[color=silver][right][sup][color=f4a460][b]LOCATION[/b][/color] — [color=f4ee60]Town Square — Java Cafe[/color]
[color=f4a460][b]INTERACTING WITH[/b][/color] — [color=f4ee60]No one in particular; open for interaction[/color][/sup][/right]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/8lf02Aa.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/LIrTzvq.png[/img]
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[indent]Since the school year had let out about three weeks ago, Evangeline Zima had been doing what she could to find a balance in her social/professional and personal life, though it didn’t go according to plan every single day. Being a young adult in Salem with a decent social life, she, when not at her bartending gig at The Edge Nightclub or when she wasn’t setting up meetings here and there with some of her mother’s associates for the possibility of an internship at Fairy Queen Cosmetics, Eva was trying to keep up with - well, with everything. But it was growing increasingly difficult. The expectations, the way people would want her attention for this and that - she was finding herself cracking under the pressure. Not to mention, she had to maintain daily appearances with her family.

It was just too much.

Eva wandered through the Salem Town Square, doing her best to hide the pressure she was under, she had decided that she would head off to Java Cafe. It was still pretty early in the morning and with the city bustling with its own life because the preparations for tomorrow’s 4th of July celebration was nearing its final stages. Eva could see the red-white-and-blue-colored decorations all around the square. They were also all around the town. Anywhere from the Horton Lakefront property, where the main celebration was set to take place, had a setup that made Eva blush with excitement. It was just so extensive. In her years living in this town, she had always been so overwhelmed by how the Hortons and Brady's went out of their way to make the town come alive when these big celebrations happened. No matter what cause or the circumstances were, they always shelled out the best for their town.

And when Eva thought of her family and how, despite being members of the Salem community, still had a sort of stigma because of the rumors that were clouding her family for taking over where the Castillo’s had reigned. Though she didn’t want to believe that her family, or at least her father and eldest siblings, would be involved in such illegal acts, that didn’t stop the rumor mill from flying around, causing even more added pressure on this already fragile girl confidence.

Keep it out of your mind, Eva. 

Silently, the blonde reassured herself, pushing out the thoughts of her insecurities and worries for the time being as she walked into Java Cafe. It was quite packed, so she would pull out her phone as she waited in line. She couldn’t tell just exactly how many people were in front of her. The way the Java Cafe worked was through a ticket system. Pretty much you would take a numbered ticket from a machine off to the left side of the cafe after getting your order was inputted into the computer. It would be assigned to whatever your number was and when it was called up, your order was ready. 

As Eva stated her order, she was given the number 24. Not just a few minutes later, she heard the number of [code]13[/code] being called. This produced a sighing reaction from the Zima girl. Though the Java Cafe was known for its speed, she still felt as though today just wasn’t her day.

Time escaped her as she flipped aimlessly through her text messages and her social media. It might be regarded as junk to some, but Eva had a few guilty pleasures. Social media just happened to be the current of those pleasures that she found herself indulging in at this very moment; and as her eyes went from her phone, briefly, to the front counter of the cafe, she saw the number of people had decreased a surprising amount. It truly was a wonderful thing that she was that much closer to finally getting her usual that she always had gotten at Java: A slim white chocolate mocha with a shot of espresso and cinnamon whipped cream. Sometimes, when she was feeling extra indulgent, she would ask for shaven white chocolate on top, which she did today.

Sometimes bad days could be healed with just a little extra chocolate.

“Number 23!”

Eva’s face lit up with a bright smile, whether forced or not was up to debate, but she happily walked up, seeing the mountain that was her desert-for-coffee order. She handed the barista a five dollar bill and took her indulgent coffee outside. She took a seat a table nearby where she would enjoy this nice day as she dove face-first into the towering whipped cream, which she found herself with a white-tipped nose.[/indent]
[hr]
[right][sup][color=00a86b][b]LOCATION[/b][/color] — [color=0091a8]The Docks → The Brady Pub[/color]
[color=00a86b][b]INTERACTING WITH[/b][/color] — [color=0091a8]Wyatt and Shawn (NPCs); Ali [@Dirty Pretty Lies][/color][/sup][/right]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/27xqs99.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ik43o9V.gif[/img]
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[indent]There had never been such hectic working schedules than it was when big celebrations were about to hit Salem’s streets. Cinco de Mayo, high school graduations, and proms, sporting events (especially the homecoming and finals) - all of them brought out the party animal out in the younger generation of Salem’s population. More often than not, those in the 16-22 age group were the usual suspects when it came to getting way out of hand. For the Salem Police Department, they were always on edge because none of them knew what to really expect.


As Colin Brady had been making his usual rounds in preparation for what was about to happen in the town tomorrow, he finished up following up on a case that he had made an arrest last week. One of his CI’s was to meet with him near the docks. This guy’s name was Wyatt, a former drug dealer that found he would be able to make a better profit giving Colin just exactly what he needed to make his case. And in the event of a big bust, which it was leaning towards that direction, Wyatt would get about fifteen percent of the cut due to him being on record as a ‘special confidential informant’. The way it worked was if the information he gave Colin proved to be credible and it led to the arrest of certain enemies of a certain family that Colin had did favors for here and there (not by choice), then he would compensate Wyatt for his troubles.

“You’re late!” Wyatt said, looking all around him.

Colin ignored Wyatt’s tone, [color=00a86b]“don’t give me that. You called me saying you had some information, so out with it before I lose my patience.”[/color] Colin wasn't in the mood for Wyatt’s antics, not this early in the morning.

“No, I need assurances, first.”

Colin raised his eyebrow. He was already not liking where this was going. [color=00a86b]]“And what might that be?”[/color]

“My cut. I need to know how much it’s going to be.”

[color=00a86b]“First off, it’s not a cut. This isn’t some drug deal that you get your own share. We collectively add the findings from the other agencies and whatever that number is, you get a small percentage of the findings. Or do you not remember the contract you signed?”[/color]

Wyatt seemed to back off, though it was obvious to Colin that he didn't like the tone that Colin had taken with him.  Well, tough shit. It wasn't going to get any better for scum such as him.

[color=00a86b]“Now, the information.”[/color]

After Colin got what he needed, he sent a text to a number that was named ‘E.C’. In the text, he sent the following: [code]My CI gave me the information you predicted. A shipment of H will be coming in at the docks through a southern entrance. You can have your men seize it with no worry of police interference.[/code]

Once that text had been sent, Colin let out a long, rather annoyed sigh. He couldn’t believe he was actually forced to do this. Not only that, he had to personally attend to this 4th of July celebration tomorrow. Because his family was one of the co-hosting families, it would reflect badly on him if he decided to skip out on it. Well, if he was going to be forced into something as annoying and irritating as that tomorrow, he needed to stock up on as many beers and assorted hard liquors as he possibly could. It just so happened that the family pub had just what he needed.

After a quick drive, Colin made his way through the square, seeing that one younger Zima daughter enjoying an over-the-top beverage of sorts. He didn’t pay any mind to her. He breezed past most of the Salemites who were going about their daily routines. Going through the park and taking a shortcut through some trees, Colin had managed to get himself to part of the square, though it connected to the park as well, to where the Brady Pub was. It was as average you could think: spread throughout, it had the color scheme of the Irish flag, as to further emulate that it was a traditional Irish pub that you’d find back in the old country. 

Through the glass, Colin took notice of how his parents and sister, Alianna were there. Caroline and Shawn, as they were called by anyone who wasn’t their family, were doing as they always had done: serving their customers with Ali helping them out when she could. 

Colin took in a few deep breaths. He had to remember the goal: to get as hammered as you could as quickly as you could. In that, he walked in, greeting those who were walking past him with such a bullshit smile that they must’ve been complete idiots to buy it. Still, Colin was perfect at misleading people into thinking he actually gave a shit about pleasantries. Oh well, he was halfway there. 

“Oh, Colin, up early, aren’t we?” Shawn had said, giving his son the usual banter Shawn Brady was known for.

[color=00a86b]“Oh you know, the bad guys aren’t going to stop themselves,”[/color] Colin forced himself to laugh at his father’s lame joke.

“So true,” Shawn’s laugh was like cat nail on a blackboard. Still, Colin knew his father meant well; if only he would ease up on him sometimes. “So, what brings you here? You off-duty?”

[color=00a86b]“What? Can’t I just come and see my folks without it being a big deal?”[/color] Colin defensively asked.

“Colin, I was just giving you a hard time. No need to get your panties in a wad.”

[color=00a86b]“Whatever, just give me some coffee. Or would you like I take it elsewhere?”[/color] 

There was a moment of hesitation from Shawn, feeling uncertain how to respond or what was wrong with his son, however, after a long moment of silence, he said, “one coffee coming right up.”

The moment Shawn went to brew up a fresh pot of coffee, Colin couldn’t be happier. It was like this every time he showed his face in the Pub. Colin would hope to not catch any shit from his father, but Shawn couldn’t help himself. In fact, it seemed like it gave the old man joy to constantly remind Colin that he was a screw-up. Even if he never said it, Colin could see it in his eyes and could tell it in the tone of his father’s voice.

When he got his coffee and Shawn went to tend to some other guest, Colin saw his sister walk by. [color=00a86b]“I don’t know how you stand working here for him. I could never do it. I’d probably kill myself after the first day.”[/color][/indent][/color]