Elena Fitzroy

Mother. Dreamer. Unyielding seeker of the truth. ABOUTCONNECTIONS

[h-ollandhenley-blog]

“You were supposed to be here, like, a fuckin’ hour ago. We literally live fifteen minutes from each other, so I don’t know what the fuck you’ve been doing.”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“You try leaving the house and making it on time everywhere when you have a two-year-old wreaking havoc after your every step!” Elena was only half joking, hurrying to the car as she juggled her bag, a portfolio, laptop and keys in her hands. “Trying to make it on time, that’s what I was doing! Clearly, I failed. Just get in already.” She laughed, shaking her head as he kept on complaining, jumping behind the wheel.

[harry-rivers-blog]

       “Just stop talking because I don’t believe a word you’re saying…”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“You don’t have to, but I was quoting word by word.” It wasn’t the first time Elena tried to collaborate with an ongoing case but she hadn’t worked with O’Conner before. Of course, they had the right information and she’d get an insight to the cases and the leads, exclusives, that was her gain. In return, she’d help with follow up, witness commentary, word of mouth the investigation team so often missed being too busy doing their jobs. “Those are my notes. If you think they’re worth a thing, you have my card.”

[sierra-moore]

Even if Sierra could persuade Sebastian into giving her some leeway with Vanderhorst, she couldn’t do it now. They were in a position that had the chance to go somewhere, she wasn’t about to risk that — Even if the Chinese did look delicious, the food couldn’t quite trump him. It was a close call, though. Opening one of the boxes, she looked up at Elena and gave her a small smile. “Thank you, Ms. Fitzroy…” She chimed, picking one of the noodles out of its box. “Yeah, yeah, what do you want Vanderhorst for?” The brunette asked, putting the tub back down. “I’ve never met the guy, but he seems pretty decent. Unless you believe the shit in the tabloids.” Sierra was one to talk, given the information released about Henry James and her father. “In which case, I think you’re onto something…” 

[elenafitzroy-blog]

Scratching her scalp softly, mostly out of stress rather than an actual itch, Elena brought out her phone and a small notepad and placed them on the counter top as she started going over notes and contacts to see whom she had left as a last resource. She smiled at Sierra, quickly focusing back on the papers before her even as the brunette talked, humming every now and then to let her know she was listening. “I have an assignment, been trying to get an interview from him all week and my deadline’s just a few hours from now.” Flicking through the pages, Elena just sighed and let her pen drop, frustrated... tired. She hated to give up, even more so to go back to her editor empty handed, but there was only so much she could do. “That’s the thing. We’re not a tabloid magazine, we’re a serious newspaper... we’re not after gossip. Even if it’s all false, the fact that he doesn’t want to give us an interview makes it worse, like if he’s hiding something.”

[jasematt-blog]

Jason picked up one of the forks from inside the bag, opening the container of chicken and spearing one. “Some guys at the bar were talkin’ about an affair he had goin’ on for a few years.” She said before eating the orange chicken, shrugging slightly. “Can’t tell you if it’s true or not.”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Where they just talking about it as if they had heard of an affair... or did it sound like they knew him and gave it for certain?” It was precisely these kind of rumors she had been sent to clear with the mayor, not for a tabloid magazine but for the main newspaper—apparently, it didn’t matter. No one took journalists seriously anymore.

[doctorizzy-blog]

“Food would be amazing actually.” Izzy said, looking up from her desk as she smiled at Elena. “What did you get?” She asked, grinning at the takeout that Elena was unpacking, her stomach growling. “–My help? With what? I mean, sure, it just depends on what kind of deal Elena.”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Sesame chicken... noodles. A spring roll, I think.” It was meant to be her lunch but Elena had no time to sit down and eat it. She had settled for a granola bar and coffee. Besides, the doctor needed the food more than she did, the journalist reckoned, smiling in satisfaction as she noticed the way the other woman took to the bag’s contents. “Without having to incur in you breaking some sort of medical confidentiality law... how likely are you to help me find a way to contact the mayor? I’m on a deadline and he’s avoiding me.”

[talon-harper]

Normally a hardy  appetite, she’d be lying if her mouth didn’t water, her attention went straight to the bag. Fruits, nuts, fish. It was pretty painful for the blonde. And it’d only been a week. “Do you not remember his predecessor? The James’ had the public wrapped around their fingers without actually coming face to face. Unless of course to kiss a baby here and there…” She wasn’t unfamiliar with the political’s of the town. Her parents having a heavy hand in the going on’s. “And what is it that you want with the Mayor to go to such lengths like ordering Chinese and fingers crossing you’d run into a familiar face?” She asked out of pure curiosity. 

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Yes, but I had James’ PA on speed dial and he’d eventually concede to speak with me...” The difference between the two mayors, in what actually mattered to Elena, was that James’ was already familiar with her while Vanderhorst just thought she was after digging up some dirt. In fact, the whole point of the interview was give the public another aspect of him, not as a mayor or as what the tabloids sold. She just sighed in frustration. “An interview. Apparently he’s not giving any and his office sent me a budget report with a press release instead.. which is not helpful at all, and I have a deadline to meet. Tonight.”

[pcndemoniums]

Another stop and some people started to evacuate the bus and giving her enough room to breath properly. Suri sighed and took the now empty seat next to a girl who smiled in her direction. This was better. “It’s a skill. I know my way around poles.” She smiled back and sighed again, looking out the window for a second before turning back at the stranger. “What are you reading?”</p>

[elenafitzroy-blog]

Elena found the young woman’s reply funny, chuckling as she readjusted her computer bag from the seats to stand between her feet on the floor. Her eyes had already gone back to her scribbles when she heard the question and shrugged, drawing and imaginary circle with the tip of her capped pen. “Notes.” She answered, looking at her own hurried handwriting, half of it looking like letters and the other half hieroglyphics. “I’m a journalist, this is what I come back to the newsroom with, hoping I can make some sense out of it before I start writing.”

[theparksora-blog]

“I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen him, but I’ve heard of him,” she nodded. “But what do I have to do with the mayor? What do you need me to do?”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“I have some insight saying he’ll be around here today... but because I can’t stay here all day in case he doesn’t, if you saw him, you could message me so I can fly here then? I really need to catch him if he does visit. For the paper. Please?”

[itsjoeyjensen-blog]

“Even for a shoe shine?” Joey inquired suggestively, wiggling her thick brows. A triumphant smile graced her lips when the woman agreed, though, Joey liking to think that it was due to her own persuasive skills, and not just out of the kindness of the other’s heart. “You mind grabbing those and following me?”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Are you new in town?” Elena asked after giving the young woman a light nod, stacking the items she pointed and picking them up to follow her inside. She was really running late, the little sidetrack going to come kicking her in the ass later, but there was nothing to be done about it anymore. “Or just moving?” 

[davis-sampson]

“Insurance,” he said shortly by way of explanation. He had long since learned that a good lie was a simple one, and there was no need to pack in the extra details. Besides, ‘insurance’ was boring enough that people tuned out pretty much as soon as you started talking. He didn’t fail to notice the way she said ‘we’ when taking about a potential get together, and he knew exactly what it meant. “Lex and I have already had a run in, so you can stop politely avoiding her name in conversation,” he said somewhat bluntly. 

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Very interesting.” Or not. It was just polite, in her opinion, to acknowledge his field of choice and nod. Part of her wanted to pull the journalist card, not ever satisfied with short, one-worded answers, but considering she hadn’t really seen him in years, and her relationship with Davis wasn’t exactly the closest ever, Elena thought it prudent to accept what was being offered. However, it was a relief to know he and her ex-roommate had already ran into each other. “Well, now that that’s out of the way—” The brunette let out a short, almost nervous laugh, pressing her lips together to quiet it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know if, you know, you two were in good terms. I’m just happy she’s back. Same about you, really.” And she meant it. It was nice to see familiar faces in town. “After being away for a while, it’s good to see some friendly faces again. It starts to feel like home again, I guess.”

[theparksora-blog]

Nari looked at the girl with a weary expression on her face but as soon as the food hit the table the smell hit her like a train and she felt her weariness disappear for a moment. “Well, since you brought food…” she said, her gaze not leaving the spread before her. “I guess I’ll help you out. What do you need?”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

A wide smile at her success after seeing the change in the expressions on the girl’s face at the sight of the food, Elena simply nodded. “I’m trying to gather some information on the mayor, track his last few steps.” She was trying to find him, to be honest. He was avoiding her, denying her an interview—she was on a deadline. “You know, thick eyebrows, salt and pepper hair, handsome in his own right...” Being objective and all. 

[talon-harper]

The overpowering and distinct smell of Chinese assaulting her nostrils, especially after inhaling dark, medium and blonde roasts at the coffee shop. Talon looked up from the script she had open, hunched over just enough to put the words together seeing as she’d forgotten her glasses. — the Journalist-Jogger from the park. “You’re out of luck, Lois Lane. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese anything really that I have to Google to see what it actually looks like haven’t been a part of my diet since last week.” She sat back, tapping the the eraser on her pencil against the paper. “Are you trying to spy on someone?” She asked, eyes narrowing and a slight pull at the edge of her lips. “I’m a decoy aren’t I?” 

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Part of your diet?!” Elena scoffed. half amused, half frustrated. It was just her luck she had been a week too late with her food bribe. “But diets were meant to be broken!” Letting out a sigh in defeat, she went to put the box back in the bag, tying a loose knot on the handles. “Yes and no. I’m trying to get a hold of someone, the mayor, to be precise. He’s playing hard to get. So much for public service...” The last words she muttered, shaking her head. “He may or may not come around these parts for a lunch meeting... I just need an excuse to make it look as if it’s pure coincidence our paths crossed.”

[xjustsophiax-blog]

“Now you know I could never turn down lunch.” Sophia said with a smile taking a small white box in her hand. As the brunette asked her for help her eyes narrowed a little nervous of what the deal might be. “Um.. what kind of help?” She questioned as she took the chopsticks and broke them in half.

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“I need to get a hold of the mayor.” Elena dropped the information blatantly, having tired all her resources and trying every single phone, e-mail and social media messaging she could possibly think of to get Venderhorst, or his assistant, to talk with her. “I brought you Chinese. Now you give me some brilliant idea on how to get this interview before I fail to meet the deadline and am sent home with everything on my desk in a box! What do you say?”

[jasonkrane]

The slightest pressure on his hand as he moved the piece of hair made him freeze for a moment too long, lingering on what could have simply been an involuntary reaction. Reluctantly he had no choice but to move it, terrified of what would happen if he didn’t. It pained him, being this close to her. “I think here would be better…” Not just for himself, but his parents too. They were frugal people, not used to the finer life of Elena’s parents and it meant that he wouldn’t need to dress up. “Mom would prefer somewhere less fancy—” He admitted with a small one-shouldered shrug, watching as her eyes flicked back open again. “Your house, your rules…” He lightly chuckled, twisting so his body was facing her. Without meaning to do so, he stretched an arm over the back of the couch, dangling his hand an inch from the back of her neck, “They’d like that.” The blonde nodded twice, frowning slightly thinking of his mom and dad.

Meeting James had been a priority for them, but not so much for him. Until recently he saw so little of his own son, sharing it with other people wasn’t an option. Only in the last six months did he feel like he knew his son, like they had a bond similar to that of his younger sister and their parents. He was undeniably selfish, but when it came to your own children it was an acceptable trait to have. “They haven’t seen you in a long, long time…” His voice was soothing, inching towards her slightly as she yawned again. “You can do that.” The smile on his lips was small, but it was one of excitement. Jason was getting ahead of himself, but the ache in chest was throbbing like it had done when they first met. You should leave, he thought quietly but his body wouldn’t move. Instead his fingers lightly touched the back of her neck and he rested his head against the back of the couch.

[elenafitzroy-blog]

Hyper aware of his proximity, of how his body shifted to face her, Elena’s entire body went still. She prayed her arms, wrapped around her frame, would keep the shiver that ran down her spine from being too obvious the moment his fingers touched her neck, leaving a prickling trail on her skin, burning where his fingertips brushed. Maybe it was her exhaustion, an effect from the medicine she had taken, or instinct that had her resting her head against his arm, mirroring his own position. For a moment there, her lids dropped again, humming as she tried to pull her lips into a smile. “How long are they coming over for?” She mumbled her question, trying to fight sleep. It was what had her wondering if he was even there at all or if this was just some wicked trick of her mind. She shouldn’t let him get this close—she shouldn’t want him to. 

Eyes flickered open again, gazing at the man through her lashes. Defeated by the sleep engulfing her, that intermittent level of consciousness that came and went, the brunette found herself leaning even closer to the point she was now practically resting her head on his shoulder. “We should have a picnic.” Her voice was drifting, fading as the words escaped her. Elena was losing her battle in trying to stay fully awake, suddenly intoxicated by his scent that made her nostrils burn with yearning for a past in which she was already so used to it that she could barely even notice it. “I can take some days off work.” The last bits were unintelligible, completely gone now as her hands unfolded and dropped slowly on his thigh, chest lifting occasionally as she breathed in slow and paced rhythms. 

[claudmerwin]

Claudia studied the other girl as if she was genuinely considering the option of saying no to the food that she was trying to get something out of her with. What she wanted her to say, she wasn’t entirely sure. “What kind of help?” The brunette asked, wondering how she could be of use to anyone unless they wanted to know something about Beau or her persistent drug problems.

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Ryan Vanderhorst.” Elena didn’t waste much time, on a deadline and with no apparent lead, stress slowly but surely building up and just about to send her into panic mode but doing a fantastic job at trying to conceal it. “The mayor. I need to find him.” She didn’t know exactly how the woman could help her but maybe she knew a way around the strict security to city hall? Someone who had access to him? “The food is yours.”

[jasematt-blog]

“Um.” Jase glanced up from her phone, watching as Elena started taking out Chinese food. She knew nothing about the new mayor except rumors that men whispered in the bar. “I can say that I’m not much help.” Jason admitted, already grabbing one of the containers to see what it was. “You know I don’t pay attention to this political shit.”

[elenafitzroy-blog]

“Anything, Jase.” Pushing the box forward, Elena was hoping something, anything, she’d be able to tell her could be a lead. “Whatever you can remember will help. I’m on a deadline and I’m stuck... anything will help.” 

[moonovereli-deactivated20160610]

his phone equalled hers in value of pictures. memories, he’d be sore to lose. he clutched his phone tight once she handed it over, swiping past the lock screen, just to check that everything was fine, before shoving it into his pocket. “same to you… i’d be lost without this thing,” he pipped with a grateful smile, “i think yours should be okay. i didn’t manhandle it too much,” he teased, his eyes falling into contact with her own as he spoke. damn, she was pretty. 

[elenafitzroy-blog]

Her fingers wrapped tightly around the mobile device, almost as if her life depended on it—it did, to some extent, even when Elena would hate to say something as shallow as that. A nervous laugh escaped her, relaxing more once she looked into the man’s eyes to learn he was joking. “I know I should back it up more often but, I keep forgetting to do that!” The brunette admitted, offering him an apologetic smile. “I hope I didn’t block yours. I tried to unlock it a few times before realizing it wasn’t mine.”