#w:ephram

[joeyvoeman]

Debriefing | Joey & Ephram

[txt] How you healing up, boss? 

[txt] Freddie isn’t too mad I let your pretty face get all scratched is he?

@ephrampettaline

[darlapettaline]

Like for Like | Darla & Ephram

Darla had only been in Soapberry Springs for about three weeks now, and already her relationship with the place could be described as complicated, at best. It was yet another small town where everyone knew everyone, and while she adored to get her nose into their people’s business (preferably if she could use it to her advantage), she’d genuinely enjoyed the taste of city life that Nashville had provided. Everything was so fast and vibrant there. Like you were caught up in a whirlwind and half the adventure was finding out where it spit you back out after it chewed you up.

Soapberry was nothing like Apple Fall though. The Fall’s wealthy district looked like a suburb, but this place had a whole side of town just lined with mansions. She’d have to avoid that side of town for the sake of the ‘gram, but you could bet your ass she was getting herself into some of those houses at some point. Brushing shoulders with that kind was sort of her specialty.

Back in the Fall, it hadn’t taken too long to wrap most of the town around her finger. A useful way to get information too, to deal with her problem. Small towns were easier to dominate....Too bad this town had Ephram in it. The ultimate con to all those pros.

But right now, Darla found herself in the town square. Or shopping district. People had names for these areas when they’d given her directions but she hadn’t bothered to remember them. There was a bit of a farmer’s market going on outside of a shop, and Darla strode confidently over to the man at the table.

“Would you mind terribly snappin’ my picture?” she asked him, putting on her sugar sweetest southern belle voice that she usually tried to mask at risk of sounding like a dumb hick. The young man agreed, and Darla nabbed two bags of apples and a crate from the stand, setting the crate up as a seat before holding the bags up high, the rest of the shops and square a bit out of focus behind her as the man snapped a few pictures with her phone. She thanked him with a rather condescending peck to the cheek before she walked away, composing her post.

Found the most darling farmer’s market! An apple a day keeps me beautiful, amirite? Got to love those #smalltownvibes

#farmersmarket #blonde #smalltown #farmtotable #selfcare #sexy #beautiful #apple #nonspon

She was so busy getting her daily Instagram post ready for her adoring followers that she completely forgot that her brother was one of them.

@ephrampettaline

[river-phillips]

[TXT] Hi, Sheriff. Could I possibly ask you a favor?

[TXT] Without you asking me a bunch of questions about said favor, preferably.

@ephrampettaline

[joeyvoeman]

Sorry Charlie | Joey & Ephram

After dropping his bunny off with the nymph neighbor that lived behind him, packing a few essentials into a rucksack, calling Cassie to let her know what was happening, and giving Iann a quick visit to pick up another one of those stones. He was surprised Iann didn’t ask to tag along too, but even if he had Joey wouldn’t have let him. As helpful as he was with Charlie in the first place, they had no idea what they were getting themselves into this time. Could be another prison break, or could be something far worse. 

Joey’s phone buzzed telling him Ephram was ready, and he wasted no time heading over to the station, two fresh coffees nestled in the cupholders of his Camero. Once he pulled up, he had a brief flashback to falling into a blight with Essie right in this parking lot, feeling a chill run down his spine before he took a deep breath and pushed it aside. 

He shot Ephram a quick text that he was outside, and grabbed the two coffees as he got out of the car, leaning against it and sipping one as he waited. When he saw Ephram approaching, he walked up to meet him halfway, handing him the other coffee. “I didn’t know how you took it, but I got powder cream and sugar packets in the car,” he explained with small smile. He’d been nervous about this trip, and having Ephram standing with him made it real that he’d have the backup he needed, in more ways than just physical. 

@ephrampettaline

[joeyvoeman]

Sorry Charlie | Joey & Ephram

[txt] How’s it going, chief? Hope things have calmed down since those dimensional pockets up and vanished.

[txt] Didn’t say it at the time, but I’m dang proud of you for what you said in there.

[txt] Listen, if you ain’t too busy, I’d like to take you up on that offer of your friend looking into my nephews whereabouts.

@ephrampettaline

[joeyvoeman]

Eight Easy Steps | Joey & Ephram

It had been a while since he’d been to his weekly meetings. Well, they weren’t very weekly for him anymore. Even though him and Iann were on better terms now (he still hesitated to call those terms ‘good’), he felt like Iann had slightly soiled this environment for him. Paul Janisse, the group’s facilitator, was still being as accommodating as ever, but there was something just…different about it all now. It had been about a month since he’d gone, and he decided that finally, it was time to try again.

He was there early, as he usually was to most things, and he sat in one of the chairs in the circle, sipping the complimentary coffee that honestly tasted like mud. He mostly did it to occupy his hands somehow. Even when this did feel like a completely safe space for him, he was always a bit nervous about sharing, so his leg would bounce and his hands would have to fiddle with something to keep him calm.

Mr Janisse stood by the door, greeting people as they walked in like he always did. Joey had his eyes fixed on a poster on the wall of the community center classroom. One of those inspirational posters with a cat hanging from a tree branch. ‘Hang In There!’, it encouraged. That kitten was barely holding on, and it was likely to fall to its death at any moment. He could relate.

“Sheriff! How lovely of you to join us!”

Janisse’s voice drew Joey’s attention instantly, and he wheeled his head around to spot Ephram coming through the door. He offered a small, half-hearted wave, suddenly feeling even more mentally exhausted before the session had even begun.

@ephrampettaline

[joeyvoeman]

[txt] Hello, Sheriff Ephram? This is Joey. 

[txt] From the conflict resolution class.

[txt] I hope this message reaches you well.

[txt] Anyway, do you want your pencils back?

@ephrampettaline

[joeyvoeman]

Whichever prompt speaks to you!

@ephrampettaline

5. My muse finds yours unconscious in an alleyway.

Bartenders were used to handling drunks, so when the bartender sounded annoyed on the phone, Joey knew it was serious. He drove faster than he probably should have to the little out of the way bar, but when he headed inside, he didn’t see Ephram anywhere. “We threw him out back,” the bartender grumbled. “He was scaring away my customers.”

Joey shot the man an icy look before turning on his heel and heading out, rounding the building until he found the back alley. There was only one light down the dark gravel path between the buildings, and he saw a dark figure under said light by the bar’s back entrance. Joey hurried toward it, finding Ephram’s mess of blonde head face down in the gravel. With a sigh, Joey grabbed him, picking him up by the back of the collar. 

He was complete dead weight. A few pieces of gravel stuck to his face as Joey flipped him over, and he brushed them off gently. “Ephram,” he said, his voice cutting through the otherwise quiet night. “Wake up, pal.” He gave Ephram’s cheek a few pats, but no response. Just a slack-jawed country boy who...wasn’t breathing. 

“Shit.”

He acted quickly, checking for a pulse and feeling a faint one, but it was off rhythm. Ephram was wearing a button up flannel, and Joey wasted no time ripping it open to expose the man’s bare chest. He laid his hand on it and sent an electrical pulse through his fingertips into the other man’s flesh. His body jumped to life, but his eyelids stayed heavy. Another pulse. And another. Joey was watching Ephram’s face so closely for any change, and finally on the fourth shock, Ephram’s eyes shot open, and he sucked in a huge, shuddering breath. 

“Joey?” he asked after gaining a bit of composure back. “What’re you...?” And suddenly it seemed to call come back to him. Joey helped him sit up, and Ephram hung his head as he leaned on his knees. “Ah hell, I’m sorry.” He reached up and pat Joey on the shoulder, Joey’s hand on Ephram’s back to support him. “I ain’t meant for you to go through all this trouble for me.” 

“I’m your sponsor. And your friend. It’s what I’m here for.”

Ephram nodded, head still hanging as he stared at the gravel underneath him. “Fell off the wagon right on my ass after Freddie...” He didn’t seem to be able to finish his sentence, and Joey rubbed his friend’s back. A firm hand to keep him steady.

“I know, chief. I know.” He grabbed Ephram’s arm and helped him to his feet, providing his shoulder for the man to lean on as he slung Ephram’s arm over his shoulders. “Let’s get you dried out and then we can talk. Sound good?”

Ephram just nodded as they walked toward the car, his head heavy with alcohol and grief.