eve

45. bringer of justice

[zelda-byrne]

Zelda raised an eyebrow. She didn't want to come on too strong -- never did. She had to act unaffected, uninterested. And yet, she also wanted to bring Eve over to her house. Right now. "Then I'd say how about you come have some tea? Or whiskey. Or whatever you'd like. I can brew up just about anything. For a non-cop."

[eveirvine]

"Tea sounds nice," Eve replied with a tiny smile pulling at the corners of her lips. Eve toyed with the ends of one of her curls, something to keep herself from reacting too excitably, from becoming too much. "Maybe it'd be fun to get to know someone who seems kinda normal around here," Even mumbled, head tilted off to the side, "Would...you want to do that tonight after I'm done with -" She cut herself off gesturing with her hand, "All of this stuff?"

[seer-cressida]

Brigid thought to share in the divine, to offer some morsel of knowledge that would save Eve's soul and lead her to the Cailleach -- but something held her back. "What do you do--" she asked, tucking her hair behind her ears, "--when there's a mystery you cannot solve?"

[eveirvine]

Eve's brow furrowed because what kind of fucking question was that? Her mouth opened and then closed a few times and she felt more and more like a fish than a person. Finally she came up with an answer, "Try again? Look at things from another angle?"

[honorrafferty]

Honor knew that the Twelve wanted to be sure that this new woman, Eve, was really within their grasp. He'd been asked to cozy up to her a bit, to find out where her true loyalties lay. Especially since she'd been poking around and asking questions, and there was a real need to draw up the bridges, to be sure that everyone within the castle's walls, so to speak, was safe. He'd never really spoken with her, and he wasn't sure he had the best read on her, but -- what the hell? It was worth a try. So he found her at the inn one evening, and he sidled up to her table. "You have room for one more?" he asked.

@eveirvine

[eveirvine]

Eve did not understand how these people were so shiny and so happy at all points; the weather was tumultuous at best, their god seemed to speak to them - quite literally, and there were bodies cropping up left and right. It sounded like psychosis. It sounded like they needed saved. "Oh!" Eve sounded, lost in a pile of notes from all the interviews she had taken over the past few weeks. She shoved the papers aside and pushed her pencil back up into her hair, "Yeah, sure, go right ahead...Honor, right?"

[vera-crowe]

Vera shrugged. "I mean-- plenty of people, but I just got here. It's not like I know full names or anything yet. Barkeep, maybe?" She supposed she'd just have to hope that he had a good memory for faces, because she wasn't sure she'd been particularly forthcoming with her identity either. "Look, I'm a lot of things, but I ain't a killer. Look at me." She gestured to herself-- five foot two, a hundred pounds soaking wet. She could take down a grown man if she had the element of surprise, but she sure didn't look it, and that had to count in her favor, right?

[eveirvine]

"Hey, new girl is a good enough descriptor," Eve conceded. She scanned Vera over as she discussed whether or not she could be a killer. She'd seen people younger than Vera, smaller than her commit sins worse than that. The thing about new people in town did make the hairs on the back of her neck prickle upward and she couldn't help but ask, "Where are you from if you're not from around here?"

[zelda-byrne]

"Then quit pretending," Zelda said, acting unaffected, though in truth Eve was very attractive, and she wanted to just -- close the distance between them, to have her right now. Not that that would be appropriate. "You know I didn't do shit. Let's move on. Play cop is boring."

[eveirvine]

"Okay, okay," Eve conceded, a lopsided smile, "Cop-act dropped." She pulled her lips between her teeth. She weighed her options, wanting to give into what felt like an intensive advance from Zelda or to keep people away from her. Eve decided on the former hissed out a sigh, "So, okay, if I were interested in something a little more than a...reenactment and I promise not to bug you anymore about the whole spooky murder thing?"

[delilah-hart]

Delilah continued perusing the produce in front of her, taking a moment to poke at a grapefruit to see if it was ripe. It was not. Her attitude softened for the slightest of moments, though, as Eve continued. "I suppose that makes enough sense. I'm sorry I can't be of more help."

She finally paused and turned to face Eve properly. Of course she wanted her town to be safe. Perhaps she had been a bit rash in her dismissal; if it had been one of the faithful, she, too, would be asking these questions of everyone. Delilah's head tilted slightly to one side. She took a breath in, trying to will amity into her chest. "Yes," she mused. "We do all want that. I'm sorry if I seem... cold. I'm not used to law enforcement working for the good of our people in this town. Typically, they are from other settlements and fully incompetent."

[eveirvine]

"I don't think you're cold," Eve said gently, shaking her head slightly, "You're a leader, you're trying to protect everyone the way I am." Which was to say Eve did think Delilah was being more than cold, would probably have called her a bitch if this was back home. She gave a shrug trying to temper the urge to lash out and instead offered, "I know I'm not...really from here - I do want to help out the best I can though, this place is really nice - the people are good - I want to work alongside you all, not against you."

[edenfishers]

Eden was smarter than to accept seeds in the hard-ground months. They were no good for planting. Carly had taught her well what to barter for, and what not to. While Eden was sure she wasn't making as good trades as her mama would've, she knew this much. "Seed's're no good for a few more months. but how much honey? What type of tea?" There was more information that she needed here, and she was going to get it. "White eggs? or brown?"

[eveirvine]

"This much," Eve plucked the mason jar brimming with honey from her bag. It was enough to last forever, she was certain of that, she'd traded more than she probably should have for it but she had a sweet tooth she couldn't ignore and besides, sugar was hard enough to come by. "The tea though? No idea, just - tea, think it's black?" Eve said digging into the bag and producing the container of looseleaf tea. She sniffed at the satchel that held it. "Doesn't smell minty so I'm doubling down on black tea and brown, they always taste better to me."

[vera-crowe]

Vera's nostrils flared, and she considered the words carefully. As much distrust brimmed in her gut for the woman, it was true that it would be in her best interest to attempt to establish her alibi. Even if she didn't really believe anyone in town would have much interest in corroborating her story, if it came to needing a scapegoat. "I was at the tavern, then I went home-- to the farmhouse. Outside of town. They've got me sleepin' in one of the barn lofts. Got my own mattress and everything, you can check. Ms. Langley might've checked on me or seen me at some point when I got back, I don't know."

[eveirvine]

"See, wasn't that easy?" Eve relaxed, allowing her arms to cross over her chest. Vera seemed to have a reputation that she couldn't pin down - something about staying with the Langelys didn't track for this strong of a personality - part of her wondered how the hell she even ended up here. To Eve, it felt like Vera fit in Ridge Harbor just as well as Eve herself did (which was to say poorly but making it work).

"Anyone at the tavern see you?" Eve followed up, not that she wasn't sure Ms. Langley wouldn't be a good witness, but a lot could happen from the tavern to the farm, "I'm not looking to pin this on you if you didn't do it, kid."

[ronniescruz]

Ronnie shrugged. She wasn't used to the question. She'd never stayed long enough in a town to learn their laws, let alone deal with law enforcement. She thought law enforcement was a little ridiculous, given the world they lived in. But here was an actual cop, just like in stories from long before Ronnie was born and everyone didn't fend for themselves.

"I was at home," she said. "I had dinner, and then I slept. Alone." Ronnie lived in a small, unimpressive house in a neighborhood near the coast. Or perhaps she was squatting in the house. The house had been empty, so she moved in. No one had told her if there were any rules about who could live where, or if she'd needed to pay for it or something. But Ronnie wasn't about to tell that to some random-ass cop.

[eveirvine]

Eve pursed her lips. That was...less than helpful - and by any means it didn't clear Ronnie from being a potential murderer. She swallowed and gave a slow nod after a minute, trying to gather her thoughts. "Did...anybody see you go home?" Eve asked throwing a hand up as if to pry for a little more information. "I mean, look, it doesn't really help me to rule you out if you were just home alone all night, yeah? What time did you get home? When'd you get up? Just give me a little more than 'I went home alone'," Eve plead clasping her hands together as if in some vain attempt at prayer.

[ruthfishers]

Ruth nodded. She understood where Eve was coming from - due process and all that. And it made sense that Eve was questioning her - she'd made it no secret to law enforcement that she was a desperate woman these days. Desperate people do desperate things. It saddened her to think that this was the perception she had been left to give without her wife by her side. But still, she understood.

"Eden and I were at home all of last night," she said. Ruth had barely left the house for longer than the school day in the month since Carly had disappeared. She needed to be home in case Carly came back. But Carly kept not coming back, and now there was a body. And a symbol on the body. And the Twelve seemingly covering something up - not that Ruth could prove it, not yet. It was all still seeds taking root in her mind right now. She had bits and pieces and was trying to put them together. "I don't have much in the way of proof, beyond my daughter vouching for me, but there are leftovers in the fridge, if that does anything?" They weren't good leftovers. It had been a mediocre dinner, at best.

[eveirvine]

Eve eased, it wasn't hard for her to relax given the state of things but she had very little in way of interest of truly grilling people given the fact that would not endear her to others. An aggressive approach didn't feel like she'd make any true headway with the answers she needed, not only for this body, but the one she found even before she landed in Ridge Harbor.

"Leftovers kinda says it all," Eve conceded - Ruth didn't feel like she'd be a vicious killer, then again, nothing in Ridge Harbor really ever felt as if it was as it seemed, now did it? "Any idea who the guy was?" Eve asked with a raise of her brow, "Like, see him in town or anything?"

[zelda-byrne]

"I'm an excellent artist," Zelda said, though she was nothing of the sort. Her art was in her mixtures, the potions that she could conjure to bring together different forces of nature in just the right combination that they would accomplish something near to a miracle. With a pencil or a paintbrush, she'd never been gifted. "But perhaps it'd be better for me to simply reenact the scene." The flirtation was half-hearted, but she may as well. Eve was beautiful, and Zelda had wanted to wrap her fingers into that thick hair from the moment she'd seen it. And yet it was true that she did not trust her.

[eveirvine]

"Oh, I'm sure," Eve huffed out in a laugh, fighting the urge to fold, appear small and docile. She hated being flustered, it wasn't productive, brought her brain to a screeching halt - distracted her from what she was really trying to do which was puzzle out a killer.

"Reenact?" Eve repeated, her voice tightening ever-so-slightly. Maybe it was self-indulgent, given the fact she truly doubted that Zelda was the one behind this all - she felt like she could be some kind of mastermind secretly, but not really a murderous sort. Eve combed her fingers, rather unsuccessfully, through her hair and gave a raise of her brows, "Zelda - look - come on." An exasperated laugh slipped free, "You're making it really hard to try to pretend to interrogate you."

[delilah-hart]

Delilah's eyes narrowed a near-imperceptible amount. "You're trying to rule everyone out... to identify him? If you succeed in ruling out everyone who isn't him, who will be left to claim his identity?" She turned back to the stall of fresh vegetables she had been perusing, choosing to disregard Eve as much as possible.

"I imagine my answer is much like everyone else's. I don't know him, I didn't recognize him, and he wasn't carrying identification with him. If anything, you have more of a chance of id'ing him than I do, since you have access to the coroner." Delilah paused for a moment to glance over her shoulder. "Or, I assume you do. I'm never perfectly sure how far your reach extends." The last word pulled a tightly polite smile across Delilah's lips.

[eveirvine]

"Talking to everyone lets me know where people were, if they could've seen something - if they saw someone talk to him, y'know?" Eve argued her brow furrowing. She sighed and chose to follow after Delilah after she turned her attention away, leaning toward her as if to continue her...well, she didn't want to call it an interrogation, but that's what it was.

"I do, but the guy didn't have any ID they could find on him," Eve sighed, her shoulders slumping downward. "It's not reach, I'm just - I wanna make sure everyone's safe don't I? I know that's what everyone wants," Eve let her brow knit, let her eyes soften, she needed to approach this less aggressively.

[seer-cressida]

Brigid prickled, fists bunching the fabric of her dress on either side. Her frown was petulant, eyes red-rimmed with tears as she stared blankly out over the cliffside. The ocean was grey. Always grey. Splashing up against the rocks, threatening to rise, to wash them all away. "It doesn't matter," the words but a breath, spoken with an even tone. "This wasn't the work of mortal hands."

[eveirvine]

"Wasn't...done with...mortal...huh?" Eve spoke aloud, her mouth moving slowly as her brain tried to wrack through whatever it was that Brigid was saying to her. It didn't make sense, but fuck, maybe if she could divine whatever it was she was talking about and garner some real, helpful, information.

[delilah-hart]

Delilah waited silently for Eve to finish her full spiel. She took a small inhale to respond, only for the insufferable woman to launch into another sentence. She closed her mouth and puller her lips into a tight line. After she finished, Delilah allowed her another moment to make sure she was really done speaking.

"Eve, you know my whereabouts are of absolutely no use to you and your investigation." The final word drew out ever-so-slightly more than it needed to. "But if you must know, I was in the temple until ten thirty. Any of the clergy will verify. Then I went home." She was well aware that this didn't exactly clear her, but it was the truth and Eve certainly wouldn't leave her alone without some kind of answer.

"Seems to me your time would be better spent identifying the man who was killed, rather than asking everyone you see in the market where they were last night." Her eyes glanced up and down Eve's form. "But I suppose you are the... detective."

[eveirvine]

Eve knew she had to play this one carefully. Dealing with any one of those seemingly self-righteous motherfuckers on the council, 'The Twelve', was always a tightrope walk.

"No, no, I know," Eve said shaking her head as if her own actions were foolish, playing the opposite of her true belief, "It's just about ruling people out - everyone - I mean I'm trying to figure out who this guy was, it's like he just appeared out of nowhere, you know?" Eve sighed and allowed her shoulders to drop.

Be small, be weak, Eve had told herself more often than not with every interaction she had with these people.

"Do you have any idea who he could be - I mean did you see anything strange or - see him in town before it all went down?" Eve asked, lacing her fingers together as if to plead.

[zelda-byrne]

Zelda did not trust cops. Correction: Zelda did not trust anyone. But she had found herself drawn to Eve Irvine ever since she'd come to town, and now, she was even more so. She shrugged easily. "I was taking a bath." This was actually true -- she had spent the night at home setting up the perfect herbal bath, burning candles, and reading. "Would you like me to draw you a picture?"

[eveirvine]

Eve did not think she held any puritanical beliefs, why would she? She didn't have any gods, she didn't align with the belief of any Veiled One or a Christian god that some people back from her hometown seemed to believe was meant to save them but there was something about Zelda that made her impassably nervous.

"You're really something, Zelda," Eve barked a laugh and then gave a raise of her brow as if to further question the other woman's line of thinking, "Depends on how good an artist you are, I mean - that's good evidence, right? Proves where you were in a way."

[vera-crowe]

"I don't have to tell you anything! I know my rights!" Vera didn't know any such thing, but she certainly knew a lot about getting in trouble. She hadn't murdered the local (she wasn't that sociopathic), but Vera knew just how dangerous it was to be an outsider at a time like this. The outsiders were the easiest to target. Fortunately, most people liked to believe in the idea of rights, even if they were ill-defined and unofficial. It tended to give anyone in authority enough pause for Vera to work her way into a reasonable excuse. Especially if she had done something. Which she hadn't.

[eveirvine]

"You know that isn't really painting a good look for you on this one, right?" Eve asked cocking her head to the side. She had no cause to believe that Vera really had done anything but it was always better to rule out those she could before she could shift her focus toward the Twelve, who she believed were, well, really the people behind it all. "I'm not even, like, fucking arresting you or anything, I was just asking you where you were last night, not last week, just between sundown and dawn," she argued giving a raise of her brows.

[edenfishers]

@eveirvine

"Eggs! Brown and white!" Eden was yelling, a typical weekday at the marketplace. with Carly gone and Ruth at work, Eden was typically the one manning the stall, trading for everything the two of them would need to eat that week. This week wasn't a particularly strong lay, but it wasn't a weak one either. "Hey, there!" she called to a semi-familiar face passing her stall by. "Got anything to trade for some eggs?"

[eveirvine]

Eve was wondering how this whole 'blending in thing' was going to work - it had been a handful of months inside Ridge Harbor, but that still hadn't seemed like it was enough to fully endear herself to these people. Some were suspicious, some wouldn't talk if she so much as even tried to say a simple 'hello'. Still she tried, she maintained, every new conversation was a chance to worm her way further into the heart of the community.

"I feel like it depends on what you're looking for," Eve answered, taking a moment to have her body catch up to her mind and finally stop walking. She took a few steps backward to align back to the stall and gave her focus on...Aidan? No. Elle? No. She couldn't remember the girl's name but it stuck on the tip of her tongue. "I mean, I just got a little pack of seeds from the Carters," Eve began digging through the tote bag that hung on her shoulder, "Honey, some tea?"