@humanmoodring replied to your post “My apologies to anyone who has a reservation for the upcoming week,...”
[pm] Everything okay? Nobody tried to break in because of this weird darkness shit, right?
[pm] Just some broken items. Nothing to worry about too much. I am perfectly fine. Some mimes people have tried to break in, but luckily my front-of-house usually do a decent job of keeping them away. Not always
@humanmoodring replied to your post “What's an unpopular opinion you have?”
Okay, I didn't understand any of that, and that's how I know I'm getting old and actually missed six fucking years of my life
Hi!! So I’m in the best sorority on campus, and when you are a sophomore you get to have a “Little” who you help out and get presents, and you are called a “Big”, and you end up with people from multiple years in your family and it’s the best possible bonding experience you can have.
Of course, they are friend-family and not related by blood, but it is a truly wonderful experience to be able to have! :) Thanks for asking! :)
[pm] Thank you. fuck, you have no idea. Thank you I'll be there soonish. Can you send me your address. I'm sorry, I'm going to look like shit. It's been a bad night.
[pm] Of course, anything for you. [ user attaches address ] It’s okay. I have multiple showers and I can give you some clothing. Just like when we first met. Do you need anything else?
TIMING: The evening Nadia truly wasn’t home anymore. (aka after the exorcism gone wrong)
LOCATION: Evelyn’s House, Harris Island
PARTIES: @humanmoodring and @thronesofshadows
SUMMARY: Pure wholesome friendship times. :-)
Standing on the porch of one Evelyn Hoffman, Nadia ran a hand through her greasy hair flinching a bit as she caught her reflection in the glass. She looked like she’d been rode hard and put away wet, bruises around her wrist and dried blood on her face and rust and dirt everywhere. She felt like a young god, though, all powerful, like there was electricity coursing hot through her veins. She felt like she was in the clouds, and the height was exhilarating and dizzying. She’d managed to start Nadia’s truck by barely touching it, the electricity practically begging her to manipulate it. Her body was exhausted, but her spirit was going haywire. Stille, Nadia knew she needed to rest, at least for a little bit, before those fucking children and their legion of friends came looking for her. As far as she knew, Evelyn was separated from all of that, which is why she was able to put on as big of a smile as she could as she knocked on the door. Her body was trembling with energy. Maybe she could say it was because of the cold.
She hadn’t heard from Nadia in a while - though that hardly changed the fact that she cared for the other woman - despite her being human. Despite the fact that Evelyn from years past would have scoffed at the level of care that she held for humans (but only certain ones, she had to remind herself), she could not help it. Some of the ones here were so much better than any that she had ever met at home. So when Nadia had asked for help, Evelyn hadn’t questioned it for a second. She pulled as many blankets out as she could, acknowledging the fact that for the first time in her memory she was going to have two people she cared for at her home - though right now Nadia was the priority. She moved quickly to the door once she heard the knock, pulling it open and offering Nadia a soft smile. “Come in, please.” You look terrible, she wanted to say. Would have said, if she had not been raised to be polite whenever possible. Particularly in circumstances that appeared as possibly dire as this one. “Can I do anything for you? Tea? A - hug?” Her nose wrinkled as she offered it, but perhaps that was what she needed. “I am also quite alright with just sitting together. Whatever you need.” She pressed her thumbs against her hips, letting the room grow quiet for just a moment.
“Thanks,” Nadia murmured, her eyes growing large as she took in the inside of Evelyn’s house. This was what she’d always wanted: living an extravagant life in an extravagant house surrounded by extravagant things. She wanted all of it, a bandit’s hideaway worth of stuff and then some. She wanted a palace and a throne and all the money in the world and-- She blinked at Evelyn, realizing she’d spaced out in the middle of what the other woman had been saying. She could feel the other woman’s concern. “Just a shower, right now, would be lovely.” She knew she looked like shit. Between living wherever she could for weeks and then getting her brain fucked by the exorcism, she had definitely seen better times. “No hugs,” she said, laughing a bit breathlessly. Even though Evelyn was pretty, Nadia didn’t want to be touched at all right now, her skin prickling from just the thought of it. “But thanks for this. All of this. I realize I look like hell. It’s been a long few weeks.”
“Of course.” Evelyn replied, her voice quiet. She watched Nadia carefully, not wanting to startle her (which was something she was certain Marley would curse her for, being too soft around humans, caring too much for their feelings and well-being). Not wanting to pressure her into anything. She pressed her palms against her hips, centering her thoughts before she re-focused on her friend. “Well, I have more than one of those and plenty of shampoo and conditioner to help you get as clean as you need.” She bit her lip, eyes taking in Nadia’s form, the way she held herself - she looked completely beaten down, but there was something in the way she laughed that caused Evelyn’s following giggle to hold a certain level of hesitation. “Of course. No hugs. I - well, you know I do not often do that either, so it works for me.” She bit her lip. “It is quite alright - I just, it means a lot that you trusted me enough to reach out. That you trusted me to be someone to go to.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” Nadia said, an easy smile on her lips, though she was careful, so careful with Evelyn. This whole situation was a landmine, and her only saving grace was that she seemed to trust Nadia explicitly. There was no way that this could be a trap. At least… It couldn’t be, could it? No, Nadia would know. She would know. But Evelyn was so hesitant that she couldn’t really be sure. The lights flickered a bit, and Nadia jumped, startled by her own abilities. She did that. She did. She could do anything. “Works out well for both of us, huh?” She said, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart, beating as fast as if she’d taken electricity from the very building and pumped it into her chest. She gave Evelyn a meaningful, Nadia Diaz look. “Of course I trust you,” she said, sincerely lying through her teeth. This wasn’t about trusting Evelyn. Not at all. There wasn’t a damn person that she did trust. This was just a lack of distrust. “I can’t think of anyone I’d have rather gone to.”
“Anything for you.” Evelyn replied easily. She had tried to get her friend to come by before, to stay over, even - back when she had mentioned difficulties. She’d always refused, and though Evelyn entirely understood it - she was rarely one to ask for help - she had wanted to help Nadia, though, for whatever reason. The lights flickered and Evelyn glanced up at them. Her circuits, though she did not know much about electricity, were good. Stable or steady or whatever the accurate term would be. She pushed any sort of thought of worry aside, instead replying, “It does,” focusing back on Nadia. “Well, I should expect nothing less,” she replied, doing her best to keep her voice light. “Well, lucky for you, my home had quite good security and it is more than big enough in case you need your own space - which you are more than welcome to take.” She made her way further into her home, over to the sitting room - which seemed to be where she was spending a great deal of time with her guests - though it was what made the most sense. “Can I get you anything?” She sat down, and motioned for Nadia to do the same.
Cocking her head only slightly, Nadia looked at Evelyn, really looked at her, and, not for the first time since she’d started possessing this body, she wondered what it was about Nadia Diaz that was so goddamn special and interesting and worth “doing anything” for. She’d never seen it, personally, not when the girl was younger, not when she’d watched her stumble through some sort of semblance of a life here in White Crest. She was nothing. Nadia Diaz was nothing, but she’d made her something, made this body something. And now it was completely hers. She wanted to celebrate. She wanted to sleep for a decade. She wanted to scream. Instead, she just gave Evelyn a tired smile. “Thank you.” She looked around the house. Good security, huh? Maybe she’d test it out. “I feel safer already,” she said, and it was the truth. No one was going to look for her with Evelyn. Hell, she doubted there were many people that would even associate her with Evelyn, and that made this perfect. She bet she could hide out here with the woman indefinitely, but she didn’t want to stay, just to be completely safe. She’d need to distance herself from Nadia’s life completely, which meant wrapping up loose ends, making sure her host couldn’t come back, and then getting the hell out of town. Maybe somewhere sunny, and warm, and with lots of nice houses like this one to rob. “You’ve already done too much, seriously,” she told Evelyn as she followed her through the house and took a seat across from her. “This is more than enough.”
“I am glad you feel safer.” Evelyn wanted to say something more, because she wanted to do something more for Nadia. A certain part of her still blamed herself for whatever suffering Marley giving her nightmares had done, even though it wasn’t her fault. Even if regret for humans likely made her something of a terrible mara, perhaps even by her mother’s standards. At that thought, Evelyn’s mind shifted back to that brief time when she could dream, the way her mother had turned from soft to cruel so quickly. A trick of the imagination she was certain, and she told herself that had to be true. After all, she was more than a bit of an expert on the world of dreams. It didn’t stop it from stinging, from wondering if somehow the life she’d come to live would be one that both of her parents would disapprove of. She cared little for what her father thought, so long as he was back in England, but she’d always wanted to live her life in the best way that she could. Make herself into someone who her mother would have been proud of. “Good.” She tucked a strand of hair over her ear. “Well, it certainly is not more than enough by my standards, but if you say so, I shall acquiesce.” She held up her hands as if in false protest. “I can - do you want tea?” Her face turned immediately apologetic. “The socialite in me gets out a bit too much sometimes. We can just sit. Sit until you are ready for more.”
“Can’t imagine not feeling safe with you,” Nadia said, trying to make sure that her voice sounded open and honest. The truth was, though, that she didn’t feel any safer with this woman than she had while she was camping in the woods, all sorts of White Crest supernatural unknowns roaming around her, waiting to attack. She felt on guard because she knew the second that she relaxed or felt comfortable, Nadia could possibly-- But Nadia couldn’t. She wasn’t here anymore. This body was well and truly hers, and it was glorious (and overwhelming). So, that wasn’t why she was on guard, but she was still suspicious. She could feel this woman, sure, but who knew what Evelyn could be hiding? With her muted emotions that could probably change faster than Nadia could comprehend, there was no telling how dangerous she could be if she found out that sweet, kind Nadia Diaz had left the building. Coming here was probably a mistake, but it was one she was going to have to deal with. It wasn’t permanent, regardless. “We do have different standards,” she teased, an eyebrow raised and just a bit of laughter in her voice. Evelyn was on the opposite end of the spectrum when it came to standards, Nadia was sure. “Tea would be nice, though, if it would soothe your social niceties. It might be good for my throat, too.” It still felt a bit raw. “But don’t feel, like, obligated. How are you doing, Evelyn?” Let’s not make this all about me, remained unspoken, but it was there.
“Well, some may not, but I have always thought it most reasonable to make those who I care for feel safe.” Evelyn fiddled with her collar. She wanted to share more with Nadia, wanted to be as open as she could, but there was something a bit odd - or maybe she was reading too much into things, too afraid to break anyone else’s trust in who she was. Even if Alain had purportedly come around to understanding her, or so he claimed - he’d turned out to be not what she expected and she wasn’t quite sure what she’d do if Nadia didn’t accept her. “We do. However, I am not so very bothered by that. I find that there is little you could do to bother me.” She matched Nadia’s tone of voice. “Absolutely, and it is not just to soothe anything. I simply offer because I know that it makes me feel better, I know, whenever I feel under the weather.” She bit her lip, shifted her position to face Nadia. “I will get you some, soon. I am - well, I have not been sleeping as well as I ought to have. I have another friend staying, as I mentioned to you, but she will be out of your hair. She is just staying with me to make sure I stay safe as I can. I would not have had her come by, except I do trust her and I had offered before you asked for my help. You will be safe here.” She brushed her fingertips against her nose. “Otherwise I have been as well as one might expect, given how complex this town seems to be.”
“How in the world could anyone not feel safe with you, Ms. Hoffman? Nadia teased, though she kept it gentle, deciding to relax just a bit more. This woman was no threat, not to Nadia, and therefore not to her. The care she felt was genuine, and that was enough for her. If she was found out, she had no doubt that she’d be able to get out of any sort of difficult situation. After all, couldn’t hurt precious Nadia Diaz’s body. “I’m sure there’s something I could do that would bother you. What if I was a slob?” A murderer? “That’d be pretty bothersome.” Now it was time to put on the concerned friend hat. She could do that. She could be calm and concerned and totally a good friend, a good Nadia. “Do you know why you’re not sleeping well? Is it just, like, normal sleeping problems or abnormal sleeping problems?” She remember Evelyn mentioning another person, but she didn’t plan on sticking around long enough to meet her. Who knew? Maybe she’d have a bit of fun with Evelyn once she left, let her know that it wasn’t her friend that she’d been bothering. “Don’t sweat it. Any friend of yours is cool in my book. I’m sure she’s a-okay.” Maybe it was another wanted criminal. Nadia didn’t know, and she didn’t care. Evelyn Hoffman could hang out with whoever she pleased. “Yeah, this town is a shit show, isn’t it? Got a really nice horror movie ambiance.” What would this woman think, if she knew Nadia was literally coming to her straight outta The Exorcist? “This side of town’s swanky as hell, though.”
“Just Evelyn, please.” She scrunched her nose up for a moment. Nadia was not usually so formal around her, but then again, everything seemed a bit overwhelming right now, and she still wasn’t sure just what Nadia had gone through. So Evelyn shrugged. It was meant as a joke, she told herself. “If you were a slob it would be a bit of trouble, but I believe whole-heartedly that we would manage to make do all the same.” She raised an eyebrow as she settled against the back of the couch. “Perhaps I would have to clean, how very dreadful.” She let a small bit of laughter escape her lips then, followed by a small shrug. “I think it is more on the abnormal end of things.” She drummed her fingertips on her thigh. “I have always been quite routine with my sleep schedule, and this is a new and entirely odd development. I am glad you are good with my other friend. She is a delight, I think the two of you would get along well, but I think she also wishes to stay out of your hair, so all is well.” She looked over to Nadia again. “I mean, I cannot say I am wholly opposed to horror, but you are correct that this town is frequently filled with things both terrifying and unexpected.” She couldn’t help but let a proper grin cross her lips at the next comment. “Well, I do like the very best, both in company and items, so I should hope so. I am ever so pleased you have found the time to come by, even though I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Of course, just Evelyn,” Nadia said almost immediately. “Is that so? Well, I would hate to make you have clean, of all things.” Though, did someone like Evelyn clean, or was she rich enough to have people for that? She looked around once more. Yeah, she was definitely rich enough. Nadia wanted something like this. She wanted it desperately, and now she could achieve it. She was the only Nadia Diaz here, the one that won their body, her body. She won. “Of course it’s on the abnormal end of things. When is anything on the normal end of things? It’d be bad for business around here.” It’d be bad for her business, now that she could easily slip back into crime uninterrupted. No more sour feelings at doing what had to be done. She could be just as rich as Evelyn Hoffman in a matter of months, richer, even. Things were going her way. Who knew all she had to do was give up a peaceful afterlife to get it? Seemed like a fair bargain. If there was no risk, then there was no reward. “I hope everything gets sorted quickly with your sleep problems. Soon. Sorry if I’m not the greatest guest, but tell your friend I’m sure she’s great. I’ll probably head out in a day or two. I’ve got a bunch of shit to sort through.” She ran a hand through her tangled hair. First order of business? Find somewhere more permanent to crash. Then it would be time to get to work properly. “Horror’s best when it’s on a screen. It’s wicked cool when you’ve got some separation to it.” But she grinned, matching Evelyn. “You do have great taste in both things. While I am sorry it took me so long to come by, I really can’t tell you just how grateful I am.” Because that would be giving away too much, too soon.
“I mean, we are friends.” They were, right? Evelyn had to pause for a moment. She couldn’t sense anything, that wasn’t within her abilities, but there was something in Nadia’s tone that felt less soft than she was used to. Though perhaps her judgement was just off. Alain had proved that well enough, though she refused to focus on that right now. “You know, sometimes I like it. When I was avoiding sleep… however many months ago it was, I reorganized parts of my home. It is rather cathartic.” She shrugged, running a hand through her hair. “A fair point; it would be rather horrid for business, after all, what would we do without giant lobsters or red skies or - well, any number of things that I cannot even remember even though they have all occurred this year.” She bit her lip at her friend’s next comments. “Mm, it is more just that I am used to. I have had relatively stable sleep my entire life, so this is just odd, that is all. You are a wonderful guest regardless.” She took the time to look over Nadia, taking in everything about her that she could. “That is why you are here. For you to have plenty of time to sort through everything that you need. You can head out whenever suits you, but I have no shortage of space, and it is free lodging - not that - not that you seem to need that, but it does not hurt.” She nodded. “Yes, separation from it is well and good. Well, your gratitude is appreciated though not necessary. I am happy to do whatever I can for you.”
“Absolutely, we’re friends.” There was no longer any sort of guilt accompanying the lie, no annoying presence in the back of Nadia’s head that wanted to break free at the worlds. She grinned, full and certain and overly happy. “Of course we’re friends.” She cocked her head to the side, just a bit, knowing that she was supposed to remember something about Evelyn not sleeping but not knowing enough about the situation to comment on it. “Fair enough. But, yeah, no, we would be nowhere without the giant lobsters and the weird fish in the fog.” That had been her least favorite part of camping, all the fucking weird shit that had been in the woods with her. “I hope your sleep schedule gets back to normal soon. I, for one, know I’m going to sleep incredibly after all the excitement I’ve had recently.” Nadia leaned forward and took Evelyn’s hands in hers, giving them a squeeze. She hoped her smile was sincere enough. She didn’t have the energy to read the room. “I’m still grateful, and I know you’re gonna say I don’t have to, but I will repay, okay?” She didn’t do debts. Nadia pulled away, covering her mouth as she yawned. “Wanna talk later? I’m kind of beat.” Physically and mentally. She needed some rest, and she needed to figure out what to do to repay Evelyn before she left. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to worry about talking to her again.
“Naturally.” Evelyn shrugged. “I should rather prefer to never once deal with any of that again, as I find them rather a bother.” Which was an understatement, but she was well-aware that her behaviors were just that, sometimes, when she didn’t crave attention, and right now she was far more curious about her houseguest. “I bet it will. My friend does wonders to help me, and knowing I have kept you safe will aid in that too, certainly.” She squeezed Nadia’s hand back, letting her hands linger against the other woman’s for a few moments before Nadia broke away and Evelyn’s gaze settled on hers, taking in how she held herself. So different now from that night in the Artesian, all those many months ago. “You will also sleep well because I have only the highest quality sheets on all of my beds. Okay. If you wish, you can repay, but you are correct that you do not have to.” She nodded. “Yes, of course. I hope you sleep well. I will be here in the morning.”
A glass vial full of a clear liquid is left on Evelyn’s kitchen counter, along with a note.
I really appreciate you letting me stay with you. I can’t think of anyone else that would have taken me in. Guess there’s a perk to Nadia having one friend that doesn’t seem to know everything that’s going on, huh? Anyway, I do owe you. Money’s obviously not something you need, so, here. Phoenix tears. I don’t have many of these left, so know that I’m really, really grateful. Debt’s paid now. Thanks for letting me in, Just Evelyn.
If Evelyn notices, a few bottles of really nice wine are gone, along with a few of her night lights. For what purpose? We just don’t know.
[pm] [del: You know her and you trust her and you'd never think] Hey, I know it's been awhile. I'm really sorry, but [del: /help me/] I really need a place to stay [del: where no one will look] for a night or two.
[pm] Yes, of course. Anything for you. I am here whenever you come by. Is everything alright?
[pm] The thing? That happened before? The ghost thing, it happened, and then some worse things happened, but I’m much better now.
[pm] Oh no
No
I am an idiot
I - I think when you - when this - I think you stayed with me for a bit. I mean, you did - or whoever you were did. Well, just a night. You had told me that you really needed somewhere to stay.
Nadia, I am so sorry. I - I should have figured it out. What can I do? Do you want the phoenix tears you - or well, not-you - gave me, back?
More importantly, I am glad you are back. So, so glad. I do not have the words.
