[open] bright as the day fresh as the moon and stale as the hay

[iustitiae]

i - @ the supermarket
at your favorite tesco (but probably in city of london or enfield), at any time during the month

[look, everyone's gotta shop for groceries. connor's lists have gotten undeniably weirder in the last few months, offering to pick up things for his witch friends ("friends" - friend, in the singular, that's soeki) while here's there. most of this stuff honestly feels like a joke (candles and sage and he's honestly wondering if they're going for eye of newt and toe of frog next), but connor's a good friend and if he's going to be at tesco anyway he can pick up stuff for his buddy.

along with, you know, the usual - good looking produce, the atlantic, condoms, new lightbulb for the broken fixture, cold cereal, pasta, eggs. if you need help reaching something on a shelf, just want random commentary on your life choices, or happen to recognize connor from somewhere (his tinder account? maybe you already know him? the possibilities are endless) this prompt is for you.]

ii - @ the courthouse
city of london, towards the end of the business day.

Shit --

[this is connor, running through a crowd like an asshole, trying not to bump into anyone (but offering "sorry!" if he does, i mean he's not devoid of manners). he's carrying a briefcase with a brief from his boss/professor in it, one that the deadline is approaching, in about thirty minutes, says a quick look at his watch. according to her it was their fault the brief was running so late and despite the wonderful world of the internet, this particular magistrate believed in hard copies, thank you so they'd drawn straws and connor had lost. "good luck with rush hour foot traffic!" yeah, thanks.

he manages to compose himself enough that when he hands the papers off to the clerk (with five minutes to spare!) he doesn't look like a total wreck. mission thusly accomplished has a minute to take a break, relived that he managed to not screw this up and get in her bad graces.

another day, another crisis, right?]

iii - wildcard
[you probably know how this one works! if you want a specific prompt by me let me know that, too.]

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha spreads her hands slightly, a gesture that's almost a surrender. She's just one person. Can't be everywhere.]

Probably are, if I'm lucky enough to run into them. But I offered first.

[iustitiae]

Then I'll take you up on it.

[i mean he's not an idiot.]

I'd like to make it home with my groceries.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha snorts at that, amusement in the sound and creeping into her expression as she responds.]

Groceries. Of course. Well, you have my word your energy drinks will make it home safely too.

[iustitiae]

Hey! I'll have you know, there's some very nice produce in here.

[he holds up the bag in evidence]

[outstandingbalance]

I'm not here to judge anyone's eating habits.

[Too soon? Probably too soon. Natasha hasn't socialized that much with humans in a long time.]

The produce gets home safe too.

[iustitiae]

There's a little bit of judgement.

[but it's okay, he's super judge-y, too. they're gonna get on well.]

[outstandingbalance]

[She holds up her thumb and forefinger couple centimeters apart; a very little bit of judgment, maybe.]

So which way is home?

[iustitiae]

[connor laughs. he's still obviously pretty shaken, but it feels pretty normal to joke around a bit. he points off in a direction.]

Out of the creepy alley and back onto the street, and then a couple tube stops.

[outstandingbalance]

Out of the creepy ally seems like a good first step.

[If she's annoyed he left the street in the first place, she doesn't show it. He can't really help being what he is.]

You know, you seem to be taking this well.

[It's not exactly untrue. He's shaken, but he could be panicking. He's joking. But that's not why she says it—the says it to build his confidence a little, to help him calm down.

And because she hopes he'll share a little information, if he has it.]

A lot of people wouldn't believe what just happened.

[iustitiae]

It's not my first run in with things most people wouldn't believe.

[lots of helpful info there, truly.]

[outstandingbalance]

[It confirms her suspicions, at least. And there are other clues.]

Doesn't seem like they were good things people wouldn't believe.

[iustitiae]

On the plus side, it wasn't attempted murder, before.

[outstandingbalance]

I guess there's a bright side in there somewhere.

[She might hope for a more informative answer, but she can be patient.]

For what it's worth, there's a strong chance he wasn't going to murder you. At least not intentionally.

[iustitiae]

Cool. He wanted some but not all of my blood.

[so much better...]

[outstandingbalance]

Something like that. People older and smarter than him tend not to like bodies popping up.

[It's somewhat better? It could be a lot worse.]

Bright side?

[iustitiae]

Not really feeling the bright side here.

[outstandingbalance]

He's probably not going to run off and kill someone else.

[She says it a little flatly, like a math problem she might not have the right answer for.]

And it probably wasn't a brush with death.

[iustitiae]

Sure, fine. Bright side.

[connor's still scared. and he's still a human aware of all these things he wishes he wasn't. but those things can't really get taken back at this point.]

[outstandingbalance]

[She glances over him, curious—and considering.]

So what was it before? Not vampires.

[iustitiae]

Ghosts.

[very matter of factly. at least hes being honest]

[outstandingbalance]

You're haunted?

[Ghosts haven't bothered Natasha much. She's been many things, but haunted hasn't been one of them.]

[iustitiae]

Yeah, pretty much. It's real fun.

[outstandingbalance]

If you want my advice, ignore them. It takes effort for ghosts to do much of anything. Don't validate them, and they usually give up.

[iustitiae]

Yeah, well the ignoring thing is much easier said than done.

[outstandingbalance]

Most things are. But it's the best advice I have.