Officer Mitchell

gabrielle mitchell. 23. hawkins pd.

[hawkins-patrol]

julia-reese-09‌:

Julia glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, wishing the food would come out because she already felt like she put her foot in her mouth. Julia didn’t want to stay at the motel long term but she didn’t really have a plan. She’d have to figure it out sooner or later. 

“Umm-…” Julia pressed her lips together. “My parents are from here, I came and lived here for a little while last year and left for a few months. Now I’m back.” Julia kept it short and vague hoping it would be enough. Maybe the woman didn’t know about what happened at Starcourt a few months back and wonder why Julia had been there specifically during that time. 

Her fingers still fiddled with the bracelets on her wrist. “They must really be slammed…” She said looking back towards the kitchen. 

Gabrielle felt like a guest that had overstayed their welcome. She had trouble figuring out what to say next. Instead of probing for more details about her visit, Gabrielle switched tactics.

She leaned back in her seat until her head touched the wall just above the booth. Checking the time on her watch, she nodded in affirmation. “Yeah, I guess so. That’s what we get for coming in on a weekend, huh? I don’t suppose you know any other good places to eat around here though, do you?”

[hawkins-patrol]

outofhermindbyers‌:

Officially. Joyce’s cheeks tinted pink and she directed her gaze down with a smile. “I have quite the reputation around here, don’t I?” Surely, everyone here knew her just from the dozen times she’d stormed in here about Will, or the gates, or magnets or something small that had reminded her of what had happened, honestly.

Joyce followed Gabrielle’s gaze to the closed door that said Chief Jim Hopper and chuckled cheerily, nodding. Yeah, no one could deny that, he was definitely the grumpiest guy she’d ever met. “Try depriving him of coffee.” She chuckled again, looking back at Gabrielle. Then, her eyes grew wide for a split second before she could control her features, and her stomach did a little tumble. Once again, she avoided the other’s eyes with a thoughtful smile. A kick? “That’s because he thinks I’m trouble, which I usually am. Not intentionally!”

Gabrielle was quick to correct herself.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that! It’s not like they’re spreading rumors or anything.” Truthfully, some residents were though. Joyce had a reputation for being loud and... well... crazy. But she was also tenacious, willing to do whatever it took to find her missing son. Gabrielle admired that about Joyce.

She smiled when Joyce did. In close quarters, Gabrielle couldn’t miss the expression when it flashed across her face.

“Right. Of course not. I wouldn’t peg you for a troublemaker, after all.”

[hawkins-patrol]

julia-reese-09‌:

Julia nodded as the woman explained herself. She felt silly for asking now that she realized that it wasn’t her place to ask, at all. Her nerves took over and she anxiously played with the many bracelets that were clasped and tied around her left wrist, covering her 009 tattoo. The brunette took a breath and glanced down. 

Short handed. Julia almost let out a laugh. She knew all too well about what happened the summer of ‘85. She had been a big part of it and knew that dozens of people had died during the battle at Starcourt. “Yeah this town went through a lot..” Julia nodded in agreement but then pressed her lips together wondering if it was suspicious that she knew about the town but yet was staying in a motel? 

“It’s not bad.” Julia said to him. “The motel, I mean.” She told her with a nod. “I’ve stayed in worse…” She lowered her voice. “A lot worse...” 

Silently, Gabrielle wondered just how bad things had been for the girl if she had endured places that were ‘a lot worse’. Did she mean other motels? Houses? Gabrielle wondered if she were meant to hear it at all.

Not wanting to push her luck, she ignored the comment and nodded along to the motel review. “Yeah, it’s nice. Plus, the owner cuts a deal for long term residents.” Gabrielle was thankful for that. There weren’t any apartments in Hawkins that she could live in. The motel was her only option unless she wanted to buy a house.

“So what brings you to Hawkins if you don’t mind me asking?” 

[hawkins-patrol]

julia-reese-09‌:

Julia was taken back slightly by the woman’s question. Sure, she had noticed the blonde at the motel but she didn’t want to seem creepy and bring it up. However, the woman did. Julia cleared her throat after a moment and nodded her head. “Uhh yeah I am.” She said causally. 

Julia did a once over on the woman next to her. She was clearly a cop, based on the outfit, but if she was a cop why would she be staying at a motel. There was a slight perplexed look upon Julia’s face and she debated if she should ask. But the curiosity internally took over. 

“If you don’t mind me asking, you’re a cop here right?” She asked. “Why are you staying a motel?” 

Gabrielle got the distinct feeling that she had made things awkward by prying about the girl’s plans. She supposed it was only fair that Julia ask her a personal question too, one that Gabrielle didn’t mind answering.

“I am,” she nodded, “but I’m not from here. I’m from Indianapolis. I got stationed here after graduating the academy. I guess the staff was a little short-handed before they got me.” She intentionally left out the details about the missing townsfolk in the Summer of ‘85. She had a sneaking suspicion that there was something more behind that story. Not to mention, she didn’t want to scare the girl by telling her about missing persons.

“That, and the pay isn’t great.” Gabrielle laughed softly to herself. She knew the real reason she was still staying at the motel was much more complex than than. She hadn’t made any roots here. Somewhere deep down, she was still holding out for a job in the city.

[hawkins-patrol]

julia-reese-09‌:

Julia had only arrived into town a day before and there she was sitting at her favorite take out joint in the one stop light town. Her back was against the seating in the waiting area and she glanced towards the fish tank against the wall. The only thing that pulled her from her thoughts was a voice. 

She glanced over and saw a blonde woman sitting down next to her. She barely smiled politely before glancing down. Julia realized though, that she knew the woman’s face. Where had she seen her? Julia was racking her mind and realized she had stayed quiet for too long. 

“Yeah same..” Julia said in response, politely and short. After a moment it clicked. She saw the woman outside the motel. They were both guests there. Julia had only been there a couple days and realized that’s where she recognized her. 

After a few minutes, Gabrielle recognized her too. But by that time, she was so worried that too much time had passed, that she considered not saying anything at all. She weighed her options and decided to speak up finally. She reasoned that it would be easier to say something now than wait until they saw each other again at the motel.

“Are you taking your dinner back to the motel too?” she smiled, trying to laugh about the situation with her. Then she faltered, trying not to look like she had been spying on the girl or invading her privacy. “That sounded weird. I just meant, I’ve seen you at the motel--because I’m staying there too... That’s where I’m going with my food.” 

Gabrielle hoped they would make her food faster. She could feel her face heating up with embarrassment and all she wanted was to go home.

[hawkins-patrol]

jcnathanxbycrs‌:

Jonathan couldn’t help the rumble of his stomach and the way it angrily yelled at him for not eating all day– it was easy to forget to eat when he was running around like a chicken with his head cut off, trying to find a decent place to work at now that he was back in town. He couldn’t exactly list his last job as a reference, considering he was fired and his boss was basically turned into a zombie before Jonathan could beg for his job back.

Now he sat at one of the many restaurants downtown, surprised that it survived the purge of downtown shops from before, when Starcourt was still standing. He hummed along to a Psychedelic Furs song playing quietly over the radio, drumming his fingers along with the beat when someone sat nearby. Jonathan turned to look at the person in question as she spoke to him, smiling politely at her.

“It’s uh, it’s not a long wait,” he shook his head at her, not used to anyone speaking directly to him. “Even if it was, the food is worth it. It’s the best grease-covered slop you can find in a 50 mile radius.”

Gabrielle laughed softly at his comment. “Oh yeah? What did you order?” She was grateful for the conversation and wanted to keep it going. As much as she hated to admit, she wasn’t great at meeting new people and short little one-liners usually didn’t get her any attention. If she were back in Indianapolis, she probably would have been ignored. She supposed small-town Indiana was different. It was something she tended to forget.

She took another look at the boy and her eyebrows knit together in concentration. She recognized him from somewhere.

“Aren’t you Joyce’s son? She comes by the station sometimes.”

[hawkins-patrol]

outofhermindbyers‌:

As the woman made room for her on the chair and invited her to sit, Joyce smiled warmly and nodded, scurrying over to the now empty chair. “Thank you! That’s very kind of you:”

As she sat down, she looked around the desk in front of her. “He’ll probably be annoyed I even came by.”She chuckled. Joyce knew that this officer joined Hawkins police not too long ago, but she’d never really gotten a chance to talk to her. Her gaze fell onto the name plate on the table. “Gabrielle, is it? I’m Joyce.” She extended a hand towards her.

“Yeah,” she nodded enthusiastically, “It’s nice to officially meet you.” With a bright smile, Gabrielle reached over her desk and shook Joyce’s hand. She was pleasantly surprised by how well the interaction was going.

She cast a sideways look toward Hopper’s closed office door. “And I’m sure I don’t need to tell you, but I think that’s just how the Chief is--perpetually annoyed. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I saw him smile. He usually seems to get a kick out of seeing you here though.” In the back of her mind, Gabrielle wondered if that might be too much information. She didn’t know the details of their relationship and didn’t know Joyce well enough to make assumptions

[hawkins-patrol]

lost-kat-010‌:

No warning signs had gone off, that had to mean this wasn’t a bad idea…right? It’s too late to second guess, now all she can do is pray that hope hadn’t been misplaced. One thing is certain, Katherine isn’t the least bit sure what kind of questions this woman would ask. Would they be invasive? Would she have to lie to protect not only Josie but herself? She had plenty of her own questions but not a single bit of the nerve it would take to ask them. 

“Thank you.” Katherine gives a fleeting smile, a bit too quick to be natural but it’s okay to feel awkward about this situation, at least that’s what she assumes. “Katherine…My name is Katherine.” She rarely every spoke of the name the lab gave her. Then it hits her…

“I uh…I never saw your badge. Do you have it on you?” She realizes a bit too late that this officer never showed her credentials. “I-It’s not that I don’t believe you…I was just…” She can’t say she was told to ask for such a thing, now can she? “You’re not dressed like a cop.”

"Oh, uh,” and Gabrielle smiles again, reaching inside her jacket pocket to pull out an official badge. She holds it out in front of her person before tucking it away. She has nothing to hide from this girl. And officially, she isn’t breaking any rules by investigating this case. Hopper won’t mind, Gabrielle is sure. If anything, she assumes he’ll appreciate her going the extra mile to solve a case that’s gone cold.

“Anyway, it’s nice to meet you Katherine. Like I said, my name is Officer Mitchell. You can call me Gabrielle if that makes you more comfortable though. I left my uniform at the station. Tonight’s actually a night off, but I was in the area and hoping to ask Miss Denali some questions. Do you mind if we take a seat? I promise I won’t take up too much time. I’m sure a young girl such as yourself probably has plans for her Friday night.”

[hawkins-patrol]

lost-kat-010‌:

Katherine doesn’t offer another verbal response, choosing to shake her head in response. Josie worked long hours, often arriving home after Katherine fell asleep so it was hard to pinpoint when exactly the nurse would arrive home. 

Hopefully this woman wouldn’t decide to wait that long. 

Even with that hope, Katherine remains in the doorway, awaiting for her to speak again and bid her farewell when such an opportunity arose. While she seemed nice and trustworthy, one could never be too sure. 

“I am.” She answers after a minute, not completely a lie given the way Josie treated her but not legally the truth either. Still, she knew better than to specify. “S-Sure.” Both answers are spoken very quietly, almost afraid of speaking an octave higher. Slowly, Katherine steps aside, opening the door wide enough so the woman could enter.

Gabrielle smiles a little wider and ducks her head inside, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. Gabrielle wouldn’t let on to the fact, but she had just caught the girl in a lie. She’d read Josie’s file before showing up on her doorstep. She knew Katherine wasn’t her daughter. She could only wonder what other secrets this family was hiding. Had she finally caught a lead?

“You have such a lovely home,” she states, taking in her surroundings. Mentally, she was taking note of everything she saw. She turns back around to face the girl. “You know, I don’t think I caught your name?”

[hawkins-patrol]

outofhermindbyers‌:

Joyce probably came by too often. By now, she knew the receptionist on a first name basis and could have probably just burst into Hopper’s office to check if he was there, but she wanted to keep it polite. She’d caused enough turmoil at this station, and even though every single time she’d proven to be right, she didn’t need to seem crazy when there was no reason for it.

These days, the police was usually here collectively, because the only thing to investigate were stolen garden gnomes and farmers that argued over the fence separating their properties. Which was a good thing. God, it was such a good thing.

Joyce turned around as she heard a voice directed at her and spotted a young woman leaning over to her. She smiled and raised a hand to her forehead, hitting it softly. “Aw, of course he is. Just my luck.”

Gabrielle smiled. She had managed to keep things cool this long, why not push her luck further? She cleaned off a pile of folders from the chair opposite her desk and sat them on the ledge. She motioned to the now empty chair.

“You’re welcome to wait for him if you want?” It’s not like we’re doing anything you could distract us from anyway, she wanted to say.

“He shouldn’t be out too long.”

[hawkins-patrol]

lost-kat-010‌:

Most people Katherine’s age at this time of night would be out with friends, or studying, or doing anything to occupy herself rather than stay indoors all alone while her guardian worked a graveyard shift at the hospital. What is Katherine doing instead of any of those things? Still attempting to figure out how to cook leftovers properly in the microwave without completely ruining it or leaving it freezing cold. 

It’s not like she minded cold food, it’s far better than what she was used to for the majority of her life but Josie warned her she could get sick from certain cold foods and that it’s more fulfilling to eat your food nice and hot. So, Kat learned from the kind nurse as best she could but it’s still a work in progress. The young woman is so enraptured in the process of heating Josie’s cooking that she barely hears the door.  Even when it did register, Katherine prays it’s just a trick of her mind and now a late night visitor. She saw in the news those could be dangerous but Josie always instilled in her that if need be, she use her power and run as fast she could to a neighbor. 

Then again, Josie did try to encourage her to interact and to be polite. It would be rude to ignore whoever is at the door. Perhaps they needed help or it was a friend that came by to visit Josie. They couldn’t very well be left outside. With that decision made, Katherine finally moves from her place in the kitchen and slowly opens the door, peaking her head out just enough to see the person and allow them to see her. The question is to be expected but Katherine’s nervousness is obvious. 

“Hi…” Should she introduce herself? Maybe later. Either way, the woman is a police officer so she’s safe to talk to, right? “N-No…she’s working.” Kat’s voice is low, almost as if she’s afraid the answer will gain her a violent reaction.

Gabrielle focused on the girl’s response. It was so quiet, she was afraid she might miss it. 

“Do you know when she’ll be back?”

There was just enough room to see her face in the doorway. She was younger than Gabrielle, brown hair, light eyes, and soft features. She peered at the girl through the tiny gap. She seemed normal at first glance, but Gabrielle knew suspicious activity when she saw it. Her general demeanor was enough to raise questions.

She switched tactics.

“Are... are you her daughter?” Gabrielle asked with the friendliest smile she could muster. “Do you mind if I come inside and ask you a few questions?

[hawkins-patrol]

It was a slow day at the station--honestly, they were all slow--but Gabrielle was keeping herself busy with some light filing work when Joyce came in. Gabrielle stopped what she was doing and watched as the woman strode over to the receptionist, listening in on their conversation.

She wanted to know what Hopper was.

Gabrielle could help with that. More importantly, she wanted to help Joyce. Most days, she watched Joyce come in with a smile on her face and enough good vibes to spare. Gabrielle on the other hand was less confident when it came to starting a conversation, her attempts to talk to new people coming off as awkward. So when shown opportunity to make a friend, she leapt at it.

“Hopper’s at lunch. He should be back in thirty,” she supplied, leaning over from her desk.

[hawkins-patrol]

When Gabrielle graduated the police academy, she dreamed of fighting crime and solving mysteries. When she was recruited to the Hawkins Police force, that dream changed. There was no murder or arson in this town. But there were secrets. Gabrielle didn’t believe the conspiracies outlined in the papers or the cover-story that the chief had tried to feed her. She knew something sinister had gone down in Hawkins and she was determined to figure out what.

For a small town, the number of missing persons cases was alarmingly high. There were the missing forty in the summer of ‘85, but then there was also the case of the missing girl with the shaved head, and the little boy from the middle school, and the redheaded high schooler gone missing from her friend’s pool... the list went on. 

Gabrielle was tracking down one suspect in the case of a girl, missing from a hospital, which led her here, standing on a porch in her civilian clothes. This wasn’t an assigned case, but she had to get her answers somewhere.

She knocked on the door and smiled politely when she became face to face with a stranger.

“Hello, my name is Officer Mitchell with the Hawkins Police Department. I’m looking for a Miss Josie Denali. Is she here?”

[hawkins-patrol]

Gabrielle’s late shift at the police station that night left her exhausted, not from exciting car chases or the grueling mental work of solving a case, but from the absolute lack of action. She was tired of sitting at a desk and waiting for the world to move around her. She had spent the last hour figuring out how to make the clock move faster.

Leaving the station, she drove to the nearest takeout joint and placed an order at the counter. She was disappointed by the lack of options that small-town America had to offer, especially coming from a big city like Indianapolis. She settled on a meal that she could take back to the motel and moved to the bench to patiently wait for it.

Beside her, she recognized a familiar face. She tried not to stare as she fumbled for a name. She had been at Hawkins for almost a year, but had made little progress in the people department.

“I uh, hope the wait’s not too long. I’m really hungry,” she laughed softly, trying to make awkward conversation.

[hawkins-patrol]

Gabrielle is someone new that I picked up for this group. It’s always nice to have an original character that you can get creative with! Below is a little about my girl, Gabrielle Mitchell:

Gabrielle is a 23 year old officer with the Hawkins PD, recruited from the police academy

she’s a kind-hearted girl who wants to make the world a better place

as a woman in the 80′s, she’s struggling to make her mark in a male-dominated field

she resents being sent to Hawkins just a little bit, especially when she comes from Indianapolis

she filled an open position one year after the summer of ‘85, when half the town went missing

being a Hawkins police officer is anything but exciting

she spends most of her free time searching the town for answers (where did everyone go? what’s going on in this town? can she really believe what the chief is telling her?)

 as an outsider, she struggles to make friends, but that doesn’t mean she won’t try

she’s lived in Hawkins for almost a year now but still has a room at the motel where she lives

(more as the plot goes on...?)