“When good people consider you the bad guy, you develop a heart to help the bad ones. You actually understand them.” ― Criss Jami, Killosophy | Susan Webb | 28 | Magick | Dancer at the Court of Miracles |
It had kind of been like this the last time they’d met. Really met. Susan had looked at them like they were a fragile doll, and Peg hadn’t known how to explain that they were fine.
They weren’t, not necessarily, but they remembered having been overcome with the urge to prove to her that they were. Look Susan, Peg could jump around and fly and take care of you, they were the person you needed.
Why go?
Peg slid a hand behind themselves, allowing themselves to gradually stand back up.
“One little wardrobe’s not gonna take me down, y’know. Can take me by surprise, but can’t fuckin’ win the match.” They mock-kicked it, shaking their head, the room still reeling. “What’s next?”
Susan rolled her eyes. It wasn’t like she didn’t believe in Peg’s words, but she found it hard to relax at the moment. She didn’t push it, though. If she wanted to keep her distance, letting Peg take care of themselves was a good way to start.
She laughed at their comment, even though it sounded nervous even to her own ears. She moved to lean against the bed and gave a quick look at the mess around the room.
“I suppose we could get all the big stuff out of the way first,” she said with a slight shrug. “So maybe the sofa now? Leave the boxes for the end?”
Susan’s smile slipped as Peg’s head collided with the wardrobe. She rushed to their side, despite her intentions to not do that, to keep her distance. But she couldn’t stay away when Peg was hurt, and that was just the truth.
Her smile twisted in a frown at Peg’s words. She had a pretty damn good idea of what might have been distracting them. And that something had to be her. She could feel the pull, begging her to fall into this familiar feeling, to embrace the old memories, the old sensations.
But she couldn’t. That would only hurt Peg further, and, selfish as it might be, she couldn’t bear seeing them more hurt. She wouldn’t, her control was better than that.
“Oh, love, let me see,” Susan said, resting a hand on the side of their head they hadn’t hit. “Does it hurt too much? I’m I have a first aid kit in one of the boxes. I can get you something if you need.” She was rambling, anything to keep her mind away from the closeness between the two, anything to keep Peg safe from her.
This was not going as planned.
It hadn’t been Peg’s intention to have Susan rush to their side, at least, it hadn’t been the intention at the forefront of their mind. Somewhere, they wanted exactly that, but they were also supposed to know better.
Peg didn’t know better. In fact, they didn’t know shit. All they knew was that their head hurt, and Susan was right there next to them, gentle hands warm against their hair.
“No–no, no, I’m fine, honest. It sounded a lot worse than it actually was, I promise.” They slid away a little, painfully separating themselves from her touch to lean against the wardrobe instead. They smiled up at her. “See? All good. Just an idiot.
Susan's face twisted in spite of herself as they moved away from her. Right. They weren't supposed to be too close. It almost felt as if she'd forgotten for a second, as if for a moment they'd both been back to the time they met.
Oh, with each passing moment it all seemed like a worse idea than before.
"Are you sure?" She asked, resisting the urge to go near Peg again. "Because if you are really hurt we can stop here. I can figure out what to do with the rest, it's fine."
The re-opening of the Court was a stressful night for everyone. Susan had gotten there way before opening time to help finishing everything. It was a difficult task, making sure the place was just right for the night, but it was also a good way to kill time she would have otherwise spent at home, so she wasn’t complaining.
When things started to look somewhat decent, Susan decided to take a break. She walked to the bar and leaned against it. She’d have to change her heels soon if she wanted to last the rest of the night, but for now these ones would have to be enough.
“If this is only the preparation,” Susan said with a smile at the woman behind the bar, “I don’t want to imagine how it’ll be when the actual opening happens.”
1. The Forest can feel people’s intentions and if someone tries to harm it, they will most likely get lost.
2. It is a great place to go when in need of inspiration. There’s just something about Enchantra that kills any kind of creative block.
3. Sometimes the trees whisper ancient knowledge in forgotten tongues that can easily be mistaken with the sound of the wind.
4. In a similar note, sometimes they take pity on desperate souls and whisper solutions to their problems. Those who listen to these whispers wake up the next day with ideas that will help them.
5. During the day there’s always just the right amount of light to read inside the Forest.
It slipped toward Apollo like a friendly hand wanting to introduce itself. And it lit up in the woman’s aura– which she wore like a delicate lace bridal veil. The silver threads of it glinted with the woman’s eyes. It was the kind of beautiful thing meant to draw victims in.
Apollo felt it. All tantalizing curiosity.
“Oh, just– trying to write a caption for an Instagram,” said Apollo. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d love your opinion.”
Susan let out a surprised half laugh at the request. It wasn’t what she’d expected to hear, but then again, she wasn’t really sure what she’d been expecting.
There was something about the man, Susan thought, something that made her magic want to surface, to bring him in. She was sure if she hadn’t spent so long pushing her ability down as much as possible, she wouldn’t have been able to resit now.
“Oh, dear,” Susan replied, moving closer to him to see what she could do. “I’m not sure how helpful I can be, but I’ll do my best.”
Peg set their side of the wardrobe down, looked up–and there was Susan, all smiling and framed in the light coming through the window behind her.
She was something else entirely to look at during the day. At night, shrouded in mystery and starlight, she was something out of a novel. Mysterious and sultry. Peg had met her like that, had known her in that way for most of the first time they had been together.
In the day she was just beautiful. Like she’d stepped right off the page of a magazine or something except–not, because she didn’t look plastic, and she didn’t come across as superior or anything. Just beautiful.
Peg was staring.
They stared, watching her lips move, and only when that stopped did they realize that they hadn’t been paying attention to the important stuff. Rising suddenly–they banged their head on the side of the wardrobe.
They cupped the top of their head, cursing.
“Fuck–sorry, sorry. Not focusing.”
Susan’s smile slipped as Peg’s head collided with the wardrobe. She rushed to their side, despite her intentions to not do that, to keep her distance. But she couldn’t stay away when Peg was hurt, and that was just the truth.
Her smile twisted in a frown at Peg’s words. She had a pretty damn good idea of what might have been distracting them. And that something had to be her. She could feel the pull, begging her to fall into this familiar feeling, to embrace the old memories, the old sensations.
But she couldn’t. That would only hurt Peg further, and, selfish as it might be, she couldn’t bear seeing them more hurt. She wouldn’t, her control was better than that.
“Oh, love, let me see,” Susan said, resting a hand on the side of their head they hadn’t hit. “Does it hurt too much? I’m I have a first aid kit in one of the boxes. I can get you something if you need.” She was rambling, anything to keep her mind away from the closeness between the two, anything to keep Peg safe from her.
Popular TV AU: In script format, write the opening of your character in a popular TV series, like Riverdale, Grey’s, etc.
(Behind the Garden Wall AU)
FADE IN: A dark forest with tall trees. In the distance, two kids walk, talking quietly
MEETING THE WOODSMAN
The kids arrive at a clearing in the woods. Susan stands there, singing as she chops pieces of wood.
KID 1
Do you think she can help us find our way home?
KID 2
We shouldn’t ask her. What if she tries to kill us?
KID 1
I don’t see anyone else we could ask
A noise of branches breaking comes from behind and makes the kids look around. A cat walks out of the bushes and meows at them before walking away. When they turn back, Susan is gone.
KID 2
Well, now we don’t have an option. Maybe if we keep walking that way we’ll find someone else
The other kid nods and they turn to leave only to find Susan standing there. She’s holding an oil lamp in one hand and an ax in the other. The cat from before is moving between her legs
SUSAN
This is no place for children like you. What are you doing here
KID 1
We’re lost. We were trying to figure out where we are so we can get back home
SUSAN
You’re very lost indeed. This is the Unknown, far away from everything, if I’m not mistaken
There’s a noise in the distance like the wind’s howl, but deeper. Susan frowns
SUSAN
You should leave. It’s not safe to be out here so late
KID 2
We have nowhere to go. We don’t know where we are
SUSAN
Then you can come with me. Only for the night, though, the Beast will find you if you stay here too long
KID 1
Beast? What Beast?
The noise is heard again, this time louder and somewhat closer
SUSAN
No time, I’ll explain everything once you’re safe. Come on
She starts walking away and the kids follow her closely
KID 1 Can we trust her?
KID 2
I don’t think we have a choice. Keep your eyes open just in case
FADE OUT: An old house can be seen in the distance. As they walk, the noise comes again, but this time it sounds vaguely like a song lost in the wind. The kids exchange one last glance before moving closer to Susan
An unusual family recipe
(TW: death, I don’t know this ended up way weirder than I’d intended)
How to get an easy meal in a few simple steps
(found in an old journal written by Susan’s great grandmother and passed down from one generation to another. With annotations by Susan’s mother)
You will need:
1. A red dress. Red is a color that attracts the eye. Supposing your natural charm isn’t enough, a red dress will get anyone’s attention *
2. A smile. People will always be more likely to approach a smiling face **
3. An air of mystery. People also love mystery, so a mysterious figure will catch their eye more easily ***
4. Patience. Even with all your charm put into it, it might take you a little to find the perfect meal
Steps:
1. Pick a nice spot. Out in the open is easier to find prey, but you must be careful to not be spotted. Shops and restaurants are ideal ****
2. Release all your charm. The right person will come if you wait long enough
3. Once you’ve charmed your future meal, choose the best place to eat. I would suggest a hotel far away which you can leave with out raising much suspicion. Never the prey’s house *****
4. Enjoy your meal!
5. The real difficulty comes once you’re done. If your prey is still alive, make sure they receive proper medical attention. If not, make sure to have a contingency plan as to what to do with the body ******
6. You should now be fine for a week or two. Remember more often you feed the least chances of losing control
Note: I highly advise against feeding off someone you know well *******
* While it’s true that red tends to catch people’s attention, I’ve learnt that a dress is not necessary. An accessory like a scarf or a hat in a vibrant shade of red can be enough most of the time
** Again, while this works, it is not universal. I’ve noticed that it depends a lot on the place you find yourself in. Always be aware of your surroundings and what people might expect to see on a stranger
*** This one works like a charm most of the time, but unfortunately it’s not something you can get if you weren’t born with
**** Bars and nightclubs are also great options
***** Your house should be a safe place to feed in if you live alone or with someone who understands
****** Calling the police in this situation is only a good option if you are good at acting. Otherwise, don’t risk it
******* NEVER. If something were to happen to them, you’d be more likely to end up as a suspect
“One.” They squatted. “Two–” Hands on the bottom. “Three!”
With a mighty heave, they hoisted the wardrobe up off of the ground. It was bloody heavier than. it looked, honestly–and they were glad that Susan had accepted to let them help. There was no bloody way she’d have been able to do this on her own.
Then again, it wouldn’t be hard for her to convince some stranger to help… But that was–non-productive. Again. Not good. Focus.
They got up the steps, round that last little corner with only a little bit of struggling and–with other things to worry about, it was like time passed by infinitely quickly. Susan couldn’t slow everything down. She would not grind them to a halt.
“Alright–lower your end down first, and I’ll right it completely, yeah?” they called out, craning their neck to peer over at Susan.
The wardrobe was heavy. Susan already knew that beforehand, but it still somehow surprised her. She was glad to have Peg’s help, even with the awkwardness of it all.
The stairs were an added challenge she hadn’t been looking forward to, but between the two of them it seemed easier than it really was. As they reached the top of the stairs, Susan took a moment to thank the world it hadn’t been so long since she’d last fed. Otherwise she doubted they could’ve made it.
She nodded at their instruction even if they couldn’t see her before softly letting her side reach the floor. She stepped away as Peg organized their side, dusting her hands on the front of her shirt.
“That’s one thing done,” Susan said with a smile. “We’re a little closer to being done now.” Positive thinking would be the only thing that could keep her alive today.
Apollo looked up from his phone to catch the eye of someone passing through Swynlake’s main street park. And as their eyes met, Apollo knew he had caught them. He smiled to complete the trap.
“Yes, love– do you mind helping me with a project?” he asked. “It’ll only take a second.”
Susan was startled out of her thoughts by someone’s voice. She turned towards the voice and smiled at the man. She thought about the question for a moment before nodding and walking towards him. She didn’t have anywhere important to be anyways. She might as well help him.
“My mother’s from Swynlake. I grew up right there, in The Woods.” She pointed across the water, to the gated community. “Technically the house is mine now, but I -” She couldn’t find it in herself to go back there. But that wasn’t really a burden for a strange no was it? “I’m over at Castle Suites now.” Astraea concluded seamlessly.
There was that tick again - she patted her hair down with a gloved hand. The french was a pleasant distraction. It made her eyes light up.
“Un peu.” Which was a lie. She spoke it quite well. But she wasn’t a native speaker and that was enough to keep Astraea humble. “I’m Astraea. Private investigator over at Flynn Investigations. Proud sorcerer with the Guild of Order, Light, and Defense.”
She stuck out her hand to shake.
“Pleasure to meet you Ms….”
“I’ve spent most of my life in France, but I had been here before some months ago,” Susan explained. She took a moment to consider how much she could tell the other without having to explain her whole life before adding, “I had to go back for some time, but I’m here now.”
A sorcerer. That made Susan hesitate for just a second. She knew some sorcerers could feel other’s magic, and if that was the case with Astraea, well. Susan would rather not have to explain herself to a person she’d just met. (Truthfully, she’d rather not have to explain herself at all, but that was a different matter.)
The second passed, though, and Susan took the Astraea’s hand with a bright smile. Hopefully she hadn’t offended her with her moment of doubt.
“Susan Webb,” she said. “Just a dancer at the Court. I’m afraid there are no interesting titles for me.”
“Yeah.” They answered at once, as if called upon, or eager to please, or–compelled.
That was probably the right word for it, wasn’t it? Compelled. That’s what Susan did to people, she compelled them into affection, and Peg knew this, and they knew that she couldn’t help it, and that they should be refraining, but it was also so bloody easy to just… Slip into it.
But they couldn’t. Not–right now. Not like this. Not when there was a bloody wardrobe to be moved.
Peg skirted around it, looking definitely at it and not at Susan. “Bloody nice wardrobe, eh? Fuckin… Killer. Uh–I’ll go up the stairs backwards, I guess. So you take that side, and we’ll lift on three.”
She could feel them resisting. It wasn't a great effort, but they were ignoring most of her magic. It made her sigh in relief. It was easier to control her magic if they both were doing an effort to avoid it.
She smiled a bit as she walked towards the wardrobe as well. IT wasn't her usual easy smile and she knew it, but she couldn't really help it. It was a somewhat awkward smile for a somewhat awkward situation. It was frankly the best she could do right now.
"Yeah, well, I needed enough space for my clothes, you know," she joked with a shrug. She nodded at their idea and took the side she'd just stood next to. "Alright, you count."
In that case they grew up in very different households. Astraea’s mother had been firm, yet kind. She’d been a professor at Pride University but she came with the clear demeanor of a life-long teacher. Everything was a lesson, everything was worth questioning. Astraea loved it. Growing up, the young girl had nothing but unconditional love for her mother. While she had that for her father too… well, she’d never had to cut of her ring finger for her mother. Love was never an act of self-destruction when it came to her Astraea mother. And while Astraea accepted both forms of love with an open heart and an open mind (an issue all on its own), she did recognize the difference between them.
She should have expected coming back here would stir up such memories.
“Your mother must be quite an interesting woman. Here - ” Astraea said as she reached to move away the offending chair so that it was far away from the walkway. She was careful to make sure her gloved left hand didn’t catch in the same way the dress had only moments before.
“There we go. Now you sit there and think about what you’ve done.” Astraea said jokingly to the chair before turning back to the woman.
“I couldn’t help but notice - was that French I heard?”
It so happened to be one of the few languages she did speak. And the way things were shaping up in the last few days, it was becoming more and more relevant that she knew it. Also an unexpected by product of coming back.
“She is quite something, I’ll give you that,” Susan replied with a fond smile. She had her differences with her mother, mostly about their... feeding situation, and the two of them argued a lot about them. But still, her mother was probably, sad as it might sound, Susan’s closest friend. They cared for each other, and her mother had always been there when things got difficult for her.
She laughed a little at the woman’s comment when moving the chair and shook her head in a disapproving way. At the chair, of course, the woman was great.
“It was, yes. Do you speak French?”
French wasn’t an overly uncommon language, Susan knew that, but it always made her happy to find others who spoke it. She supposed she just missed it some times.
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