Penelope Brown

dependent muse for City of Ruin|| FC Jenna Coleman|| Werewolf || 25

[penelopecor]

Penelope "Penny" Brown Intro

( Jenna Coleman / Female / She/Her ) — PENELOPE BROWN has been living in Port Leiry for A FEW WEEKS (she was born there, she is back after leaving for college). They currently work as the OWNER OF COOL BEANS CAT CAFE, and are 25 years old. No one is sure if they’re actually a WEREWOLF or if they’re connected to HARFORD. They tend to be quite DENSE and INDECISIVE, but can also be CARING and PLAYFUL.— ( doodle / PST / they/them / 29 / eye horror, miscarriages ) What song would you say your character’s favorite is: Her favorite song tends to fluctuate depending on the week because she has a very eclectic taste in music, but some consistent favorites are Crucified by Army of Lovers, Inkpot Gods by The Amazing Devil, and Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller. She has a taste for the theatrical. If your character is not human, how would they react to finding out about the existence of a cure to turn them human?: Penelope would be deeply conflicted. Being a born werewolf, her supernatural nature has always been a core part of who she is, for better or for worse. However, she wouldn’t be able to deny that part of her had always been a little bit envious of how much simpler human lives are. She’d wrestle with herself a lot over whether or not to take it. What is your character’s favorite movie or TV show?: Might seem like an odd choice, but Mushi-shi. She stumbled on it once on Netflix and now its her favorite thing to put on when she’s restless and can’t sleep. 

TW: CHILD NEGLECT, DRINKING, BLOOD, BODY HORROR, IMPLIED DEATH

Name: Penelope “Penny”  Brown

Occupation: owner of Cool Beans Cat Cafe

Age: 25

Sexuality: Lesbian

Species: Werewolf

Clan/Pack/Coven?: Harford

Hometown: Port Leiry 

Relationship Status: Single

Personality Traits: Indecisive, dense, playful, caring

Biography - 

[1] Being an only daughter had its ups and downs. There were no sibling rivalries, nor was there anyone to wrestle for the remote or have her accomplishments measured against—but there was also nobody to share in the constant yet distant expectations of her parents. They were rarely home, tied up at work more often than not. By the time most kids were just barely learning how to not make the microwave explode, she already knew her way around the kitchen.

[2] Tried as she might, she didn’t quite fit in with other Warwick kids, either. She wasn’t as strong of a fighter or as fast of a runner as other children in the pack. She never understood why everyone was taking it so seriously. She found artistic pursuits to be more interesting anyways. At school, though, she compensated with warmth. She made a point of being friendly, slipping easily into conversations with every group, from athletes to misfits. Still, she always remained on the edge of belonging—welcome everywhere, but never truly claimed by anyone. 

[3] Puberty didn’t just bring mood swings or awkward growth spurts. Every full moon her body twisted and transformed in searing agony as the beast within her awoke. Her senses and strength had sharpened, but her feelings of confusion and ‘otherness’ deepened as well. To her family and pack, she was still the weak one, the odd one out. She started spending less time at home, the silence grating on her frayed nerves. She found solace in a cat cafe. She went often enough that the owners began treating her like their own, folding her into their little world without question. They smelled like the Harford pack, but she didn’t care. She still called them Aunt and Uncle.

 [4]She didn’t quite get it when girls talked about boys and dating, she just smiled and nodded along. Those feelings had never sparked for her. The closest thing she could remember was the way her chest tightened watching her friend Ashlyn light up as she talked about the book she was reading. It was admiration—had to be. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.

[5] By the time senior year rolled around, the distance between her and her family had become a canyon. they found out she had been spending all her free time with wolves from the Harford Pack. They gave her an ultimatum.  It broke her heart, but the choice was clear. She chose her ‘Aunt and Uncle’. They welcomed her into their home with warm coffee and open arms. They celebrated with her when she was accepted to University of Washington. She called them at least once a week after she left.

[6] College was a blessing and a curse. She had initially gone to get a teaching degree, but found herself deeply unsatisfied in that major. The next few years she kept changing majors, growing increasingly frustrated at not being able to find what fit. Parties became her escape. It was at these parties she started uncovering truths about herself: that the flutter in her chest around other girls wasn’t just admiration, and that her tolerance for alcohol was far lower than her confidence suggested. Everything came to a head when she got black out drunk one night. She woke up alone in the woods with no memory of the night before, tattered clothes, a familiar ache in her bones, and the taste of iron on her tongue. She didn’t know what happened, but she knew she probably fucked up. Badly. 

[7] Her next call home was a lifeline she hadn’t expected. Her Aunt and Uncle knew she was drifting—though not how far—and they were getting too old to keep the café and its cats running on their own. Gently, they asked if she’d consider coming back to take it over. Penelope accepted. It would be strange to come back to Port Liery after all this time, but the thought of the café felt like an anchor she desperately needed. A place to slow down, to hide, to try again. What’s the worst that could happen? 

[genevieve-andrews]

Who: Open! Where/When: Port Eerie Rave, Early Evening

Keep an eye on things at Avi's little party. Orders straight from the big bad wolf herself were hard to turn down. 

Halloween wasn’t really a thing for her, she always seemed to have a lot due in October, but she could put together a costume from her closet, zhuzh it up enough to be Rave Lois Lane instead of the regular one. White shirt, black vest, blacklight paint on her cheek for a quick superman symbol to make it clear, and she was set. No kandi, that was Penny’s thing, but she was pretty proud of what she’d gotten together last second. 

Raucous at the Rave, Evie Andrews on the byline. She’d have to workshop that headline, probably, but making herself approach this like research for a story made it feel less weird. Less like she was looking for trouble, and more like she’d be giving it a real run for its money when it found her. 

Not that she was looking for trouble in the first place. She was just... watching. Observing. Glancing for trouble, oh-so-casually as she dug through a candy bowl and shoved a full hand of it into her mouth, more to look like she fit in than anything. 

TREAT!  Shoveling Candy into your mouth, you nearly crack a tooth on some cherry hard candy. Oop! Wait! That's a [RED GEMSTONE] The Red Gemstone Key item can be traded to the Vampire Council in exchange for a favor!

Ow. Even the candy bowl knows she doesn’t belong here.

The weird gem thing was stashed in a pocket for a later date, a mental note that Anish might know something about whatever it was, and she turned, leaving the snack table behind.

Bad idea. There was a much closer crowd now, one she was quickly lost in, trying to force her way through, all elbows and shoulders. 

That wasn’t working. The dancing, laughing, drinking crowd was turning more into a crush of people, one she was unable to get out of. The more she tried to push, the worse it got, like trying to fight the flow of a river and getting nowhere, almost getting dragged down from it all until—

She got an arm through a gap between some dancers, and instead of having to shove them apart to make her way through, a hand was in hers, pulling. A lifeline, one she took full advantage of, letting herself be pulled out and finally getting free of that crowd. 

“Holy shit, thanks.” Evie took a few deep breaths, trying to even her breathing out after the panic of that mess, “You’re like, my hero.”

[penelopecor]

Penelope was still buzzing from the escape, checking her phone every few minutes—half to make sure her packmates had gotten out safely, half to see if there was any word from Nori or Ash. She couldn’t wait to get to the fun part of the night, to drink a little, dance, and finally let loose. But she didn’t want to already be tipsy by the time Nori arrived—and unfortunately, she was definitely a lightweight. Just dancing would have to do for now.

She was weaving her way toward the dance floor when something caught her eye: a familiar figure struggling to push through the crush of bodies, trapped in the chaos of the crowd.

It was Evie.

For a split second, Penelope froze. Six years dissolved away in an instant—replaced by the echo of raised voices, tears, and the sound of something breaking that couldn’t be easily fixed. Evie had been her only real friend in Warwick. More like a sister than anything else. When Penelope had left to live with her aunt and join Harford, the choice had shattered them. Evie never understood why she couldn’t be happy in Warwick, and Penny knew Evie had seen her leaving as a betrayal. She’d made that clear the night everything fell apart. Penelope had been heartbroken. She still was, in quiet ways she never talked about.

Before she could think twice, her feet were already moving. The crowd threatened to swallow Evie whole, dancers closing in from every side. Penelope saw her old friend’s hand shoot up between two bodies—and she didn’t hesitate. She grabbed it firmly, pulling her free and steering her toward a pocket of open space near the edge of the floor.

“Are you okay?” Penelope asked over the pounding music, releasing Evie’s hand but letting her own hover near her shoulder, scanning her quickly for injuries.

Old hurts could wait. Maybe. if she was lucky, this could be like it was with Ash. Maybe enough time had passed that, even if they’d never be sisters again, they could at least be friends.

[penelopecor]

Who: @therawend

Where: Halloween Rave

Penelope could feel the bass blasting from the subwoofers in her chest, each beat slowly chipping away at any lingering tension from the past hour. The lights, the music, the energy…this was her element. Raves and festivals had been her favorite discovery when she went to college. There was no feeling in the world like it.

Carefully she scanned the crowd, hoping to find her girlfriend. Even just the thought of the word brought a goofy smile to her face. She also kept an eye out for her best friend, just in case she had decided to come after all.

But instead of Nori or Ash, something else caught her eye—a flash of orange and red across the floor. A woman in an oversized orange sweater, short red skirt, and thick glasses that looked delightfully fake. There was no mistaking it: Velma from Scooby-Doo.

Before she even realized it, Penelope’s feet were already carrying her closer, the search momentarily forgotten.

“Hey! Excuse me?” she called over the music, her grin bright and warm. “I just have to say, I adore your costume! You look amazing!

[penelopecor]

Who: @lcveyearned

Where: Penelope’s apartment

When: the Thursday before Halloween, two days before this

Penelope is humming softly along with ‘Chasing Cars’ playing through her speakers, fingers sifting through a scattered mix of letter beads as she searched for the ones she needed for the bracelet she was making. She kept her head as still as possible, not wanting to disrupt the careful work Ash was doing braiding her hair.

Sure, it was one of the cheesiest, most cliché things two girls could do at a sleepover—but who said growing up meant letting go of the silly, fun stuff? It had been years since they’d had a night like this. What better way to celebrate than by reviving old traditions?

Her phone buzzes beside her, breaking her focus. A message from Nori asking if she was free on Saturday.

Penelope feels her cheeks warm slightly at the reminder of their coordinated costumes—and of how sweetly Nori had smiled at her that day. She quickly types a reply, though her expression grows unusually thoughtful as she stared at the screen.

That conversation had been replaying over and over in her head every night since. She kept reminding herself that they were just friends, but….something about that conversation really just stuck to her like a burr.

“Hey, Ash? I have a question that’s going to make me sound incredibly stupid. Promise not to laugh too hard?” Even with as lightly as she says it, there was no hiding the self consciousness under the humor.

[takeuchi-inori]

who: @penelopecor where: Penny’s apartment when: the weekend before Halloween

Enough is enough.

Any amount of subtly is too much, clearly. So tonight’s the night to make a real move, under the guise of coming over to work on costumes. Sure, that’ll probably get done, but that’s secondary to Nori’s plans for the night.

She’s got her costume so far packed, along with the kandi materials and some makeup to play around with. She’s also got some more… intimate things packed away in her bag, and something cute on underneath her clothes. Trimmed, cleaned, ready to get it on.

Knock, knock, knock.

She knocks on Penny’s door, just a few minutes after she promised she’d be there. It’s all mapped out in her head. Penny is going to get the fucking hint this time, no doubt about it.

[penelopecor]

Penelope had been moving around the kitchen like a madwoman for the past hour, her ever-present music playing just a little louder than usual. Not even the criminally catchy Soda Pop could quiet the storm in her head.

She kept circling back to her conversation with Ash a few nights ago. The last time she’d seen Nori in person. Every text they’d exchanged since. The embarrassing amount of late-night Googling she’d done last night instead of sleeping.

The only thing keeping her from fully spiraling was her tried-and-true coping mechanism: baking. Nori would be there any second now, and the chocolate chip cookies had just come out of the oven.

Breathe. Don’t overthink this. Don’t make it weird. Just act normal and maybe pay closer—

A knock at the door cut through her thoughts. She’s here!

“One sec!”

Penny quickly slid the cookies onto the cooling rack, wiped her hands on her apron, turned down her music a little and adjusted the ribbon holding her ponytail before heading to the door.

“Nori! Hey! Come on in, I just finished up some baking for tonight.”

[penelopecor]

Where: Echevarria Shipping Company (Fences)

When: Halloween Night, early into the Rave

Penelope stood at the designated meeting spot, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves and adjusting her wig for what had to be the fifth time. She’d shown up a little early, hoping Kenzō would too—or at least be on time—so they could get this over with quickly.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help her pack, or that she disagreed that something had to be done about Yuisa. But she was nervous—really nervous. About getting caught. About what Yuisa might do to her, especially since she’d left Warwick for Harford. She’d been gone long before Yuisa rose to power, but the Alpha had made it painfully clear she still took Penelope’s defection as an insult when she’d shown up in her café.

And—if she was honest with herself—she was also worried about running late. Nori was waiting for her. Their first real outing together as a couple. She couldn’t mess this up, not after everything that had happened in the last two months. She’d already told her she might be late, but still…

The sound of approaching footsteps cut through her anxious spiral. Her head snapped up—and relief immediately softened her expression when she spotted Kenzō, mad hatter costume and all, swaggering toward her.

“There you are!” she breathed, jogging lightly to meet him halfway. “I was worried something happened to you,” she chided, though there was no real bite in it. Her grin widened when he took off his hat with a playful salute.

“Awe, you were worried ‘bout good ol’ me?”

Penelope let out a soft huff of amusement and swatted his arm lightly. “Of course I was, we’re a team!” The playfulness faded just slightly as she lowered her voice, her expression growing more serious than usual. “Do you have what you need?”

He flashed her a grin and lifted the bag he was carrying. Penelope nodded.

“Okay—good.”

She glanced toward the stretch of barbed wire fence in the distance, then down at her phone to check the time.

“The security for this area should be making their sweep any minute now. Wait here for just a sec and I’ll getcha an opening.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a small bottle of Fireball. Twisting off the cap, she took a quick swig, forcing down the burn with a small grimace. If she was going to pull off being drunk, her breath needed to smell the part. She shook it off, tucked the bottle away, and gave Kenzō a quick thumbs-up.

“Show time. Stay safe, okay?”

Kenzō set his hat back on with a grin and another salute. “Ay ay cap, time to be as Mad as a Hatter.” He winked, starting toward a better hiding spot, but paused to toss a final line over his shoulder.

“Remember to get out of there as soon as you hear my signal…you’ll know which it is.”

Penelope blinked, but nodded—trusting him. She drew in a deep breath, steeling herself. Then she started along the length of the fence, deliberately uneven in her steps, letting herself stumble just enough to sell the act. She didn’t have to wait more than five minutes before the sharp click of boots on gravel reached her ears. Two figures in dark uniforms emerged from around the corner—security guards, not full cops, but still.

“Hey! This area’s restricted,” one of them called out, a flashlight beam cutting across her.

Penelope blinked, squinting dramatically at the light before breaking into a wide grin. “Whoa—holy shiiit! Those costumes are amazing.” She clasped her hands together, swaying slightly on her feet. “You’re toooootally going to the rave, right? Like, Warehouse…twelve? You nailed the vibe.”

The officers exchanged a look. The taller one sighed. “Ma’am, these aren’t costumes. We’re with Echevarria Shipping security. This is private property.”

Penelope gasped and leaned forward, hands over her mouth in mock awe. “Nooo. You’re serious? You’re, like—actual security people?”

The woman frowned, folding her arms. “Yes, ma’am.”

Penny blinked once. Twice. Then let out a long, incredulous laugh. “Nooooo, come on—you’re pulling my leg!” She gestured between them, her bracelets clinking as she waved her arm. “You’ve got, like, the badges and the serious faces and everything—it’s sooooo good. Way to commit to the bit!”

When neither cracked a smile, she dropped the bit with an exaggerated gasp. “Waitwaitwait—you’re for real? Oh. my. GOD. That’s actually so cool.”

She forced herself to sound impressed, even as every word made her want to curl up and die inside. “You guys are, like, heroes, seriously. Protecting stuff. Keeping things safe. Iconic. We love to see it.” Her grin wobbled slightly, but she covered it with a quick, chirpy laugh. “Here, wait, I made these for the rave—”

She raised her arm to show off the rainbow stack of kandi bracelets that covered it nearly to the elbow. “You should totally take one! Good vibes, good luck, you know? Come on, it’ll look sooooo cute with your cost— I mean uniform.”

The female officer’s mouth twitched, trying not to smile. The other one stayed stiff, though his expression softened just enough for Penny to breathe again.

“Oh, right!” she said, snapping her fingers. “Rave! Do you, uh, happen to know which way Warehouse Twelve is? I think I got all turned around.” She gestured vaguely toward the industrial maze behind them. “You guys should totally come with me! It’ll be fun, everyone’s super chill, and you’re just sooo nice!”

BOOM!!

Penelope jumped, wide-eyed, then clapped her hands together with an awestruck giggle. “Oh my god, that’s so pretty! Nobody said anything about fireworks!”

Both guards turned toward the noise. The taller one swore and grabbed his radio. “Base, this is Unit Two—possible breach at east perimeter, investigating.” He took off at a jog, light cutting through the dark.

The woman hesitated before glancing back at Penelope. “Ma’am, you shouldn’t be out here alone. It’s dangerous, especially if you’ve been drinking. Let me at least walk you to the warehouse.”

Penelope’s smile softened with exaggerated gratitude. “Oh my god, that’s sooooo sweet of you, thank you. You’re, like, my hero for real.”

Inside, her heart was pounding, but she kept her voice light as they started walking. The fireworks still shimmered faintly over the rooftops, painting the sky in streaks of green and orange.

If the officer noticed the small, relieved breath Penelope let out, she didn’t comment. Penny just prayed Kenzō was already gone—and that whatever chaos he’d just unleashed bought the rest of the pack enough time. Once she got to the rave, she’d have to send them a text to let them know that she’s safe but was escorted off the property and wouldn’t be at the rendezvous point.

[penelopecor]

Penelope Brown || My Melody

(Coordinating with @takeuchi-inori )

Penny can hardly believe this is really happening!! Sure, she’ll be a little bit later than she’d like because she has to take care of a bit of pack business first, but she has an actual date!! And an opportunity to swap Kandi! Maybe her luck is finally turning around. She just knows that tonight is going to be perfect.

[penelopecor]

Track 3: Talk Too Much

When: October 1st, a week or so after this

Where: Cool Beans Cat Café

Penelope slips her phone back into her pocket with a soft sigh, her brow furrowing slightly as she returns to wiping down the cat lounge window. A dull, familiar ache of loneliness blooms in her chest, and she does her best to scrub it away along with the smudges. It’s silly, really—getting so down over something so trivial. Ash was going to make an absolutely beautiful Juliet for Halloween. The costume suited her perfectly. Penelope didn’t want to impose by pitching a duo idea; she’d just…figure something else out.

The ring of the café doorbell snaps her from her thoughts. Her voice sounds a little more strained than usual. “Hey, sorry, we just closed for—”

She stops mid-sentence when she turns around, her expression instantly softening at the familiar sight of Nori’s smile.

“Nori! Hey!” She slings the cleaning cloth over her shoulder and gestures toward the pastry display with a tilt of her head. “Give me just a second to finish closing duties. You want anything to eat or drink?”

“Nah I’m good. Still closing out?”

Nori’s easy smile is a balm, and Penelope’s returns—genuine, but more subdued than usual.

“Yeah, just a little cleaning left, then I’ll be good to go. Running a bit behind ‘cause we had a rush at the end.” She turns back to the glass, methodically buffing away fingerprints. “It’ll probably get a lot busier, too, with spooky season in full swing.”

From the corner of her eye, she catches Nori leaning casually against the wall, and her heart does that familiar little flip. Her smile falters, though, when Nori asks about Halloween plans. Penelope hesitates, glancing over her shoulder.

“There’s a rave happening on Halloween night that I’m planning on going to, but…” She exhales softly. “I’m really behind on prep this year. Usually I have my costume planned and started by now—I love going all out—but this year I just… I dunno.”

She chews the inside of her cheek, debating how much to share. Penelope hates bringing the mood down—people expect her usual sunshine—On the other hand…she and Nori have been getting pretty close lately. Maybe opening up a little more wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“All my costume ideas work better as part of a pair, and Ash already has a costume that’s perfect for her.” She looks away, resuming her cleaning with a quiet, self-conscious laugh. “It’s a stupid, small thing, but it’s got me a little… down, I guess?”

She braces herself for the kind of polite, dismissive sympathy she’s used to.

Instead—

“Oh, you’re going to the rave too? Because… I, like, really don’t have an idea, so if you need someone for a couple’s costume… I’d be down.”

Penelope freezes. “Wait, really?” She turns to look at Nori again, half-expecting a joke—but all she finds is that bright, radiant smile she adores.

Her usual enthusiasm surges back tenfold, and the spray bottle slips from her hand, completely forgotten. A delighted squeal escapes before she can stop it, and she’s crossing the distance between them, throwing her arms around Nori in a tight, impulsive hug.

“You’re the best!! I’d love that! Do you like Sanrio? Because I saw these dresses online that with a little work could be perfect for My Melody and Kumori! holy shit you’d make the best—“

Halfway through the ramble, her brain catches up.

‘Couple’s costume.’

Wait did she just…no, she couldn’t have. That’s just the phrase. Duo costume is just weird to say. She is a friend, Penny. Platonic. Strictly—wow she’s soft—oh shit I probably hugged her too tight—wait I’m still hugging her FUCK—

Penelope releases Nori and steps back, clearing her throat and rubbing the back of her neck with a sheepish laugh.

“Ah—sorry. Got a little—uhm—carried away.” The words tumble out, her face burning hotter than the espresso machine.

She’s just being nice. She’s being a good friend. Stop projecting. Be normal.

“Seriously though… thanks for humoring me,” she says, tone softening, something earnest and a little fragile beneath the nervousness. “I’m… really glad we’ve gotten closer than we were in high school. I feel lucky to have you.”

Too much, too much, dial it back, you useless lesbian.

“A-as a friend, I mean.”

Perfect. Nailed it.

She barely has time to feel the fleeting relief of her save before Nori’s hand slides into hers, warm and gentle. That same dazzling smile—and Penelope swears, it’s even sweeter than usual.

“You’re fine. It’s been nice having someone to hang out with. And we’re gonna be the cutest at that rave, I know it.”

Penelope’s brain short-circuits. The gesture is meant to be reassuring—and it is—but it also sends another flush racing to her cheeks.

I’m in so much trouble.

[penelopecor]

Track 2: Seven

Sometime early to mid September, a few weeks after this

The evening is unexpectedly warm for September, and absolutely perfect for a meetup in the park. Penelope is laughing again.

Laughter always comes easily when she’s with Nori.

As Nori talks about her week, something down the path catches Penelope’s eye. A familiar offshoot. For a second, she hears the echo of Evie’s laughter in her ears, smells phantom waffle cones. The ache that follows is sharp, a twist in her heart.

But then—an idea.

The best way to bury an old memory is to make a new one, right?

Impulse takes over, and Penelope is reaching for Nori’s hand, fingers curling around hers as she tugs her gently along.

“This way!” she grins, already jogging.

The path grows wilder as they go, grass brushing against their ankles, trees rising taller, denser, until the world suddenly opens. Penelope stops short, breath catching in her throat.

It’s just as beautiful as she remembers.

The setting sun spills gold across the river, the water glittering like shattered glass, every ripple catching fire in the light.

She comes to a temporary stop, eyes scanning along the river’s edge and—yes!! There it is! She’s moving again and looking over her shoulder, her cheeks lightly pink from more than just the movement when she sees how the light illuminates Nori’s face.

“You’ve gotta try this little ice cream stand— you like Amaretto Cherry, right?”

She only releases Nori’s hand once they’re at the stand and Penelope reaches into her purse to grab her wallet, paying for a waffle cone for the both of them—Cherry for Nori, Cookie dough for herself.

She leans against the safety rail, propping her elbows on it as she looks out over the water.

“I used to come here all the time, before I went to college. Most tourists don’t know about it…it’s really nice to have a friend to share it with again.”

She glances at Nori sidelong, wanting to burn the image of her smile into her mind. Her heart flutters again, and this time she lets it. It didn’t matter if her crush was unrequited in this moment. All that mattered was that right now, they were happy and together.

Penelope only hoped that this moment was as special to Nori as it was to her.

A few days later:

The savory smell of chicken fills Penelope’s apartment as she cooks, her hips swaying unconsciously as she bobs her head to the music coming out of her speakers.

The notification chime pulls her out of her flow as she is half way through chopping carrots. She sets down the knife and wipes her hand on a towel, a smile on her face when she sees Nori’s name on the preview banner.

The smile vanishes when she opens the message.

…Woah.

Nori sent her a selfie of her outfit for the evening, and it’s like all the air has been sucked out of her lungs. She could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks that had absolutely nothing to do with the stove. Full-blown gay panic, incoming.

Ok Penny. Be cool. She chides herself, taking a steadying breath. Be supportive. Do not combust on the spot because your friend is hot. Be normal.

She types a reply. Deletes it. Types again. Deletes that too. After a few false starts and a pep talk or two under her breath, she finally sends something that sounds casual—hopefully—and tosses her phone aside like it might explode.

Back to the stew. Focus. Slice. Breathe.

Not on Nori’s smile. Not on that outfit. Definitely not on the very not-platonic thoughts currently invading her brain.

[penelopecor]

Penelope was kneeling by one of the cat trees, her fingers gently buried in the thick fur of a gentle orange giant--Pumpkin Spice according to the little corkboard with all the cats names and blurbs about their personalities. Her polite smile had bloomed into a wide, unguarded grin as she felt the vibrations of the cat's purr like a motor beneath her hand. This was the part she had missed most while she'd been away for college--it was impossible to feel anything but content with a fuzzy feline melting into your touch. Ashlyn's voice, soft and tentative, breaks through the quiet Penelope freezes for a moment, caught off guard. She had thought the younger woman would have also gone home already. The surprise in her expression quickly melts away, quickly becoming a warm, fond smile. Ashlyn approaching her to talk like this had to be a good sign, right? Maybe they could pick up where they left off after all this time. "Hey! it really has, hasn't it?" she began as she straightened up, brushing the shed fur that clung to her hands off onto the side of her jeans. Then, with a hopeful look in her eyes, she opened her arms in invitation for a hug, just like old times. "How've you been? Still writing?"

[lcveyearned]

She isn't sure what she had been expecting, she isn't sure if Penelope is even capable of being cold. Even after all this time she is a light in the dark. The witch can't control as her own lips curl up in a smile, warm and welcoming. There really is no way to describe the way her heart pumps and skips a beat, the way her cheeks color faintly at the offer of a hug.

Crossing the short distance, she takes it. Lets her arms wrap around the brunette, head resting against her. She's warm as she remembers. As comforting. She gives a light squeeze even though she knows she can't possibly hurt Penelope, not really. "I missed you." She breathes out, "I'm sorry I disappeared on you…" is added on, because she is sorry. And the ease as Penny accepts her into her arms. A clear sign of forgiveness, nearly makes her want to cry.

She doesn't have much from before everything went to shit. But she hopes, maybe this hug means she has a close friend again. "I'm glad you came back." At the question of her writing, she nods. Still buried against the wolf. "Yeah. I'm still writing. I wrote a book." She tells her, before her cheeks color once more at the fact that she hasn't stopped nuzzling her. "Oh…sorry." She says sheepishly, parting from the embrace. "I — uhm — never really was sure I'd ever see you again when you went away."

[penelopecor]

Penelope lets out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding when Ash crosses the distance. She stands on her tiptoes so the taller girl can rest her head against her, and her arms wrap around the witch in a hug that is maybe a little bit tighter than she meant to, but not enough to hurt. She couldn’t help it—She had thought she’d never get to hug Ash again when they lost contact. She wanted to burn the feeling into her mind.

The whispered apology causes Penelope’s heart to ache, and one of her hands begins to gently rub soothing circles on her back. Grounding them both.

“Hey— none of that, okay? That doesn’t matter right now. I get it. And I missed you too.”

She means it, that Ash ghosting her for a few years doesn’t matter. At least right now. There is still some hurt over that, yes, but she can unpack that later. Right now, all that matters is the warmth in her arms—the simple, miraculous fact that her best friend is here.

When Ash parts from the embrace, the absence is felt immediately. The apology brings out a soft laugh from her—not mocking, but fondly teasing.

“Ash—look at who you’re talking to. When have I ever had an issue with long hugs? I’m basically a koala. That didn’t change.”

It was then that the rest of the words registered. Penelope’s grin turned practically beaming. She grabs Ash’s shoulders, giving her a playful shake as excitement spills out in a rush.

“Holy shit, Ash—you wrote a book? You can’t just drop that like it’s no big deal! That’s amazing! Is it in stores? On Amazon? You have to tell me everything!”

[penelopecor]

Track 1: Lonely Valentine

One week after this

The taste of brown sugar milk tea is sweet on Penelope’s tongue as she watches Nori sitting across from her, a good natured laugh bubbling in her chest. “No seriously— who thought it was a good idea to make teenagers decide their entire future at eighteen? Definitely learned that lesson the hard way.”

Her laugh subsides after a few moments, but her smile lingers, bright and genuine. She lets the moment settle between the two of them before she continues. Her tone is light on the surface, but careful underneath. Her gaze searches Nori’s.

“…but it wasn’t a total waste, I learned a lot—outside of classes I mean. I learned a lot about myself at the parties…” she paused for a moment, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips, “…like the fact that I’m a lesbian, for one.” She punctuates the confession with a long, slightly nervous sip.

She watches from the corner of her eye as Nori smiles and leans in a little more.

“Oh? that’s great!”

Those three words cause relief to wash over Penelope like a gentle tide, stronger than the slight pang of disappointment.

An ally, then. Oh well.

Her smile becomes playfully self deprecating as she shakes her head, dispelling the thought.

“Yeeeeaaah it’s a little hard to hand wave it away as just being a ‘girls girl’ or admiration when you wake up in another girl’s bed after drinking a bit too much. Nothing like a minor existential crisis to go with a hangover.”

The next day:

Penelope hums softly to herself as she sets her phone back in her pocket, returning to her task of cleaning the glass wall of the cat lounge. A total of ten seconds pass before she stops in her tracks.

Wait.

She pulls out her phone and re-reads the conversation, her eyes snagging on the second message.

...cute girl to hold…

Oh.

Penelope blinks and reads it again, just to be sure.

So Nori does like women.

Just not her.

The thought aches a little, a familiar sting. It’s a similar situation with Ash, too.

Thats okay, though. She’ll handle it just the same as she always does—by focusing on being a good friend.

[penelopecor]

Penelope’s smile didn’t waver, but her pulse quickened the moment recognition clicked. Warwick’s new alpha. She’d heard bits and pieces about her from her packmates, and none of it was good. Still, she was a customer. Her aunt had opened this place to bring others together in a peaceful setting, and she would uphold that intention even as a sense of dread began to nag at the very back of her mind.

She rang up the order, adding the cookie, before sliding down the counter to start the americano. The espresso machine was still a pain in the ass, but she found the distraction to be welcome.

But at the mention of her parents, the knot in her chest tightens. Her smile no longer reaches her eyes. She hadn't spoken to her parents in years now. They never tried to reach out to her again after the ultimatum was given, and neither had she. She doubted they even told the pack she’d left. With how scarce she’d been near the end, maybe no one in Warwick had even noticed until now. The thought burns with a familiar ache she quickly shoves down. Focus on the positive. Always.

“My aunt and uncle retired a few weeks ago,” she said lightly, keeping her tone bright, steady. “They asked me to come back and take over for them. It’s the least I could do, after everything they did for me and taking me in during my senior year. I’ve been with Harford since then. Almost six years."

[mangemaw]

Yuisa's eyes track the girl as they move along the counter, making sure not to take her stare away. She wants the newly returned wolf to feel them boring into her. She picks at the soft cookie bit by bit, popping small pieces into her mouth while she watches her go about making the coffee.

"Nice of you to keep the family business going,' she says, finally breaking her stare away, looking around. "Very kind."

She lets the girl continue, her staring resumed. "Maybe you know my sister, Esperanza? She goes by Espe. I've not seen her in years, actually, despite us both being in the same city, wild yeah? How big and small the world is, all at once."

She pulls a clip out of her pocket. "Cash still good here?" She slips a bill free.

[penelopecor]

She’s staring. Oh god she is staring a hole in the back of my head. Just focus on the drink. She’s a customer just like everyone else.

A silent sigh of relief escapes Penelope’s chest when Yuisa finally looks away for a moment, lost in the hiss of the espresso machine. She latches onto the ‘family business’ comment to anchor herself further,

“This place was home, growing up. Besides, someone had to step up to keep the cats from going back into the shelters. They’re much happier here. It’s a better environment for them.”

She didn’t realize until the words had already left her mouth that she wasn’t just talking about the cats.

She felt the alpha’s eyes boring into her once again as she finished making the Americano. She carefully slid the drink towards her on the counter before ducking down to open the pastry case. At the mention of a sister, she pauses. Her brow furrowed lightly as she tried to recall anyone by that name.

“Espe…I think I remember my aunt mentioning her name? But I haven’t met her personally. I only just got back a few weeks ago.”

She grabbed the turnover with her tongs and placed it into the little paper bag with the cafe logo on it, before straightening up and placing it beside the drink.

“Cash is fine, you’ll see your total on the screen there.” She gestured lightly, retreating behind the mask of customer service once more. “Anything else I can help you with today?”

Please say no

[penelopecor]

It is late afternoon by the time Penelope is able to stop by Brewed Awakening. She had seen the instagram post announcing the grand re-opening last night, and thought that it might be a good idea to introduce herself to the new owner during her lunch break today. The air was thick with the mingled aromas of coffee, floral teas, and too many bodies packed into one space. And the place itself—different didn’t even begin to cover it. Gone was the vaguely hipster, cozy vibe she remembered from high school. Now it looked like someone had dropped a forest right into the city, greenery spilling from every corner. Penelope’s eyes widened with wonder as she tried to take it all in. The sound of a woman's voice offering samples snaps Penelope out of her thoughts, and she gives her a warm smile as she approaches and takes one of the sample cups with the Witch's brew lemonade. “Oh—thanks!” she said brightly, “Is the owner around, by chance? I was hoping to introduce myself, maybe offer congratulations if they’ve got a moment. I run the cat café across the river.”

[juniperscauldron]

There is a slip in Junipers smile, from professionalism to something more genuine and curious before returning to its practiced state. She had heard about the other cafe but hadn’t made an active effort to visit yet. Somewhat influenced by the possibility she would not be able to say no to one of its furrier inhabitants. 

After setting out the last of the sample she quickly wipes her hands with a cloth from the front of her apron, tray under her arm as she holds out a hand to shake. “I can’t promise I’m always this easy to find, but the pleasure is all mine. I’m Juniper, proprietor of Brewed Awakening.” 

There was a bubbliness to the other woman that Juniper noticed. The enthusiasm made the congrats feel more believable. “ I’ll happily accept the congratulations. It’s only been a couple months but it feels like a long time coming.” And also the blink of an eye. Sometimes time was far too fluid for her liking. 

“Cool Beans right? I’ve seen you guys on social media.” A casual way of saying she had been following them on her personal account since the moment she saw it while scrolling one night. But that seemed a little intense for an introduction like this.

[penelopecor]

Penelope’s handshake is warm and firm, a surprised and delighted smile making the corners of her eyes crinkle as she takes in Juniper’s words.

“Oh wow— great timing then! I’m Penelope, but my friends call me Penny.” She says this with easy warmth, like she already had the hope that they would be friends.

“Well, regardless of how long it took, this place looks absolutely stunning now. It’s completely transformed!” She releases Juniper’s hand and gestures around the room. “Seriously, it’s like a forest in here. In the best way.”

At the mention of Cool Bean’s social media, Penelope gives an excited bounce on her heels. “Yes! That’s us—though up until last month the socials were run by my aunt. I only just took over the cafe after she and my uncle retired. I’m still getting the hang of it, but I do have an advantage with cats ruling the internet, so…” There’s a playful spark in her eye as she trails off, taking a sip of the lemonade sample. Immediately her eyes go wider.

“Okay wow—this is really freaking good. I’m definitely getting one of those.”

[penelopecor]

Penelope's smile stays warm, but can't help but also gain a slight curve of amusement at the man's question. She's seen and experienced enough hangovers to see that that was probably what this poor bastard was experiencing. There was no judgement behind it, just quiet recognition. “Cortado, coming right up. You’ll see the total on the card reader.” She tipped her chin toward the mural on the wall, the same art that hung on the café’s sign outside: Cool Beans Cat Café, painted alongside the paw-print logo. “And yes—there are cats. Wouldn’t really be much of a cat café without them, would it?" She then moves to grab a little espresso mug--she couldn't remember for the life of her what they were actually called-- and looked over her shoulder as she continued to speak. "First time at a cat cafe?"

[manuel-amador]

“Great. Thanks.” He tucks his sunglasses into a pocket for now and slides out his wallet. Thank god for card readers, he could just tap a piece of plastic and be done with paying. He hesitates just a second over the tips screen, before giving up and hitting one at random. It’s too many numbers when he’s not fighting a hangover.

The concept of a cat café is a bit baffling. Seems like a liability having a bunch of animals in a restaurant, but then, that isn’t his area of expertise. People were really crazy about cats these days. Was this just an offshoot about that? “Yeah,” he responds (ever so eloquently) when he realizes her question has just been hanging out in the air the entire time he’s been musing on society’s weird recent cat fixation. “Not really something I go looking for. What’s the point of the cats?”

[penelopecor]

Penelope can’t help the soft chuckle that escapes her lips when the man asks what the point of the cats are. It’s not mocking, or condescending—just genuine enjoyment at the thought of getting to open up a whole new world to someone.

“The cats are the whole point, actually,” she began, her tone light and friendly. “You know how animal shelters can get really crowded and noisy? Not exactly the best place to see a cat’s true personality. Most of the time they’re horribly stressed out.”

She gestured with her chin toward the cat lounge—a large section of the cafe separated from the main seating area by a floor-to-ceiling glass wall and sturdy double doors to prevent feline escape attempts. Inside, ten cats relaxed and played among an abundance of toys, scratching posts, and cozy hideaways. A little paradise.

“So places like Cool Beans started popping up,” she continued, returning to the counter as she finished making his cortado. “We partner with local shelters and rescues to give the cats a better chance. Plus,” she slid the cup toward him with a bright smile, “Its calming for people too. You should see this place during midterms season.” She laughs softly, speaking from experience. “Not everyone lives in a place that will let them have cats—dorms, apartments, those sort of things— so they come here for a drink and a little dose of happiness in a purring package. The cats get socialized, the customers get cuddles, and sometimes someone finds their furry soulmate. It’s a win for everyone.”

A touch of pride crept into her smile as she spoke—yes, it sounded like a sales pitch, but the joy behind it was completely real.

[penelopecor]

💖 SPARKLING HEART — a relationship of my muse's (ashlyn)

Ash—>Penny: The Wedding Song by Reneé Rapp

Penny—>Ash: She by Dodie

@Icveyearned

[takeuchi-inori]

⚔️

She had just meant to turn around and walk out of the locker room. But, unaware to her, someone had parked themselves at the locker next door, and she had to duck to the side to avoid slamming right into them. When she regained her footing and righted herself, she realized she was staring down a different row of lockers. Staring at someone in the middle of changing.

(@penelopecor )

[penelopecor]

💞 REVOLVING HEARTS — our muses' romantic relationship (Nori)

Penny—> Nori: Force of Nature by Melina KB

Nori—> Penny: Tongues & Teeth by The Crane Wives

@takeuchi-inori