with his now sweetened coffee. Sitting down on the couch, he shrugged. “Spending some time with my aunt. It’s crazy how similar the two of them are. I think Auntie likes to spoil her since she can’t have kids.”

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“Eh... probably not a real cult. Probably some wannabe taking advantage of naive girls out on their own in the world for the first time,” Calla said with a little shake of her head, a dark look briefly passing over her features before smoothing our as she batted playfully at Daryll’s hand when he stole her bacon but allowing it all the same. “It’s probably fun for both of them. Whenever Clara talks about her, it seems like she has fun at least,” she told him thoughtfully, settling onto the couch with her feet in his lap and the remote in her hand. “What should we watch?“

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“Hmm, that new place downtown opened up a few weeks ago? Bad Alibi. I heard it’s pretty cool. I would be down to check it out if you’re in?” Calla allowed as she poured their two cups of coffee and slid one over towards Daryll before grabbing the creamer from the fridge. “Until then… how about a low key morning? Bad television and snacks, maybe some board games if you wanna mix things up. I stayed up way too late last night working this case for one of my clients… I could use a low key morning. Then we could walk around downtown, maybe go hit up market square and look for that necklace Clara liked the last time we were there.” 

[fuckmeupindie]

“Yeah, definitely, that sounds fun.” A new place would be nice. He’d been to a bunch of the other ones, and they were getting boring. He knew it would be the same monotonous thing, but it would be a nice place and a new experience. “Thank you,” He smiled as she slid him the coffee, patiently waiting for the creamer as well. “Oh, that sounds really nice, actually. As long as you don’t fall asleep on me,” He joked. “You gotta stop staying up so late, Calla, it’s not good for you.” Daryll chastized, raising an eyebrow at her. “Clara would love that.”

[attemptedperfection]

“Yeah, I know I know. But you know I get when I get a case. These people hired me to find their daughter,” Calla said, putting her thumb in her mouth to lick off some of the syrup while she leaned against the counter. “They think she got recruited to some cult or something. I thought they were just worried parents and she was off with her secret boyfriend somewhere but I dunno... the more I keep digging the more I wonder if they’re right.” She shrugged her shoulders and picked up her plate and coffee. “Let’s go to the couch. All I can promise is that I will TRY not to fall asleep on you,” she told him with a smirk as she led the way back through the first floor of her small town home. “What’s Clara doing today?”

[attemptedperfection]

“Hmm, that new place downtown opened up a few weeks ago? Bad Alibi. I heard it’s pretty cool. I would be down to check it out if you’re in?” Calla allowed as she poured their two cups of coffee and slid one over towards Daryll before grabbing the creamer from the fridge. “Until then... how about a low key morning? Bad television and snacks, maybe some board games if you wanna mix things up. I stayed up way too late last night working this case for one of my clients... I could use a low key morning. Then we could walk around downtown, maybe go hit up market square and look for that necklace Clara liked the last time we were there.” 

[attemptedperfection]

“You know I’m always happy to see you, even if it’s an ungodly hour of the morning,” Calla told him as she lead the way to the kitchen to start up the coffee pot, standing on her toes to reach the Folger’s in the cabinet. “So… what did you make me?” she asked, her smile tired but no less sincere as she measured out the grounds and then hit the button to start the brew. 

[fuckmeupindie]

“Well thank you. I’m always happy to see you too.” He chimed, stepping into the kitchen, setting down the wrapped up plate on the counter. “Your favorite breakfast, of course,” He said simply, taking a seat. “Did you sleep well at least?”

[attemptedperfection]

“You are a god among men, Daryll Casey,” Calla sighed, peeling open the foil wrapped plate to find two pancakes with strawberries and pecans and perfectly crispy bacon just like she liked it. “So what’s on our agenda for today?” she asked, piece of bacon stuck in her mouth while she pulled two mugs down from the cabinet for their coffee.