oh dear; oh dear (open post)

[warmheartedly]

JUNE 4; PLAYGROUND

There's a playground. Well, there a lot of playgrounds across the city. What makes this one right next to Coffers' Shop a bit more special than the other out there is this: Accidents.

It's not unheard of playgrounds to have the occasional accidents. It's who is the heart of the possible problem for this one.

Parents love it for the fact it's so safe for their kids there. They can drop their rowdiest youngsters at that spot and never worry about a scratch or bruise by the time they come back to pick them up.

Other adults though? The ones who shouldn't be lingering around or have too much interest in watching the kids? If you're not a babysitter for any of the children, there's a strong chance something may happen to you. Especially if you have an unfortunate reputation among the regulars there. At least the occasional sharp trip or tumble to the ground won't harm you that badly. A scuff or bruise but nothing too serious.

JUNE 5; GRAVEYARD (MORNING)

This part of the cemetery doesn't get a lot of attention. Compared to the ornate statues of angels weeping or grand mausoleums, the humble headstones and markers pale in comparison to them and often get little attention.

The row of tombstones here all belong to a small family, the (supposed) only surviving member studying not having quite enough time to pay her respects to the family she barely remembers. As a result it gets no notice, not attention besides the groundskeeper who keeps weeds off all the grounds.

Yet, in the early hours, some passerby may notice a trail of petals from a patch of wildflowers, outside of the cemetery, leading to the tombstones. This happens now and then. Not enough times to be reported on but enough times that the groundskeeper, if asked, will mention he's no longer surprised by the presence of tidy bushels of flowers on the graves. Someone is only paying their respects for them. There's no harm in that.

Plus he has no interest in going near it during these times. Not when it's so eerily cold that it makes his teeth chatter and his body shake if he's only a few feet from it. The coldness, in his opinion if ever asked, is the worst when near the one that happens to be marked FRANCISCO SEVILLE.

JUNE 5; COFFERS' SHOP (AFTERNOON)

... Is the shop chillier than usual? It seems to be with how when someone enters and they immediately shiver, rubbing their arms to ward off the chills.

The air-conditioning is strong but never this strong.

Those who go here regularly, from customers who come by everyday to and employees themselves, are having a hard time focusing on their works as they shiver and struggle to get the usually reliable free wi-fi to work on them or to get the coffee machine to cooperate for this one cup.

If asked if this happens a lot, some will say yes and some will be unsure but there's a general agreement in the air that this is not normal. The source of the coldness is hard to explain. The coldest spot changes from near the counter to the furthest corner or right outside the door.

Almost like it was... moving on its own.

[ OOC: Or make your own scenario in your comment! Prose and brackets welcomed! ]</td></tr></tbody></table>

Comments

JUNE 5; GRAVEYARD (MORNING)

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji hadn't been looking to run into anyone this morning, but the trail of petals was something nearly impossible for him to miss. He followed the trail over to its terminus, then looked around.

"Friend of yours?" he asked.

[warmheartedly]

Startled, the cold air becoming sharp in response, she turns to face the new person and relaxes upon seeing a familiar face.

"Family, really." It's been many years in terms of Antonio. A few years in for Francisco. She shouldn't be too affected of their deaths still. She tries to show it by giving a cheery smile, waving her hand as if trying to ward of potential worries away. "Just making sure I do this in time is all. Would hate to slip up because you know that can ruin someone's busy schedule."

That's the joke. Clara doesn't have a lot to do these days. Ha ha... "--So! What are you doing here? I didn't know this could be used as a shortcut for people."

[detectiveofthewest]

Clara...

Wave or not, it wasn't exactly a cause for celebration, standing in front of your family member's grave. Still, it seemed like she wasn't too upset... so maybe she really was mostly over things?

Heiji smiled a little. "Actually, I'm kinda fond of graveyards. Nice and quiet. Someone actually told me to go visit Highgate Cemetery the other day. I gotta say, they're a little different around here, though."

[warmheartedly]

She's grateful to Heiji, really, that he was going along with this and her expression is much more cheerful now.

"I've been there before! Highgate, I mean." Only if out of curiosity, to see if other spirits were also there, lingering and wandering about. "I must admit it's the first time I ever met someone who said they were fond of graveyards. Even the groundskeeper here seems unhappy to be here at times."

Clara rubs the back of her neck, looking a bit bashful. "Thanks to me, I bet. Sometimes I accidentally bump into his rakes or barrow and they move or fall without any reason in his eyes. Poor man keeps nearly having heart attacks when that happens!"

[detectiveofthewest]

"Really? I used to spend some time in them. I've done a bit of grave visiting, too. You're supposed to, you know, to make sure everything's neat and tidy, leave some flowers and incense. It's kind of a thing."

He grinned. "Anyhow, I'm sure if he could see you or chat with ya a bit, his uneasiness would be laid to rest. And besides, if you're in his profession, you need to be a little tough. Can't be jumping at every little thing, right? Or else you won't be able to chase kids off the premises for Halloween."

JUNE 4; PLAYGROUND

[emotioneater]

It's just past twilight when Cooper appears at the coffee shop. He likes his coffee black and with plenty of sugar in it. He looks around, but when he can't find Clara, he ventures outside. Maybe she's next door. Despite the late hour, there's still a few children going back & forth on the swings and climbing all over the jungle gym. Their parents are letting them get their excess energy Cooper gets one or two glances, looking a bit out of place in the setting.

It takes him moment to find who he's looking for. He heads on over, warm coffee clasped between his unusually cold hands. "Feelin' a bit maternal this evening?"

[warmheartedly]

"Do I ever," she replies back to him, airy and happy now that she managed to stop Sue from slipping off the bars during her playful fight with Larc. The two children run off, remembering their parents' warnings of not venturing too near strangers, in this case being Cooper.

"They're very rambunctions tonight but you can't blame the kids for getting rowdy, I suppose. Better for them to get it out before bedtime otherwise their poor parents won't get any sleep."

Something she learned the hard way when raising children. She looks at the coffee cup in his hands, noting the abstract artsy logo that was Coffers', and she looks back up at Cooper with a warm twinkle in her eye. "So did you come here because you wanted a quick cup or were you hoping to see me?"

[emotioneater]

Cooper looks after the disappearing kids with a wistful expression on his face. It was just another aspect of a life he'd never gotten the chance to have. Oh well. He could barely take care of himself. God only knows what damage he could've done with a couple of small human beings added into the equation. What-ifs were for long nights when he had a fridge full of blood and whiskey to deal with them.

He takes a drink of coffee to get his mind off of moping. It's not half bad, better than the usual type to be found in a little shop instead of one of the big chains. "Hopin' to see my favorite ghost, of course."

[warmheartedly]

There's a faint darker colour to her cheeks at his comment, warmed by the knowledge he did want to see her and went all the way here. The coffee shop isn't exactly bustling in these hours after all, students trying to regain some semblance of sleep.

"Oh you flatterer. One of these days I'm just going to turn red from your compliments and stay red.

"I am glad you came though," she confides to him, "especially around this hour when all the kids are getting ready to go. Otherwise I might have had to try and make a token effort of shooing you away. For the children's sake since I like to think that's my job at this point."

Babysitter, trailer, and playground supervisor. A ghost has got to keep herself busy when still in the living world.

[emotioneater]

"Charm is free and should be used often," he says, giving her a wink when he sees how red she's become. Cooper's honesty tended to get him in hot water with most people, but when it came to his friends, it could be used for good instead. He takes a swig of the drink again before going on.

"I needed a taste of normalcy. My last few nights have been insanity." He supposed it said something about just how bizarre his life had become when talking to a long-dead ghost had become normal to him. Clara was one of the most grounded, level-headed people he knew. It kept him feeling grounded.

June 5; Graveyard

[eyeforaneye]

It's not unusual for him to be out this early, nor even in this location. It's the fact that he lingers after finishing his own personal business that's somewhat out of character, perhaps driven to introspection in a place like this by not only his new discovery of the world of the underground itself, but by even having the chance to meet a ghost in person. Every tombstone looks different now, accompanied with the feeling of being watched.

It drives Sasuke to want to pay respects to each of them, even if only in the way of passing thoughts... but the sight of the flowers in particular lures him in. Only when he crouches closer to read the names inscribed into stone does he pause, the cold bearing down on him and making his bones ache.

"... Is someone here?"

[warmheartedly]

"Please don't do anything." She isn't sure if the young man could hear her or not but, all the same, she materialises into view and speaks because it makes her feel better that she's trying.

Her expression a little distressed and a little wary, wondering why he had ventured so close to her family's little plot. Wringing her hands, Clara did her best to keep her cool and was just able to do that. Just. "They're just flowers. Honest. Nothing special about them. I'm only trying to make the place seem more lively."

Since Magra was unable to visit a lot.

[eyeforaneye]

The voice immediately captures his attention even if it's faint, and it's her full materialization that causes him to instinctively jerk back. Aradia had stayed anchored to one object without ever putting herself in full view, so this is a new experience for him altogether. Even with his own heart beat thudding in his ears he manages to regain that neutral expression of his, hiding a faint swallow.

"It's fine -- I wasn't going to do anything. I just thought I felt something... and I guess it was you. Who are you?"

[warmheartedly]

Not wanting to scare him too badly, Clara raises her hands up and gives a placid smile now that she's been assured that nothing will happen to what were the only remainders of her husband and son. He doesn't look like he would cause her or anyone here any trouble. Which is good. She isn't interested in fighting with people and hates the idea of fighting, period.

"Clara. My name is Clara Seville." Which would explain her connection with these row of graves since one has her name on it. She looks back at it for a second, her expression almost wistful. "I'm here to pay respects to my family.

"I didn't expect anyone else here to be honest." She looks back to him, genuinely curious to see him here. "Or anyone to be able to sense me at all. Hello. It's a... It's a pleasure to meet you, really. A bit of a surprise but a pleasure all the same."

[eyeforaneye]

The name is immediately recognized and placed, though it doesn't seem like the right thing to comment on right now. The flowers make sense, at least, along with that overbearing presence, and it's with considerably extra focus that he's able to make out the full details of her face and appearance.

"Clara Seville. My name is Sasuke Uchiha. The last thing that I meant to do was disturb someone in the middle of that; it's probably difficult enough. I can give you some more privacy if that's what you want."

i see dead people

[alethiological]

The fun thing is that most people assume Hunters go around beheading people for paychecks. The truth is that's just the high-risk end of the pool. A lot of it is just writing reports, or taking up observation posts, or just looking into a situation to see if it's worth something more. It's just questioning witnesses and abusing the human weakness of feelings to get out more than they meant to.

The coat is different. Same with the unforgiving presence and the stern look. The groundskeeper is dismissed with at least the illusion of manners (Thank you for taking the time from your job. Of course, sir, anytime) but there's still that annoyance. It's just flowers, nothing malignant, being a Rank 1 is irritating, he hates these jobs, might equalize it just on principle-

Except. The names. The entire aura flakes off into nothing upon reading it.

Seville.

He doesn't even turn around. The cold doesn't bother him, locking joints are normal of course- But just the same, he knows she's there.

"Your husband?"

and i see cuties ; ;

[warmheartedly]

It was really a stroke of luck, fate really, that had him come here of all places. At first she pretends that no, she isn't here. Then she gives up, unable to lie to him through even in inaction, and appears a few seconds later after the question (statement) is asked (said). Her expression is soft and a little ashamed that she kept this from him.

If Clara had it her way, she would have kept this from Willard a little bit longer. Except she can't and she nods, gesturing to another one further down the little plot. "And my son. Right over there."

Of all the times she known him, Clara never did get around to talking about what exactly happened to her family after her... departure. Certainly talked about her sons in their childhood days and her husband's quirks but never did a 'where are they now' segments. The topic of books and Willard's day were much more livelier subjects to discuss.

"... I didn't expect to see you here." In fact, she wondered why he was here. The cemetery wasn't a well-known one. Cosy but small, tucked away from the rest of the city since things like these, reminders of people's lives inevitableness, doesn't do wonders for the tourism trade and such. She chuckles a bit, shaking her head. "Though I did hear this side of tombstones is much colder for some reason and spooky things happen at this hour."

realtalk i got this tag and just went OH NO really loud they're too cute

[alethiological]

He always assumed she was an old hand at the ghost thing. Comparing her and Aradia talent-wise is night and day, so her husband being deceased? Not a surprise. Old age conquers everyone at some point or another. The husband is not surprising. The son a bit moreso, but there's always something. Illness, accidents, bad luck, prey.

He doesn't ask.

So it's only at the spooky comment does he turn back around. There's none of the usual 'I'm sorry for your loss' or 'why didn't you tell me' or 'at least you're still here' that most people snap off. They're trite appeasements. A sad facsimile of empathy, because people think that by saying how much they care, it means they actually do.

Her expression isn't brought up either.

"What? Like flowers appearing from nowhere? Or a woman standing in your peripherals and gone when you turn? Sounds like a classic ghost story."

it's so late where i am and so i could only turn to one of my dogs and go 'look at these two'

[warmheartedly]

Honestly? She's glad he doesn't bring it up, husband or son. Instead he focuses on the other things instead of the obvious and it helps her relax a bit and pull herself together from being so emotional like that. Clara has gotten passed it in recent years in her own way, almost. Lingering for two decades gives people some perspective and a lot of time to go through the process quite thoroughly.

So there's a smile back on her face sooner rather than later. This one bemused and guilty of the things Willard lists down that were her handiwork, accidental or not. "That's me! I suppose if you do this for almost a decade, it happens to catch's people's attention."

"Hmmm... I think 'ghost story' is a good way to describe it," she said to him. "It's gotten to the point that there's a little challenge among the kids when they pass here as a shortcut." She looks back at the graves, looking at them except not really. Last thing she wants to do is look sad around Willard. "Come here and check for the flowers. If there are, grab it and run off. Poor groundskeeper has to keep chasing them away whenever he spots them! Though I suppose the exercise will do him some good. Nothing refreshing like taking a jog in here of all places while going after some schoolboys."

hopefully your dogs were more sympathetic than my cats

[alethiological]

Ten years? And the assignment said it might be malignant? Wow, Hillingdon is filled with dumbs, there is no longer any regret to be avoiding them. The guilt isn't dismissed, but at least it's ignored, and her gaze is followed to the graves when she speaks. Her granddaughter might be the only one left. No wonder she stays.

A shame about the graves being untended though. It's half-distracted when he takes out his phone and takes pictures of the two graves in question.

"Better they have courage contests here than somewhere dangerous." God knows they do that enough in other areas of the city. It's probably how the fae get half of their kids to kidnap. "However, you should tell them stealing is wrong. Next time leave a memo stuck to the flowers."

JUNE 5; COFFERS' SHOP (AFTERNOON)

[mountainbones]

Danil had a bit of time before his shift started and he found himself strolling to a coffee shop. It wasn't too uncommon of an occurrence for him; there was something comforting about the atmosphere of such places. Perhaps it was the warm press of humanity that demanded nothing more than just it's sheer presence. The illusion of companionship with the safety of isolation.

As soon as he slipped inside there was something...off. A chill that slipped across his skin, the hairs at his arms standing stiffly up for a few moments. He frowned, rubbing at his arms shaking his head a little and made his way to the back of the place, settling into one of the soft, worn armchairs in the back. He pulled out a battered ipod, a frown crossing his face at the dark screen. A frustrated sigh slipped past his lips and he started to fiddle with the old piece of technology.

[warmheartedly]

She blinks a bit when she passes by and hears someone's frustrated sigh close by. Turning her attentions to that, she sees the young man struggling to get his device to work. Sometimes it does, the screen will flicker and show signs of life, but then flicker back into a state of reluctant disuse.

Oh dear. Did she do that?

Out of hold habits, she says an apology aloud to the boy and Clara tries to keep her emotions in control so his poor iPod would work again. Hopefully it will within a minute or two. The poor thing looks ready to give in on itself soon.

[mountainbones]

Danil's head twists, a sudden, sharp jerk, and the hairs rise on his arms once more, just like that same, strange feeling that had happened when he first entered the shop. That twist in his belly the few times he did magic. His teeth grit, narrow shoulders rolling back, but then the flickering of his ipod stops.

His eyes narrow, and then...then there's a voice. Maybe a voice, maybe a whisper, maybe just words or a concept, curled into his mind.

Sorry.

Danil sucks his lip between his teeth and nibbles slightly. "...Hello?" He mutters the word, soft, and barely above his voice, and immediately feels very foolish.

[warmheartedly]

Oh. He could hear her. Was he also...?

Must be if he's looking around for a voice in the busy crowd today, looking almost perplexed as she is.

She drifts closer to his direction and decides to test out her thoughts that he must be someone like her, in a way. Clara waves her hand to catch his attention, the gesture subdued but noticeable among the people huddled in their tables and sipping their drinks.

Already she's putting on a cheery smile on her face despite feeling under the weather, trying to look welcoming and friendly to the young man as possible. It never hurts to make a good impression if she's able to leave one at all.

[mountainbones]

Danil senses the movement first and turns sharply. After a moment of squinting, suddenly there's a woman on his left hand side as if she had always been there. He blinks for a moment, utterly non-plussed, and then bobs his head a little, a nod of greeting.

"Uh. Hello." He repeats himself, pauses and then asks, "Were you the one apologizing to me?"