#susan 001

[maverick-wh]

LOCATION: Mamaw's Home WHO: @susanwhitlockholmes

The man pulled up to his grandmother’s house with preconceived notions and a bit of paranoia.  Why all of a sudden was he questioning things?  Maverick found Susan on the back porch, the afternoon sun doing little to soften the sharpness she had always carried with her. Even retired, she still commanded the family more than most people ever realized. Andrew, his father and Mickey might have their names on the funeral home now, but everyone knew her opinion still carried weight. Resting his forearms against the porch railing, Maverick let the silence stretch between them before finally speaking. "As you’re aware, I'm leaving the sheriff's department," he said evenly, eyes fixed on the pastures instead of her. "I put my notice in because I figured it was time I came home and helped Dad and Mickey carry the business." He swallowed before turning to meet her gaze. "But the closer I get to walking away from that badge...the more it feels like there's something nobody's telling me."

He held her stare despite the familiar look of disappointment that settled across her face. The same one she had worn for years whenever he failed to live up to whatever standard she had set for the Whitlock-Holmes men. She had always thought he was too gentle, too principled, too willing to see the good in people. He knew she would never approve if she learned the truth about him, about the part of himself he kept hidden his entire life, but this wasn't about that. Not today. "I've spent my whole life believing I knew this family," he continued, his voice quieter now. "Lately...I don't know if I do." He shook his head once, frustration creeping into his tone. "If I'm going to leave everything behind and dedicate my life to this family business, then tell me what it is I'm really walking into. Because right now it feels like everybody knows something except me...and I'm done pretending I don't notice."

[bartholomew-reynolds]

LOCATION: Old Abandoned Drive-In WHO: @susanwhitlockholmes

The old drive-in looked exactly the way Bart remembered it and nothing like it at all.

The faded sign still stood crooked against the evening sky, the cracked pavement beneath their feet covered in years of dust and neglect. It had been their place once. Back when they were young enough to believe in naive things such as love conquers all. Before she chose to be a Whitlock-Holmes.

Bart pulled his truck into the far corner of the abandoned lot, cutting the engine and sitting there for a moment longer than necessary before stepping out. He looked toward the screen, then toward the woman waiting for him, his expression hardening into something familiar. "Well, look at that," he said, voice carrying the same bite it always did with her. "The old hag actually showed up." The insult came easy, practiced after years of resentment, but there was something quieter underneath it. Something that sounded a lot like disappointment. "Wasn't sure if you'd still remember the way here, or if that memory of yours has been betraying you as of late since you're getting up there in age."

He walked closer, stopping a few feet away instead of greeting her properly. His eyes flickered over her for a moment before he looked away, jaw tightening. "Never thought we'd end up back here for this." He gestured vaguely toward the empty drive-in around them. "But apparently our grandchildren need some guidance." A humorless chuckle left him. "Mickey and Aspen." He shook his head. "So tell me, Suzy Q, how exactly do you plan on convincing them they don't know better than the rest of us?

[hunter-howard]

LOCATION: The Impact Zone WHO: @susanwhitlockholmes

Hunter stood behind the firing line at The Impact Zone with his arms crossed, watching Susan in her stance.  The man could hardly control himself as he stepped closer to the woman, his hand reaching for her hip and him gently putting her in a better position to fire the gun. "You know, for someone who spends half her time intimidating everyone in town, you're actually a pretty decent student," he teased.  Hunter pressed himself closer to her body.  “I know you like it rough,” he whispered in her ear, "but with this you’re going to gently pull the trigger while keeping your sights.”  As he stepped back, his hand grazed against her back side.  “Oops, my bad.”