REBECCA RITTENHOUSE, CIS WOMAN, SHE/HER ✦ CODY BENNETT the THIRTY THREE year old has been in Hidehill for A WEEK and was a COLLEGE ROOMMATE to Jade Parker, the missing person. Whispers on the streets are that the PARAMEDIC/BLOGGER/RECEPTIONIST AT QUICK STOP MOTEL who lives in HIDE SQUARE. She is said to be ENTHUSIASTIC and ANNOYING but I guess we’ll find out for ourselves.
She came to Hidehill for Jade Parker's vigil, when everyone started getting messages of who the potential killer could be it intrigued her way too much to leave the town. That's why she decided to stay longer and see for herself how everything turns out -- plus it was great material for her blog.
Has a hard time staying in one place for too long so for years she has been living in motels and her beloved SUV.
Road trip enthusiast - has been on the road since starting her mystery blog 8 years ago. It's a great way for her to visit all the spooky places that she can explore and write about.
Photography is a big part of having a successful blog to visualize everything she sees but despite all the years, she is still a mediocre photographer that's why she's a bigger fan of polaroids.
Always has been a second choice, never first that's why she isn't interested in any romantic connections. Would rather die alone in the desert - literally.
Got carried away with partying during her college years, that's how she managed to have a strong head. Her go-to alcoholic beverage is beer but when trying to be fancy she'd go for Aunt Roberta or Negroni.
Her favorite food is a classic hot dog with ketchup and mustard. Going crazy with sauces and toppings isn't worth it as the original is always the best.
Has a bubbly and bright personality that can be found annoying at times. It's all based on good intentions.
To be on her bad list, you have to really do her wrong many times as she believes in second chances.
Wouldn't kill a spider, rather cherish that one even decided to show up around her. She especially likes jumping spiders because they're adorable and weird at the same time.
The blog doesn't bring her any profit and no sponsorships as the shared content isn't family-friendly. That's why despite her main profession as a paramedic that she does whenever the local hospital will want her for a short period of time, she works as a part-timer at restaurants, shops, and motels.
Grew up watching Scooby Doo, that's why she's into spooky and mystery things.
tba
character study • wanted connection
fc alternatives: elizabeth lail, hassie harrison, suki waterhouse
Veronica laughed at the woman’s statement. “Well it’s a small town so everyone knows everyone and you usual tell by how people act. Yeah we sure know how to keep the tourists away. Well if the killer is here that he obviously has amazing taste.” Veronica joked as she wondered if back then they ever had a conversation like this. “Word of advice?”
“A game? Sounds fun, what are the rules and objective of this game?” She said as she watched the woman retrieve a bottle of whiskey. “Oh starting with a Harvard level one, I don’t even think Velma Dinkley would get it. Blonde hair, blue eyes and know of a asshole if you talk to him long enough.”
Their conversation led an interesting light on the events that occur in town, thanks to the brunette Cody had an interesting topic to include in the Shadow Man series she plans on writing for her mystery blog “Based on what you’re saying the killer must be a local then. Because I haven’t heard anyone say that someone suspicious came to town before the tragedies took place” she said pouring the whiskey into the glasses standing on the cabinet, not taking her eyes off the woman.
A smile filled her face hearing Velma’s name come up “The game would revolve around pointing people we think are Mike, if we’re wrong we drink“ she handed a glass filled to the brim “if we’re wrong BUT their name is Mike we both drink” a mischievous smile was sent at the other. Maybe it was a way for Cody to finally get carried away and let the buzz kick in. Compared to other people she has been too sober this much into the party.
Veronica laughed at her question. “You’re not from around here, are you? It’s a small town and the people here have been known to throw some pretty crazy parties and do some pretty crazy things. Plus with this whole cheap Shadow revival as if we’re a forgotten but beloved show from the 80s -90s, everyone is on edge and probably thinking more than they should.” Veronica noticed how she looked at her invitation card and mentioned the house owner aka Mike. “Oh, Mike….uh I don’t know him.” Veronica took a quick glance of the room. “I mean I know of him, he owns the tattoo shop but I don’t know him that well, just from around and stuff. You know?”
“It shows that much? I did some research on this place before coming and it has an interesting reputation indeed. I wonder if this whole shadow man is currently shaking their ass off somewhere at this party as we speak.” joked as the subject became slightly heavy to lighten up the mood again, it was all she came here for in the first place -- to have fun and meet the locals. “Nope neither do I so we could play a game” the blonde looked at the other with a challenge in her eyes while grabbing a full bottle of whiskey from the near cabinet, shaking it lightly “In that case, you already have an advantage over me but do you know what he looks like?”
“It's more due to personal experience when coming to these things. Over the years you learn to do certain things and bring certain items to these parties.” Veronica explained to the woman in front of her who seemed to have a bubbly personality. A light came from her, that Veronica envied. “Sure, although technically it would be on Mike.”
“What parties did you go to?” eyebrow raised in question intrigued by the response as she didn’t know anyone who would be this prepared for one and never attend any that would be extreme to that extent. Cody didn’t know the owner at all but the invite definitely had his name mentioned on the card. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was going to say on the house owner...” she tried to cover up her understatement caused by the noise around them with a genuine smile. Looking around for the nearest liquor supply she continued “So you know him?”
Cody at the party running away whenever she sees a potential situation for which someone would call for a medic like “ I’m off the shift, I’m off the shift... ”
open to: cody bennett | @codysx
location: mike carter’s house party, kitchen
The night was starting to catch up with Nate. He hadn’t arrived early by any means, but the house hadn’t been this full when he pushed his way through the front door. His heart raced fast enough to be split into a calm beat for three people, and his thoughts had been running alongside it in hopes of some kind of triumph. He didn’t mind it at first. The very reason Nathaniel chased a suspension of his senses was because he burnt them out on nights like these.
The high, however, had eaten away at time too greedily. The house overflowed with guests, caging them in their hunger for chaos, but Nathaniel still felt every space between himself and them. It didn’t matter if it was just a few inches. The cage he was built of was vacant and Nate went from feeling everything, to not a damn thing. Seconds pooled around him, dragged out far longer and it was then that Nate realized his thoughts had won. They trickled into the front of his head, but not all of them were in his own voice. Words that weren’t his own, but hissed at him enough times to cut into his memory, pierced his focus. He needed to get them out, silence them with a rush of euphoria so loud it burned his ears, but he could barley move. Nate stayed propped against the kitchen counter, hat tilted enough to cover his closed eyes, and knuckles white over marble.
“Fuck,” He breathed, the word slipping past teeth he hadn’t realized were clenched. Then again, that voice but louder near him. He opened his eyes, searching for it now and it was in that halo of blonde that he felt pins and needles dance in his limbs. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
The night was getting longer than expected, Cody was roaming around the property to find her spot that was no were to be found. Every corner was filled with people rubbing against each other or tearing their throats to be heard over the music. After another round around the house, her legs took her to its heart — the kitchen. Walking in she obviously had to bump into someone almost getting their sticky drink spilled all over her black mini dress. With a gasp, she smiled at the other carefully avoiding them at the door. That's when her eyes landed on the familiar face -- finally someone she knew. "Well, well, well... what kind of party did you escape here from?" she asked with a grin filling her face as she scanned his outfit that was definitely out of the ordinary. If she only knew Nate would be here, she'd ask him for the outfit advice.
“I’m happy to see you too, kiddo” she responded while reaching for a bottle of beer near his arm, placed like it would be specifically waiting for her. Taking a sip, she took a closer look at his pale skin, covered in droplets of sweat -- making the situation obvious to Cody. With a sigh of disappointment, she took another sip as nothing could go to waste "So that's how you're having fun tonight?" The blonde knew that scolding him, showing disapproval or disappointment of any kind was simply pointless in this state. Nate was still somehow holding up but was definitely on edge and staying in the kitchen full of irritating external stimuli, wasn't the smartest option. "Let's step outside" it was a notice of what they were supposed to do now whether he approved it or not. Cody gently squeezed his arm to assure him she was right there, acting as a support in case he started sliding off the counter.
If you were to walk into this house with no knowledge of this town and its recent events you would think nothing was wrong just a bunch of crazy adults and wannabe adults having a good time. She wouldn't admit it to his face but Mike can throw a good party. For even one night people were able to just breathe. Veronica was dancing and drinking, she really wanted to drink so much she didn't know where she was. “Don't worry, it's my own bottle.” She said to the person coming her way.
"I didn't know we were supposed to bring our own" she answered slightly taken aback at the response, followed by a chuckle. Even if every single person at the party brought their own drink, it wouldn't be as many as there is placed around the whole property. With her own bottle of beer, she raised it up with a smile "cheers for more to come" chugging it down, happy that her hands landed on a perfectly cooled one. Her style of parting didn't include dancing so she leaned on the wall, putting the empty bottle on the nearest free surface she could find, watching others while making bets on who will go down first. Based on who was already barely standing on their two feet. "I will grab another one, interested? This time, on the house" she yelled through the music to the dancing brunette.
Jordan had been out of the hospital for not even 24 hours and after promising the hospital staff and his family that he would stay in bed and rest, here he was limping towards the towns bakery. It was clear to anyone he passed by that he was not in the shape to be out and about on his own, but he refused to be “helpless”. His ribcage burned from the exercise his body couldn’t handle yet he ignored the warnings and swung open the bakery door. Breathing in the familiar and missed smells of the fresh baked goods. “Got any glazed donuts left this morning?” He asked the worker behind the counter, trying not to make eye contact with any of the other customers as to not draw anymore attention to himself.
Cody has been in town for over a week and the only thing that still keeps her here is the sensation of the so-called shadow man terrorizing the locals. It was her main goal to investigate the matter and write about it on her blog. Arriving at Jade's vigil, she hadn't expected it to be a rough deal. But when one of the citizens was kidnapped, her heart was heated by a flame of curiosity and excitement as the story unfolded - she wanted to be the first person to present the actual events of Hidehill without hiding anything. Biting a bagel at one of the tables, she tapped persistently on the laptop keyboard, typing and erasing the title of the post announcing the upcoming Shadow Man series. Suddenly the clicking of the keys was drowned out by the sighs of other people. Looking up from the monitor, she followed everyone, seeing the guy whom the killer somehow decided to let go. Why wasn't Jade given this opportunity? Without thinking for a long time, she quickly jumped up from her chair, finding herself next to him. "Are you not our famous survivor?" she radiantly smiled at him while scanning the injuries he had suffered. She had many questions for him that would fit perfectly into one of her posts or even give Cody an idea for the title. “I have a free seat at the table in case you were planning to stay here for a while. Don't worry, I don't bite, ” she joked to loosen up the atmosphere. She didn't want to be intrusive, but at the same time, she didn't want to miss this chance. Besides knowing his name from the local newspapers, she knew nothing.
Wearing a mini dress she once bought under the influence of friends for partying at nightclubs. She paired it with a worn-out black leather jacket that can keep her warm while drinking under the stars and black high heels she will regret wearing the next day. The look was finished with gold accessories, earrings, necklace, and bracelets on her wrists, ankles, and thigh.
Every now and then she pulls down the bottom half of her dress, afraid of showing too much— hopefully, no nip slip will happen when she does that. When dressed fancy, she doesn't really feel like herself but with help of a few drinks, she will stop paying attention to it.
who: joey wilson & @hidehillstart
where: somewhere in the street
“pickle! there you are!” joey said, once he finally spotted his cat near someone, quickly making his way over to him and picking him up, holding him close. he gave his cat all the freedom he needed, but it was starting to get late and he still hadn’t been back. joey had been getting worried, so he decided to look out for him, and within five minutes he had spotted him. “what have i told you about selling drugs out in public? you can’t do that, you’ll get in trouble.” he whispered to his cat, as he held him close and then kissed his head, before looking at the person who had been standing there the whole time, before smiling at them. “pickle didn’t sell you anything, right? because if he did, i’m not sure if i would trust it… he’s just trying to get some money because his gig as a slumlord didn’t work. he just didn’t treat those families right.” he said, nodding his head as he looked back at his cat again.
Without noticing the cat which has been following her around for a while Cody felt confused hearing someone call her a pickle from the distance. She turned around ready to see who could it be almost bumping into the man picking up the cat. The blonde let out a chuckle when it started making sense, seeing the furry friend of his. “Am I in a hidden camera?” was the first possibility that came to her mind while looking around for a cameraman sitting in the bush as from one ridiculous thing they went to the subject of selling drugs “no worries, it didn’t sneak any catnip into my shoe” was followed by another chuckle since whatever answer he expected to get from Cody wouldn’t make any sense just as his questions "unless you're distracting me while the cat is stealing my wallet" the woman couldn't help but top it with a joke while tapping her pocket to make sure it was still in place just in case she wasn't wrong.