religious iconography giving you the creeps i feel rougher than a disco lizard tongue along your c h e e k the rise of the machines i must admit you gave me something momentarily in which i could b e l i e v e but the hand of harsh reality's un-gloved and it's on its way back to SCOOP you up not on my watch
scarlett was on her way to another busy day of work. she didn’t know how she did it everyday, scrolling through the web and reading new books from shipments while waiting for the casual reader to scroll through and usually not say a word to her. it was a T O U G H world for one scarlett keller. her merry walk got a little more upbeat when she noticed cliff down the street, sporting a tortured soul type look. she wouldn’t say that she crossed in his path just to proceed to bump into him, but she also wouldn’t say that she didn’t do just that. putting on a sickly sweet smile, scarlett looked up after she got his attention, “ well now, what if i was ? ”
cliff raised a brow as he was met with fiery hair and dark orbs, scarlett. the corner of his lips twitched slightly, the closest they ever got to a genuine smile. “you should know that you don’t have to go running into me to catch my attention.” he mused, unashamedly scanning the girl once over. “but i’m flattered -- really.”
the weather that day had ophelia feeling absent minded. the virginian humidity in the summer heat made her long blonde hair stick ever so slightly to the back of her neck; the same hair that was too sleek to stay propped up in a bun. she was on her way to her favorite spot in brattleboro on a day like this; the river. or maybe it was techincally a creek, who was ophelia to judge – it was cool water she could stick her toes in while sparking up and catching a tan. swatting angrily at her hair, she managed to completely lose sight of where she was going and collide with none other than cliff. part of ophelia was genuinely shocked and upset, especially at his tone, but another part (the part that recognizes how vital he could be to her practice) had to fight her grin from growing too widely. “terribly sorry!” she replied coyly, gathering her hair with her slender fingers. “hard to concentrate in humidity like this..” the girl immediately regretted how cliche those words made her sound, but like everything else in her life, ophelia would just have to grin and bare it.
cliff nodded stiffly, his eyes staring at the girl. “maybe you should be inside then?” he suggested flatly, raising his gaze to look at the sky. he’d been inside so long that he hadn’t been too affected by the heat, but this conversation was causing perspiration to gather beneath his tight-fitting suit. he shuffled the blazer off and folded it before returning his concentration to the girl stood in front of him. “where are you off to anyway?”
this girl was exactly the sort that rubbed andi up the wrong way; spoiled, rude, and with the sort of good looks that probably always got her her own way. she hated the sweetness with which she spoke; it felt cloying, fake, and was exactly the way not to get andi to move. “what a shame,” she said dryly. “oh well, I don’t care, g’bye now!” she waved up at her, faux-cheerfully, before returning to her phone screen.
bridgette’s grin was almost sinister as she stepped closer, her pastel pink fingernails tapping an aggravating rhythm against the table andi sat at. she didn’t care that she was invading her personal space; it was all a matter of power play for her. “i’m just trying to be nice.” she replied, “you should watch how you speak to people; i’d hate for you to regret speaking to me like that or something...” she shrugged her shoulders cheerfully, “besides, looks like all the other seats are taken, i suppose i’ll be sitting with you.” she perched herself on the chair opposite andi before the girl could even utter a word of protest and lifted her soy latte to her lips, disguising her subtle smirk.
“I hear that. There’s a lot of GOOD people too. Just remember that,” He grinned, happy to get her coffee and hopefully lift her spirits. “I’m pretty sure this is my second one today. They already know my order by heart. It’s kind of embarrassing. I should probably save up for one of those nice coffee machines or something and make my own, but I JUSTIFY it by saying I’m supporting local business,” He spoke as they walked towards the cafe. “Also, they have great snacks, but I usually end up going to my friend Monty’s bakery to get muffins and stuff. That could be our next stop to making you feel BETTER.”
bridgette narrowed her eyes at that -- her belief in good people was iffy to say the least. though she enjoyed talking to grant, and he did seem like one of the more trustworthy people around town, so she bit her tongue and nodded with a soft smile. “oh i have one of those -- it’s just easier to have somebody do it for you.” she shrugged. she didn’t like to do much herself, why exhaust HER resources when somebody else could do it for her? it made sense. “and of course -- though i’m not so sure about muffins and all that...” she trailed off. bridgette had a ridiculous obsession with her appearance; as much as she evidently adored herself, there was a side to her that was awfully paranoid about every little aspect of herself. it was enough to keep the girl awake at night. “but that sounds lovely.”
“Hey, c’mon. What’s up? I could practically hear your EMOTIONS through the text. Is something stressing you out? Was someone annoying? Do I have to go give someone a strong talking to? I have to d e a l with frustrating clients occasionally, so I know how it is.” Maybe it’s because he INTERACTED with so many people on a day to day basis and had to be friendly and know how to listen, but Grant always tried to be there for his friends. He quickly LEARNED to pick up cues when someone was upset, and he could tell at least something was on his friend’s mind. “Would coffee make it better? My treat. ”
“oh, it’s nothing. some people are just downright ROTTEN.” bridgette replied, her arms crossed over her chest like a petulant child. to her, her anger was justified. she’d spent hours forging the most beautiful arrangement of hydrangeas, just for somebody to belittle it and it made her blood B O I L. but of course, she’d just smiled through it all -- she’d get the stupid bitch back later anyway. “but yes, a coffee would be heaven. you’re a darling.”
with his shift at the funeral parlour over, cliff let out a heavy sigh as he exited the building. it had been a ( L O N G ) day, and he almost resembled one of the dead himself, but it wasn’t without reward. in his hand he clasped a brooch; his suit pocket already containing two bedazzled rings. he had no idea how much they were worth, but he’d soon find out. he tossed the brooch in his hand as he walked, his eyes admiring how it shone in the fading daylight, when he felt himself BUMP into somebody. “watch where you’re walkin’” he spat out, lifting his head to glare at the stranger with icy blue eyes.
“look at this. in my hand. this is a coffee cup. if I’m drinking from a coffee cup, that means I don’t wanna talk to you. got it?”
bridgette scoffed, her perfectly-plucked eyebrows raised. “manners don’t cost a thing.” she retorted with pursed lips. was this girl brought up or dragged up? “anyway -- i just wanted to say you’re sat in MY seat. it’s okay though, not a problem. i just thought you should know. for next time.” her smile was sickly sweet and t e e t h y, but the look in her eyes was a lot more menacing.
i’m gonna try to keep this entire thing as brief as possible but .. hey !! i’m kit and these are my lil fucked up babies cliff & bridgie !!
* ━ ━ have you met brattleboro's very own FLORIST yet ? if you haven’t, let me introduce you to BRIDGETTE GRACE BLYTHE — a TWENTY - ONE year old CISFEMALE, SHE was last seen SCRAWLING LOVE LETTERS whilst listening to SMOTHER. oft described as saccharine, vigilant, opulent & petulant, she won't ever tell you that SHE’S BEEN SECRETLY TORMENTING OTHER PEOPLE SHE PERCEIVES AS BEING ‘TOO CLOSE’ TO THOSE SHE ADMIRES ; at least that's what the rumour is around town. // SCARLETT LEITHOLD.
she grew up an only child and was always given her own way (to an extent)
she puts on all these airs & graces but really? she’s never really had much
her aesthetic is flowers, her grandmothers passed down jewellery & dresses, pristine everything
she has a ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ kind of aura to her but deep down?? she-devil
she’s the kind of girl who will pretend to love you to your face but behind your back is spreading ALL your business -- but you’d never know about it
she’s v determined and headstrong; the only time her dark side really shows is if you tell her no
she gets obsessed with people easily; friendship wise and romance-wise
her secret is that she torments people who get too close to her object of admiration -- she’ll leave death threats on the windscreen of your car or pour bugs through your letterbox or some shit like that -- i can picture it only getting worse & more intense - someone let me bring out her crazy side
i guess deep down she’s a bit of a coward ?? she’s so desperate to have attention and have her love returned that she’ll terrify people away from those she wants, rather than make advances of her own
sighs
she’s fucked up
but i love her
* ━ ━ have you met brattleboro's very own FUNERAL HOME ASSISTANT yet ? if you haven’t, let me introduce you to CLIFF SEAIN TIERNEY — a TWENTY - ONE year old CISMALE, he was last seen SECRETLY TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE whilst listening to CALL IT FATE, CALL IT KARMA. oft described as attentive, deferential, aloof & philandering, he won't ever tell you that HE BELIEVES THE SPIRIT OF HIS DECEASED GRANDMOTHER HAS OCCUPIED HIS PET CAT, MISTY ; at least that's what the rumour is around town. // LUCKY BLUE SMITH.
cliff !!
silent & broody type
also an only child i imagine?? but at the same time i’d love for him to have a sibling
his parents run the funeral home and he helps out - family business
his family has a reputation of being weirdly quiet and morbid
HOWEVER he is kinda sex crazed; would sleep with anybody with a heartbeat (within reason)
believes his grandma is living inside his cat; sometimes the only proper conversation he’ll have in a day is with her
