[right][code]Later on - Beppo Park, North-West St. Portwell[/code][/right]
It wasn’t [i]just[/i] Trisha and Ed making their way to Beppo Park in Ed’s suped up coup. Rather, a van had pulled into the parking lot of the Cannery, driven by none other than Norm himself. Though, once everyone was good and ready, Ed promptly took over the duty of driving. Thus, the three rows of the van were filled out as such:

Ed and Norm at the front, both cracking pervy jokes whenever possible. Behind them, Theo, Trisha and [i]surprisingly[/i] Cass. While Casey hadn’t been sure she was coming, it turned out she was, and had been surprised that she wasn’t expected by anyone. 


There was another row still, and it was inhabited by pickups from an earlier spot. As Ed and Theo generally ran in the same circles, there was plenty of overlapping friends to include in the mix. However, there were “outsiders” to consider. Thus, the guests were specially picked. Friendly faces who weren’t always included in the [i]religious[/i] practices of the day.

[color=66bb6a]”Bro, do [i]not[/i] tell me you just farted in this stuffy ass-”[/color] Ed groaned out from between the rocking rhythm playing through the van speakers.

[color=38caff]”Oh God, windows down, people.”[/color] Felicia’s crispy voice broke from the back seat behind Trisha.

Tittering came from the front passenger where Norm was sat, especially as Ed and Felicia both found instant revulsion in his bachelor behavior.

[color=b6b7de]”Augh, you fuckhead, Norman…”[/color] chided Walt in equally frustrated protest.

Two of the Aberrations that Trisha had met that night, they were the ones who had initially met them in the parking lot upon Trisha’s arrival. There’d been some static, but the two greeted Trisha with warm smiles and plenty of personal space.

[color=9399b8]”Huff it up, Baby. That gas is preem.”[/color] Ginara giggled, the third body filling out the all-the-way back row of the van. 

It was Aberration-central at this point, the only proper Adepts being Norm and Cass. Even quiet Theo, face buried in his scarf, was an Aberration… Maybe it’d feel good to be around people in a similar scenario… Especially when they all seemed so care free despite the looming air of danger about the times they lived in. 

They all seemed comfortable, at least… Nobody was overdressed; it was all soft warm turtlenecks and scarves under jackets. Cute hats and boots, even toned down aesthetics from the two consummate goths in the rear.

[color=629c3f]”If you want [i]real[/i] ‘preem’ gas I can give it to ya- Ain’t anythin’ like the Green Lux type.”[/color] Cass cackled, completely unbothered by the smell- even though her sense of smell was always a little enhanced now. She had grown up with four brother’s after all… You just had to get used to that kind of shit. 

She’d dressed up a little bit- at least discarded the normally heavy punk aesthetic in favour of a dark red button down tucked into black jeans. Compared to the others she looked underdressed for the weather- no scarf, thin jacket… But the weather really wasn’t that bad right now. She’d even pulled back the front section of curls into multiple tiny braids, tied off at the back of her head to make it look like she had little ponytails. Matching Trisha, she declared.

[color=d1b300]“Please don’t.”[/color] Trisha groaned. Like Cass, she had more brothers than she could count, but unlike Cass, she had some class. A soft floral scent leaked into the van to overpower any grosser smells. 

[color=629c3f]”God, Trisha, you’re such’a party pooper!”[/color] Cass joked, nudging her friend with an elbow. 
[color=629c3f]”So, like, I gotta ask cause I didn’t get the chance to quiz Leon… The fuck is the difference between Thanksgiving and the Harvest Festival? I ain’t American, but far as I’m aware Thanksgiving is just… Turkey and ‘yay America’?”[/color]


[color=9399b8]”Ayyo, Trisha’s got that [i]real[/i] gas…”[/color] Gin snorted to herself, laughing and finally slapping her knee before trying to answer.
[color=9399b8]”It’s really pedantic, honestly.”[/color]

[color=9d33d6]”There’s a reason to make the separation. Thanksgiving is the traditional national holiday, Cass. The [i]Temple[/i] calls it a Harvest Festival to remove itself from traditional Protestant imagery. They don’t want to be linked to Christianity, essentially… Despite, y’know, being a secular Christian denomination.”[/color] Theo piped up, waving his hand in front of his nose until he finally had to roll his window down to get air.

[color=b6b7de]”Have I told you how smart you are lately?”[/color] Walt asked, throwing his hand forward to rub into Theo’s hair with a snake-bite filled smile. All his piercings seemed to shine extra bright today.

In turn, Theo grabbed Walt’s hand and held it in place.
[color=9d33d6]”You can keep telling me.”[/color]

[color=9399b8]”Get a room, get a room, get a rooooooom~”[/color]
[color=38caff]”Get a room, get a room, get a rooooooom~”[/color]

Gin and Felicia echoed one another as if on queue, causing Ed to laugh aloud from the front.

Cass dramatically clutched her chest. 
[color=629c3f]”Have pity on us poor singles-”[/color]
[color=d1b300]“You’re not single.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”- have pity on those of us who are painfully separated from our partners! Oh how I miss him! I [i]cannot[/i] believe I’m being forced to witness this while I’m tragically alone!”[/color] Cass continued dramatically, turning to look out the window with pretend mournfulness. A single tear fell from the corner of her eye. 
[color=629c3f]”I’ve never suffered so much in my life…”[/color]

Trisha rolled her eyes at Cass, but didn’t actually say anything to ruin her over the top performance. Though… She did actually miss Casey a little bit. Well, she always missed Casey…

[color=38caff]”Oh, God… Please! For [i]anyone[/i] but Leon Richoux. [i]Blech![/i]”[/color] Felicia groaned, sticking her tongue out.

Walt cleared his throat, rubbing his thumb into Theo’s temple for another moment before pulling it away. He didn’t have [i]anything[/i] to say about Leon Richoux. Didn’t want to, especially in the presence of his newest fling. May as well at least let the magic last for more than a few seconds. But, many had no faith in Leon. Not as a friend, nor a leader.

To them, he was a wishy-washy playboy who was more interested in leading a sex cult than he was actually following through with beneficial outreach. Of course, others idolized him, but they were younger still than the group in this car. Or, at least similarly aged but further from the center of power. Separate from it.

[color=66bb6a]”Oh, you’d be surprised my angry little Electron.-”[/color] Ed spoke up, hoping to interject on her dear older brother figure’s behalf.
[color=66bb6a]”-Leon’s been giving her the [i]best[/i] treatment. Shit’s been pretty cash, honestly, seein’ you guys getting to know one another in real time has been pretty cool…”[/color] she explained.

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah! It’s been pretty great- Normally I gotta worry about someone keeping up with me, but there ain’t an issue here. And hey, I’m glad you’re enjoying the show, Ed.”[/color] Cass grinned at her with a light laugh. Her shoulders pushed up into a shrug, twisting in her seat to look at Felicia. 

[color=629c3f]”I just gotta nudge- well shove- him in the right direction sometimes. But ain’t that how it always is with men?”[/color] Cass tilted her head towards Trisha, looking for her agreement. 

[color=d1b300]“No… Leon’s a special type of stupid. The kind of stupid only you can put up with.”[/color] Trisha said bluntly, though there was a hint of a smile. Leon had been more tolerable since he and Cass got together… Perhaps it was the extra buffer, or maybe he really was trying. 

[color=629c3f]”Whoa!”[/color] Cass dramatically clutched her chest again.
[color=629c3f]”Now I’m even more heartbroken!”[/color]

The van filled with laughter in turn, with the entire group already more than thrilled about Cass’ inclusion.

[color=38caff]”You are a [i]funny[/i] chick, Dude. No sticky feelings on you, seriously. You’re like [i]teflon![/i]”[/color] Felicia nodded, throwing up a quick and gentle devil horns with her fingers in excitement.


[color=9399b8]”Getting Trisha, then getting Cass, has been the best couple of months I’ve had in a real long time. Better than when we got the Xiaphon generator running, even.”[/color] Gin happily admitted, sliding up on the seat and leaning forward to hug Cass.
[color=9399b8]”Now, every hug I can’t give to Trisha, goes directly to Cass!”[/color]

They’d only met a couple of times physically, but the computer was a much easier venue for Gin to make a first impression.

It was subtle, but Ed stuck her hand back through the crack between the console and her seat. Her hand landed on Trisha’s shin, and she playfully pinched Trisha’s shin while she looked back in the mirror. It was a gesture of affection, attention, and inclusion. Ed was always going to be reading a room, and felt that there could be a feeling of overshadowing if Trisha didn’t feel [i]some sort[/i] of connection in the moment. So, her eyes met Trisha’s in the rear view mirror, along with a smile and a nod of acknowledgement.

[color=9d33d6]”Leon’s a solid dude… He’ll be a much better man once he’s not beholden to anyone encouraging his bad behaviors. Simple fact is, Lynette spoils him. And we know that shit’s on purpose.”[/color] Theo’s whispy voice intoned, quieting the cab almost instantly.

[color=b6b7de]”Wooooa-well, hey… Who knows, huh?”[/color] Walt tensed slightly, wondering whether or not the topic at hand was one safe for the company in the van. 

He knew that Norm was [i]always[/i] going to side with the Aberrations, even if his reasonings weren’t kosher… He was at least [i]some kind[/i] of ally. But, one new face blabbing to someone else-

[color=9d33d6]”It’s fine, Hon. You suspect anyone?”[/color] Theo asked gently, head turning slightly.

Walt only shrugged, unsure of how to reply.

[color=ded2b8]”And [i]that[/i] is why I’ll [i]never[/i] understand how secrets work with you people.”[/color] Serenity’s voice chided as she faded into view laid across the feet of the people in the back row. 

The collective jumpscare caused the van’s rear to hop without prompting.

[color=629c3f]"Holy fuck!"[/color] Cass shouted, jumping in her seat too. One hand came up and slapped the roof. 
[color=629c3f]"It's like a fucking horror movie- not that you're scary, Ren, just the fucking… appearing outta nowhere!"[/color]

Trisha didn't react much to the jumpscare. She was used to a voice appearing out of nowhere in her own head, nevermind when she'd dealt with actually deadly jumpscares… But she did smile back at Ed through the rearview mirror. It was a genuine one, if small. She appreciated the gesture. It helped with that little nagging feeling that was always there that everyone was going to want to replace her with someone [I]better[/I]. Gin, Ed… but that wasn't going to be the case. Gin was happy about both of them being there, and Ed was already making sure Trisha felt included.

It wasn't so bad when it was Cass. At least it wasn't an active fear as much as just her own constant anxieties. There was always that balance- she didn't like being the centre of attention like that, but she also didn't like completely fading away into the background. At least Cass was normally good at maintaining that balance for her. She didn't mind if Cass took most of the attention and did most of the talking, as long as it came back to her sometimes. 

[color=629c3f]"She's right about the secrets- is it cause of me?"[/color] Cass continued bluntly once she's gotten over her jumpscare, twisting in her chair to look at Walt. It wasn't a judgemental gaze at all… 
[color=629c3f]"Cause I'm an adept? Dudddeeeee… I didn't grow up in a magical superiority cult! Or- it ain't cause of Trisha, since she's dating the… Spear? Whatever?"[/color]

[color=d1b300]“The Blade."[/color] Trisha corrected with a half laugh. She knew that Cass was more than smart enough to remember… so if she didn't, she quite frankly didn't care to. Trisha assumed it was because of the Temple nonsense rather than Casey. 

[color=d1b300]“Casey would agree if I told him, anyway."[/color]

[color=629c3f]"Yeah, yeah, and I ain't gonna go telling Leon! ‘Specially when I agree… I mean the mummy issues on that guy, seriously! I'd have to be blind to not notice them."[/color] Cass said, still pretty blunt. Perhaps it was surprise the majority of people in the car, who hadn't really spent time with her… since the first impression was always her loud energy, and people tended to think she was an airhead. 

[color=629c3f]"I ain't met Lynette yet, but from everything I've heard… It's pretty obvious it's on purpose, ain't it? It's all about control… it's pretty hard to start working with a guy on his shit when he's gotta person telling him all the bad shit’s alright, and has done for years. So it never improves, and he remains under her thumb. Most people ain't got the patience to stick around for that! Course, I see the baby steps towards getting outta it… he's actually pretty good at listening when I tell him some shit ain't right."[/color] 

Perhaps it was a bit too open… but it wasn't like Cass was sharing any intimate details. Far as she was concerned, their relationship was fairly… open? She wasn't spreading anything [I]he'd[/I] told her in confidence. Just her own observations.

[color=629c3f]"Lemme be clear… I ain't a Lynette or Temple fan. Specially not with what she's been doing to my girl here."[/color] Cass hooked an arm around Trisha's shoulders. Trisha grumbled quietly, but didn't actually pull away. 

[color=38caff]”I think we're all in agreement that a world without Lynette Richoux is a better one.”[/color] Felicia admitted with confidence in her voice.

[color=9d33d6]”Yes and no. Nothing fixes all the holes she'd be leaving behind. Five grown kids, still technically our friends? Not sure if we've forgotten that in all this.”[/color] Theo did his best to defend the situation, knowing full well that there was [i]one person[/i] in the vehicle who just couldn't protect themselves from Lynette's charm…

[color=38caff]”Mimi's one thing. [i]Maybe[/i] you could make an argument for Casey? But, I'm sorry Cass Babe; your boyfriend's not much better than his dear ol’ Mommy.”[/color] Felicia spoke very bluntly. There was an instant tension as people were unaware of how Cass [i]or[/i] Trisha would react to someone saying something like that.

Gin cleared her throat with a great discomfort, head turning to look at Felicia with Walt in between them. Noting it, Felicia scowled back in response. 

It was Trisha who got tense, rather than Cass. [I]Maybe[/I] Casey? The Casey who'd been brought up neglected to the point he threw himself into a war hoping to die, only to come back kindled? The Casey who'd avoided coming home anyway? Who, really, was only deeper into the Temple because of her… Because he was an Adept? Born into that ‘privilege’ even though he barely got any of it. What, did they expect him to just tear down the walls immediately?!

Cass felt Trisha tense, around her shoulders squeezing tighter. She comfortingly rubbed against her upper arm… not that it helped much. Trisha wasn't looking at anyone now, instead scowling down at her legs. 

[color=d1b300]“Fuck off, keep Casey out of this."[/color] She whispered, incredibly quietly.

Cass squeezed Trisha a bit tighter, twisting around to look at Felicia evenly. She didn't look upset. Perhaps a little that it had set Trisha off… but her expression was calm. 
[color=629c3f]"How so?"[/color]

[color=38caff]”Well, we already know the Richoux family tree looks more like a shrub anyway…-”[/color] Felicia came off the bat with some serious accusations.

Accusations that weren't entirely unfounded either. Ed kept her mouth shut for the moment, but suddenly Trisha and Cass weren't the only ones with targets.

[color=38caff]”And Leon, obviously, is the ultimate [i]Momma's Boy.[/i]-”[/color]

[color=4a6358]”Alright Felicia… Real issues are cool, but you're attacking character when you don't need to.”[/color] Norm popped in finally, his voice unfamiliar in the din and stopping the speculation in its tracks.

[color=38caff]”And if the agreement is already ‘I'm your Mom but I'm you Pimp’, then whoever is involved after that deserves to be scrutinized entirely forever. If not, outright killed.”[/color] Raspy both with an empathic insistence.

[color=629c3f]"What the fuck?"[/color] Cass blurted out. Trisha didn't say anything, but she did twist around to stare at Felicia with wide eyes. 

[color=38caff]”Go on, Ed! You know where the money is! How much [i]alternative media[/i] did Zero Gravity Entertainment sell this month? What's the profit margin on illegally filmed magical pornography?”[/color] Raspy continued on the attack, clearly uninterested in stopping now.

[color=629c3f]"And… That's Leon's fault, how?"[/color] Cass shot back. She didn't seem… upset or angry necessarily. Not yet, at least.  
[color=629c3f]"When did that start? Lemme guess… When he was eighteen? How does that do anything except prove the whole manipulation shit? You can't be blind to the power dynamics going on there. What, y'think cause Leon's big and strong and horny anyway that it's all on him for going along with it?"[/color]

[color=38caff]”He’s the [b]only consenting party![/b] Men, women, whoever gets dragged into that fucking velveteen room, get recorded without their consent and the footage gets peddled through hidden websites online. Adepts pay a mint, Lynette gets negatives that she can slap her cat to forever, and Leon gets all the attention he wants. Come on, don’t play dumb like he can’t tell Lynette no! He’s doing it [i]right now[/i] by being just as complicit in her death as we are. You don’t see him scrambling the troops to prop up the system, do you?”[/color] Felicia snapped.

[color=4a6358]”What’s your [i]fucking problem today[/i] Felicia!?”[/color] Norm snapped, spinning back in his seat.

[color=38caff]”Fuck off, security Adept. Go find a priest to give head.”[/color] Felicia snapped in return.

[color=66bb6a]”Yo, how the fuck did we get here, Gang?”[/color] Ed asked with desperation in her voice.

[color=38caff]”’Cuz your girl here’s way too good to be climbing around on that slimeball! She deserves to know!”[/color] was Felicia’s impassioned answer.

Cass didn't see his ‘consent’ in the same way. Was it fucked up if all those other people didn't know? Absolutely. Did that piss her off? Was it something she'd want to discuss at some point? Of course. Did she think he was able to entirely give consent… No. Sure, he was an adult now. Had been for a long time. But you didn't end up in a fucked up situation where your own mother pimped you out without some kind of fucking [I]grooming[/I] going on. 

[color=629c3f]"I mean… You barely know me? For all y'know, I could be a ‘slimeball’ too."[/color] She didn't think she was, but nor did she think Leon was in that way. 
[color=629c3f]"It ain't really up to you to decide who I'm too good for. I really ain't someone who takes shit… so if you're really right? That somehow there's absolutely no fucked up dynamics there? Then yeah, that's fucked up shit. But I ain't gonna just take it and… what? Dump him?"[/color]

Trisha was very tense now, even though none of this was about her [I]or[/I] Casey. She hugged her knees to her chest, doing her best to just… Ignore it. Stay calm, pretend everything was fine. That it didn't feel like shit was suddenly spiralling on a day she already hated and was dreading. Like it wasn't like all those harsh arguments at the dinner table with her family, sexual contents aside. 

She didn't like Leon. She really didn't. Quite frankly, she could see Felicia being right… but she did care about Cass. She didn't want her to be hurt, either by Leon or… people trying to sow discord. But then again, Cass was stronger than her in the first place. 

Cass tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing a bit towards Felicia as one hand continued to rub comfortingly against Trisha's upper arm.
[color=629c3f]"Actually… What d'you want me to do, now that I know?"[/color]

Felicia threw up one hand with an attitude.
[color=38caff]”Whatever you want, Sis. Can’t say I didn’t warn you when some magical pervert is sliding himself in and out of a clone of you he made after studying the footage for a hundred hours. Voodoo dolls ain’t just movie shit, y’know.”[/color]

Gin cleared her throat again, breathing in before speaking.
[color=9399b8]”You’re a shitbag, Felicia. You’re never happy about anything, you never contextualize anything about life… Everything is either on your side, or it’s actively trying to kill you. Your world is small, your introspective scope is narrow, and honestly I’m tired of appeasing your attitude constantly. I’m always being told I’m rude when I point out the truth, but there it is. You suffer from the same fucking problem every other Aberration in the Temple suffers from… Abandoned Child Syndrome. You’re just another person who was never destined for magic, never Kindled, and rather than being thankful that there was something waiting for you on the other end besides abject mundanity in a world where you [i]know[/i] there’s magic, you spit in the face of the people who brought you there to begin with.”[/color]

That… Was Gin’s voice, but the diatribe within was hardly anything Trisha had seen of the typically easy-going young woman. Sometimes it was hard to get the scope of Gin’s age; at times she acted like a teen. Others, she had the insight and wisdom of someone who’d lived thousands of years. Whatever was stored in that head of hers, it had to take up a tremendous amount of room for her to act like she did otherwise and still whip out something like that as a retort.

Felicia was gobsmacked… But she wasn’t alone. Walt’s mouth hung wide open like a broken cabinet. Theo was practically kneeling on his seat as he’d spun to look at her.

[color=9399b8]”I’m not some fucking supremacist… But we were [i]all[/i] raised by Supernatural parents in a world where magic [i]really exists[/i]... And rather than being happy that there’s a way to participate, and be thankful about it, we just bitch and bitch!”[/color] Gin continued, hands gripping together until they were pale white on deep red.

Felicia stared daggers back. There were things she wanted to say, but feared she’d never be able to take them back… And they [i]were[/i] friends… Even with what she’d said, they were still friends.

The vehicle was silent now… There was only the quiet contemplation of Gin’s personal mindset.

After Trisha's shock at what Gin said came discomfort, further tension in her already tightly balled frame.

She really didn't want to be there. If the car wasn't moving, she would've opened the door and just gotten out. She didn't agree with what Gin said… but maybe that was because she was an abandoned child too. Just in a different way. She was never destined to be the intelligent scholar her Mom had wanted, so she was abandoned and held onto it. But it wasn’t like she was given a better alternative? There was no half measure. Or was where she ended up the same… Should she just be thankful for what little she got? That she'd even gotten some attention in the first place? 

Everything Gin said felt like it was directed at her too. 

Her lips pressed together, eyes turned to stare out of the window like she was trying to ignore the conversation all together. She had opinions, but if she opened her mouth she might find herself hated by everyone in the car. It often ended up that way…

[color=629c3f]"I mean… I don't think that's quite right, Gin."[/color] Cass was the first one to speak up. 
[color=629c3f]"I ain't from the same upbringing or anything of course… But that kinda assumes that the magical life is the better one, don't it? That somes better than none? I ain't saying you can't believe that… but like, I get being resentful if you've been thrown aside for something you can't control. But like… Life ain't just about magic. The cult you're in makes it seem like it is, but it ain't."[/color]

Cass waved a hand in front of her face.
[color=629c3f]"Maybe y'think what I say ain't worth shit cause I'm an Adept but… outside of this place? That don't really mean much. I certainly don't think my life was worse before I kindled a couple of years ago."[/color]

Her free hand moved from gesturing as she talked to scratching her cheek. Where exactly was she going with this? 
[color=629c3f]"You're right that it really ain't black and white. It ain't us or them- cause you're all human y'know. But it also ain't ‘be grateful for what you got.’ I ain't denying there's a system of oppression here but… You're all kinda bound by the same mentality even if you don't think you are. Magic being superior... But it really ain't."[/color]


[color=9399b8]”From what I know, you’re a good person. I don’t think [i]we[/i] are. We’re a bunch of fucked up freaks, and we’re mad that other freaks are using us for fucked up shit. Some of us don’t get [i]used[/i] because we naturally aim to please… Because, yeah. To me, a world with magic [i]is[/i] better than one without. And I’ve thought about that a lot, because I know that it can be taken from me if they want. So I work hard to keep it. Even if Jekyll is hard to deal with, even if-”[/color]

[color=b6b7de]”Gin… Enough, Love. Save it for later.”[/color] Walt turned his head to face Gin, a frown turning into a small smile. It was gentle, comforting, like he wanted her to feel just a little better.

[color=b6b7de]”We are [i]all[/i] fucking friends here. And we’re working toward the [i]same fucking goal.[/i] Even you, Norman, I know. You’ve [i]always[/i] been our Ally.”[/color] he spoke emphatically.

Felicia scoffed, but Walt smacked her thigh with the back of his hand. She immediately raised her hands in frustration, taking a deep breath.

[color=38caff]”I am [i]very[/i] sorry for saying hurtful things without thinking first. Cass, Trisha, Norman, Gin… If you know me, you-”[/color]

Felicia’s apology was interrupted by Gin, reaching her hand out.

[color=9399b8]”I meant what I said. I know you did too… Let’s work on it.”[/color]

If nothing else, these Temple-raised young adults were well enough adjusted to at least return to a united front… Either they really did all care for one another, or they were fantastic at clamming up on outsiders after a display like that.

[color=4a6358]”It’s stressful shit. I expect tensions to be high, but… Come on. What’s wrong is wrong.”[/color] Norm imparted, a little harshness in his voice.

Felicia nodded, then grabbed at the bridge of her nose.
[color=38caff]”It was… This morning, then the car thing, then getting over here. Knowing Leon’s- Whatever… I can’t fucking take that back! I can’t, there’s no memory drug, there’s no fucking spell… Yeah. Life’s pretty shit with or without magic for some of us. Thanksgiving… Yadda yadda. Sorry I brought him into this, I shouldn’t’a, and Casey don’t deserve that either. Ed, I’m sorry for dragging the family-”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Felicia, I… Love you. You don’t get to just hurl insults then hang your head and bow out. Ren’s nervous now, I can feel everyone’s heart rate, we’re fucking [i]five minutes away[/i] from Beppo… Cass, Trisha, I’ll let you guys go; it’s only fair… But we really all need to chill out and get some fake ass smiles on before we get out of this van.”[/color] Ed interrupted, just wanting the moment to end without any more strain on anyone…

Oh right, because Cass and Trisha didn't need time to chill out either… then again, Trisha wasn't going to be able to chill out around other people like this. It had to be alone or Casey. So now she was faced with going out to deal with an event she'd not particularly wanted to attend, and people she either hardly knew or actively disliked. Sure, Cass would be there… but it didn't make her feel much better about it. She wished she was at home. That she'd told Casey that she really couldn't handle it and would rather be alone. It was just proving that all of her anxieties about fucking thanksgiving had been right!

Because they weren't even there yet, and she already felt one step away from a panic attack. It didn't even matter that most of it hadn’t been targeted at her… She always caught the strays.

[color=d1b300]“So long as no one ruins the actual event."[/color] Trisha muttered. 

Cass didn't say anything in response to Trisha's muttering, though she did sling her arms around her again. In between smothering Trisha in the hope it would mean everyone would ignore her comment, Cass smiled at everyone else. 

[color=629c3f]"You're right, Ed. We all gotta take a chill pill… put shit to rest for now. But-"[/color] she turned her head towards Felicity. 
[color=629c3f]"There ain't any hard feelings here! I'm always gonna call out bad behaviour, y'know, whoever it comes from… but I aint gonna be holding onto anything after this. I get it. So let's put it behind us for now, yeah?"[/color]

She unwrapped one arm from around Trisha to stick a hand out towards Felicity.


Felicity pointed and nodded, then stuck her hand out to shake Cass’.
[color=38caff]”Maybe I don’t know you, but that behavior is exactly the vibe you give off… So, thanks. I’m glad something like that ain’t gonna scare you away. It’s behind us, and I really do wish you the best of luck. I grew up with them too, y’know. Those feelings get complex.”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”But you [i]can’t[/i]-”[/color]
[color=4a6358]”Baaaaa-Ba-ba! Baaaaaaad Eddy. Dooooown Eddy.”[/color]

Ed’s failed pounce reflected off Norm’s deepest desire to end this without further brainshed. 

[color=38caff]”Thank you Nooooorm…”[/color] Felicity grumbled. 

As the Van was pulling into the parking lot at Beppo, it seemed there were a lot of people [i]waiting around.[/i] Probably for the event space to actually be opened. Since they were all considered Priority on their ticket stubs, the entire group would be able to get past initial security without issues. A couple were there to help, but when the van stopped, Ed didn’t move to turn it off. Didn’t move at all, really.

Instead, she was gripping the wheel, taking massive deep breaths.
[color=66bb6a]”Everyone innnnnn- Everyone ooooooout.”[/color] she breathed and spoke aloud.

Trisha wasn't too happy to see the amount of people already there. It meant the moment she got out of this van she had to… switch on. Put the mask on completely and suppress any feelings. The fact she couldn't entirely do it around the group here was already… scary to her. When had she gotten so bad at hiding things? 

Her lips pressed together, head turning away from the window towards Ed with a confused look. What… What was she doing? Trying to confuse them all about whether they should go out or stay in? 

[color=629c3f]"C'mon dude, if anyone should be following that it's you,"[/color] Cass nudged Trisha, diverting her confused look from Ed to Cass. 
[color=629c3f]"Oh my god- Babe, breathing exercises! [I]Breath innn, breath ouuuuttt.[/I] I know you know how to do it."[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I don't normally need to."[/color] Trisha muttered out a lie, head turning away from looking at anyone again. But she did slowly try to even out her breathing again… deeper breaths to shove down the panic she knew was going to be below the surface all day.

It became apparent that the whole van was suddenly breathing in unison. Big, deep breaths in and slow, measure breaths out. After a few reps, Ed slowly turned the key to cut the car’s power. Then there was nothing [i]but[/i] breathing… Then silence…

Ed held it just long enough to pull her smile back out of where she dropped it.
[color=66bb6a]”’Kay… This is gonna be [i]fine.[/i] Let’s do this Gang.”[/color]

The Van group very quickly dispersed, with the entire back row cleared out for duties. Norm and Theo were both part of security. Thus had jobs of their own to get to… Once again, it was Ed, Trisha and Cass, along with a non-visible Serenity to avoid spooking any of the Third-Eyes hanging around. It was actually a quick walk from the staff spaces to the venue itself, with the two massive wooden platforms both tucked neatly into the slight hills of Beppo Park.

On their massive sprawl, twenty-five hundred people could sit and dine at once beneath the same canopies. Beneath the dirt, the gargantuan crustaceans responsible for functioning as the locomotion system of these enormous “automated” platforms sucked up pooling water that seeped in around them from the low water table. Within their bodies, that water superheated, and redirected through blowholes to which pipes were connected. These radiator pipes, tucked under layers of safe materials, were capable of heating the entire area to a balmy temperature.

Andrade’s staff could be clearly seen as they worked to bring together the massive buffet style self-serving area that actually wound up being six separate operations. It was a nightmare logistically, and the only person among the trio who could’ve render a guess at the cost with accuracy was Ed…

And only because she’d seen some of the raw figures. Pointing at the setup as they passed through the rope and into the fairgrounds, Ed swung her hand forward.

[color=66bb6a]”It’s not usually this big, but… Well, all in for Casey and Trisha. Budgeting department nearly flipped their lid, but we snagged all the extra we could. Lynette allowed a lot of it to get pushed through: I uh… I think she’s saying goodbye to all her extended contacts, if I had to guess. One last event.”[/color] she offered the morbid idea up easily.

Trisha let out a quiet laugh. While it probably shouldn’t be funny… She knew that Ed was exactly on the mark. After all, it had been one of the things Lynette had mentioned while going on a self-sympathy tirade after trying to further ruin shit for Trisha. About leaving her last Harvest to her son… Like it was her big goodbye. 

[color=d1b300]“She basically said as much when we were planning.”[/color] She shrugged. 
[color=d1b300]“I wish it wasn’t so big. That definitely wasn’t [i]our[/i] want.”[/color]

She was having a very rich girl reaction to the sheer scale of things- in that she wasn’t reacting very much at all. Of course events of this scale weren’t common, but she’d been to a few. Things her dad had hosted, and later massive Galas put on by Tansy… 

Cass, on the other hand, was freaking the fuck out. She stared at everything, mouth basically open from the moment they’d stepped into the venue. 
[color=629c3f]”Man, if I got this kinda party as a send off I’d die [i]so[/i] fucking happy!”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Oh, you’ll almost certainly meet her tonight, Cass. Drunk, no doubt. My Auntie Lynn ain’t exactly one for avoiding indulgences where she can get them. An entire place full of people doing what she says? I guess you roll the dice on if she’s Cunty, or Boss Bitch.”[/color] Ed shook her head laughing.

As they got closer to the platforms, it became very clear that things were already well underway as far as [i]some[/i] celebrations went. Staff members raising mugs of beer in toast, with Andrade standing tall on one of the bench tables.

[color=54678a]”-And that’s the question you should all be asking! It’s the same damn question every time! [i]Would I complain if I got served this?[/i] I implicitly trust you all to make the right call… So, team leads, stand by your teams. Teams, stand by your team leaders. We’re serving until the last song cuts, so… Long night. Ready? By Charm, and by Grace!”[/color]

He raised his stein, and glasses clinked all around before the massive huddle took a collective chug. Then the huge huddle broke, leaving Andrade talking to a few specific people. Others were dealing with placings, different ornaments on the tables, leaving gift bags at certain seats…

But as Andrade saw them approaching, he pointed at Trisha and started clapping.
[color=54678a]”You! You absolute legend, hola! Mi amore, how are you ladies? Ed, Trisha… Ehhhh… Cass? If I don’t remember, you’ll have to forgive me, I was so Goddamn busy that entire night! Helloooooo!”[/color]


Andrade was always friendly, but he never seemed terribly [i]peppy[/i] around Trisha… [i]Except[/i] for when food was involved… Which was clear, as in one of his hands was a jar of Trisha’s honey… He hopped down from the table, wrapping an arm around each lady in turn.

[color=54678a]”Why you so early, eh? Bored at home?”[/color] he asked playfully, very clearly holding up the honey jar with great excitement.

Trisha’s confusion at Andrade’s [i]clapping[/i] and otherwise incredible enthusiasm was cleared up a bit by the sight of her honey. But… wasn’t it just the normal honey? 

[color=d1b300]“Hello, Andrade… something like. Doesn’t it make sense one of the hosts would be early, anyway? And Casey’s caught up in the ceremony…”[/color] She shrugged one shoulder, smiling at him. She wasn’t much more relaxed than she had been in the van, but at least that calm mask had fallen back in place enough for her to be friendly. 

[color=629c3f]”I just followed ‘em! Cass is right… Ooo, is this the famous honey?!”[/color] Cass hopped in closer, bending forward slightly to stare right at the jar. 

[color=d1b300]“You’ve… seen it before.”[/color] Trisha pointed out with a quiet laugh. 
[color=d1b300]“We literally lived together. We had jars in the kitchen. You ate it all the time.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”But it wasn’t famous then, was it? I bet it's gotten even better- I mean he just called you an absolute legend! This must be some special shit!”[/color] Cass looked up at Andrade expectantly, while Trisha looked away with an awkward blush.

Andrade was immediately caught up in explaining the honey.
[color=54678a]”Oh, Trisha, you’re always so humble about it! So coy too, Dios Mio… Cass, do me a favor and stick your tongue out.”[/color]

As she did so, Andrade popped the lid and produced a wooden spoon to scoop a glob of honey into Cass’ mouth.

[color=54678a]”Trisha’s been kind enough to keep a [i]vague[/i] record of her moods in order to correlate the differences in the honey. Because the bees are so keyed into her, we’ve started to find that they actually produce certain enzymes as they harvest and store nectar. And these enzymes impart some pretty unique flavors. For instance:-”[/color]

As Cass was eating the honey, her newly enhanced senses would be able to pick out certain distinct flavors of other things that one may not normally find in honey.
[color=54678a]”Cinnamon flavoring? That vague mouth-burn? Actually comes from days Trisha marked as good ones. So, either they were particularly good, which gives it some spice, or just the average baseline that they make is just like this. Sad days have a more fruity, berry-like taste. Frustration leans deeper into a nutty flavor-”[/color]

He’d already produced a second jar from his pocket, popping the lid and having a new scoop ready for Cass.

[color=54678a]”Go ahead with this one, see if you can guess the flavoring. Trisha, don’t tell her!”[/color] he said, clearly noting the batch label on the lid…

Trisha couldn’t tell Cass, because she didn’t know. She wasn’t the one keeping the record… It was Casey. The two of them had already argued about it after Andrade mentioned the tracking in one of their catchup meetings. It wasn’t something Trisha was happy about, then or now. But she’d ended up ‘allowing’ him to keep doing it, so long as she didn’t have to hear about it. 

So hearing about it again… Didn’t exactly make her happy. She hated that her moods were being recorded like that, even if it was vague. She’d hardly gotten to the point where she was happy with Casey knowing her moods, especially when they were bad!

[color=629c3f]”[i]Ooo.[/i]”[/color] Cass had been quick to take the second glob of honey, holding it in her mouth and letting the flavour sink into her enhanced taste buds. It was fucking good… Heavier than the first one. 

[color=629c3f]”Is this from a day when you had to game with Sal?! Cause it sure tastes like it!”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“It doesn’t get that specific…”[/color] Trisha side eyed Cass.

[color=629c3f]”Well it’s pretty… Nutty, heh. Clearly you were some kinda frustrated for this one. Am I right? I better be, or this Green lux shit really ain’t worth it!”[/color]

[color=54678a]”Eventually, we’ll be able to place the entire emotional spectrum out in honey form. My only worry after that is whether or not we’ll be able to identify the enzymes and reproduce the effect in [i]other[/i] bees. That way we don’t need to bother Trisha for anything besides the [i]artisan casks[/i]. The fake stuff hits mass production then grocer shelves, and the choice stuff winds up going to stuff like this!”[/color] he pointed over to one of the prizes of the night’s raffle.

Protected by what was probably an upside-down fish tank, a large stack of Trisha’s jars sat in a harvest themed cornucopia.

[color=54678a]”It’s going to [i]kill.[/i] We’ve been handing out samples in the crowd, getting reviews. The raffle for it is definitely going to sell out. At a twenty-spot a ticket, we sell out at five hundred. That’s ten grand for… What? How many pounds, Trisha?”[/color] he asked her gently, trying to steer back to the product itself rather than how she affected it.

[color=d1b300]“About… thirty-two pounds. The bees have been working really hard… They produce all that, and more since I was still supplying you- in a couple of weeks.”[/color] While Trisha wasn’t comfortable with praise towards herself- feeling she didn’t really deserve it- it was different when it came to the bees. She had a soft, proud smile as she talked about them. Though there were none on her today to respond like they usually would to the gentle pheromones wafting in the air. 

[color=629c3f]”Holy fuck! Trisha, you’re gonna be rich!”[/color] Cass exclaimed, shocked by both the price and sheer quantity of honey. 
[color=629c3f]”Fuccckkkk… You ain’t gonna be charging me for those two spoonfuls I had, are you?! Cause I really can’t afford that right now!”[/color]

Trisha shook her head with a light laugh. She relaxed again now the conversation was back to something she was more comfortable with. 
[color=d1b300]“No. I’m pretty sure that counts as a sample… And if I was charging people close to me, Casey would owe me a [i]lot[/i].”[/color] 

[color=629c3f]”Dawww, it’s so cute he likes your honey too.”[/color] Cass grinned, squishing her own cheeks and shooting Trisha and adorable look. 
[color=629c3f]”Seriously, thought, thirty two pounds? Your girls have really been working their little bee butts off, haven’t they!”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“They have.”[/color] Trisha smiled, looking from Cass back to Andrade. 
[color=d1b300]“You really think it’ll sell out?”[/color]

[color=54678a]”Everyone attending is going to eat their fill of it as it is, but our math guy was telling me that something like eight-six percent asked so far said they’d pay in. So far, we’ve surveyed something like eight hundred people. There’s only five hundred tickets, so… If we sell out, that’s roughly like… Three-hundred and fifteen dollars a pound? Each jar is an eight ounce? So, that’s… A… Hundred-fifty eight dollars a jar? Pretty good asking people for twenty bucks a pop, and the person who wins gets [i]quite[/i] the product.”[/color]

Andrade bit his lip, leaning into the three of them with a huge smile on his face.

[color=54678a]”I’m telling you Trisha: [i]Twenty a jar.[/i] We’re on the West Coast, it’s marketable, it's absolutely organic… It hits every single talking point we could ask for in the current market climate. People are fucking [i]screaming[/i] for natural wholesome sweeteners. And getting crazy flavors into the honey? It only elevates our brand. It’s gonna be [i]magical.[/i]”[/color] he raised his eyebrows a few times.

When it was put in pure number terms, there wasn’t really any way for Trisha to deny it. If they really sold that much- which it seemed like they could- her honey would be worth a lot. Even if they didn’t sell the full amount, the dollar value to pound of honey was far higher than what she’d get for normally selling a jar. 

It was hard for her to contextualise, though, when she was someone who’d never worried about money. Cass’ reaction helped… 

[color=629c3f]”Magical, heh, it sure is that- and twenty would be an absolute steal!”[/color] Cass nodded in agreement. Though she had no idea about the market shit, she did have a few friends who were into the whole natural food fad… And hey, she’d pay twenty for a jar of that honey, and she wasn’t exactly the richest person around! Really, she could be quite tight fisted when it came to food… That scarcity worry and all. 

[color=629c3f]”That shits [i]sooo[/i] good, I could just sit and eat a jar. Maybe a couple. Especially that second one… Fuck, I’d buy it right now!”[/color] 

Trisha held up a hand, waving it and getting a bit embarrassed again. 
[color=d1b300]“Okay, alright, we can try twenty a jar if you [i]really[/i] think it’ll work. If even Cass would pay that much… But I don’t really think now’s the time to decide something like that?”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Aw, you’re just getting embarrassed cause’ve all the praise.”[/color] Cass cackled, slinging an arm around Trisha’s shoulders. 

[color=d1b300]“I just think it’s the kind of thing you talk about at a business meeting, not a festival…”[/color] Trisha mumbled, even though Cass was completely right.

The stocky hispanic man gave the trio a knowing smile and a slight bow.
[color=54678a]”Well, how about we talk when the five-hundredth ticket sells? At that point, I’m sure all you’ll have to say is [i]I do[/i], right?”[/color]

He was still smiling when he stuck his hand out, shaking Trisha’s almost by force.

[color=54678a]”Ed, Trisha, Cass! I’ll see you all again [i]throughout the night.[/i] Adieu!”[/color]

Shaking the other two, he practically scuttled off like a Honey demon toward the next poor soul he could torture with a lecture about enzymes.

Ed could only laugh, having gotten not a single word in edgewise.
[color=66bb6a]”Christ, don’t tell me all the working Adepts are on Glass tonight…”[/color]

Ed shook her head at the stench of hypocrisy in the air.
[color=66bb6a]”Girls… Do you think you mind just chilling somewhere for a few? I need to get to the bottom of something real quick…”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Oh of course, no worries!”[/color] Cass was quick to answer. While she didn’t know what Glass was, she could guess. 
[color=629c3f]”How bout we go find somewhere to sit for a while, Trish?”[/color]

Trisha looked at Ed for a moment, before nodding. 
[color=d1b300]“Don’t get caught up in anything… Too stressful.”[/color]

Ed laughed aloud.
[color=66bb6a]”Oh, come on… You’re not curious why the guy trained to kill Apparitions with his bare hands is jazzed up on magical coke? I wanna see who else is ready for action around here… Something may be up.”[/color]

But before Trisha had the chance to say much else, Ed was gone into the steamy warmth of the crab tents. The shape wasn’t so obvious as they were locked claw to claw, but a helicopter or drone from above would easily discern the shape of them in the hills before the rocky coast. People [i]loved it.[/i] Called it [i]festive[/i]... Nothing to say of their murderous tendencies…

Trisha looked towards where Ed had disappeared with a frown. She was curious… But what Ed said also made her nervous. Why would they be ready for action? Did they expect something to happen tonight?

She really hoped it didn’t. Not when they were the ones hosting… 

[color=629c3f]”C’mon, let’s find somewhere quiet to sit.”[/color]

Cass grabbed Trisha and dragged her towards one of the bench tables. Since the venue wasn’t properly open yet, it meant that finding somewhere quiet wasn’t actually that difficult. Cass sat down first, tugging Trisha to sit right next to her. 

[color=629c3f]”Here, we can chill! Loosen up those shoulders! Nothing’s gonna go wrong!”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“If we’re chilling, can you keep quiet?”[/color] Trisha intoned, without any bite to it. She already felt exhausted and the event hadn't even started. After this she'd have to handle both her family and Casey's. At least he'd be there with her… And [I]that moment[/I] should help improve her mood. Make it easier to get through everything. 

She missed him.

[color=629c3f]”Ehh… No, sorry!”[/color] Cass laughed, before spreading out her arms. 
[color=629c3f]”But you can come getta nice, comforting hug from your best friend!”[/color]

Trisha’s lips twitched up. She pushed Cass’ arms down, before tilting her body towards her friend to just lean against her shoulder. 
[color=d1b300]“I’ll pass.”[/color]

She just wanted to exist for a moment. While it was just them, before she had to put the mask back on. Thankfully, contrary to what she said, Cass just let Trisha silently lean against her. 

So long as Trisha existed in the space of the Temple of Charming and Graceful Individuals, there would be no real peace. Not but a few moments after the two began to grow comfortable in the [i]relative[/i] silence, there was raucous interruption. Laughter, in the form of a human circle. A sewing circle of such sinister sensibilities that serenity gave way to stress…

However, the approach wasn’t as such. One voice was close. Terribly so… However, its familiarity was dubious at best. More familiar voices came from further behind, yet this one was the one reaching out?

[color=61FFEA]”Trisha? I won’t keep you long, just needed to ask something Ed didn’t know when she texted me.”[/color] Mazie’s energetic voice buzzed through the air like the echo of a hundred bees. 

A brief wince was hidden against Cass' shoulder before Trisha slowly pulled away from her. She straightened her body, turning to face Mazie with a polite smile forming on her face. Of course, this group of insane shippers had already seen her literally shouting in Leon's face… but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try maintain the mask again. She was annoyed by the energetic eruption that shattered her brief moment of quiet, but not surprised. There was never any peace around here- not when there were people around. Only in the little bubble that was her home, and the safety that was Casey's arms. 

But she'd spent years without any safety or much peace at all. It was easy to make sure the annoyance was completely hidden.
[color=d1b300]“Sure, what do you need to know?"[/color]

Of course, Cass wasn't one to stay completely silent. She’d managed to to give Trisha the incredibly short break, but now that it was interrupted? Well, she couldn't be rude…
[color=629c3f]"Hey! You must be Mazie? I'm Cass! Nice to meetcha!"[/color]

Mazie was willing to match Cass’ energy. 
[color=61FFEA]”And honestly, I’d love to hear about it! Hi! Ohmigod, like, everyone’s been asking who the mystery girl is. Leon is [i]so[/i] protective over you, so I’m real happy to see you around!”[/color]

Rather than answering Trisha’s question to her own, Mazie was overly excited just to be the first of the Sisterhood to get the scoop on this Cass girl… 
[color=61FFEA]”Not sure if you heard, but we’re [i]big[/i] Leon fans. So, obviously now we’re [i]your fans by proxy.[/i] Is it true you’re a British Boxer who he had to fight to date him?”[/color] she asked with a great deal of excitement.

Taking the opening, the circle seemed to be inching closer and closer as if to hone in on this outsider…

[color=61FFEA]”Wait, wait, hold that thought! Trisha! Ohmigod, I’m so sorry, I’m such a [i]fucking scatterbrain[/i]. I need to know where I’m bringing you, and how I’m supposed to know [i]when[/i] to do it. Because, uh… Well, I can do it no problems, I just need to know when. It’s making me a lil nervous not knowing what I’m looking for.”[/color] she explained.

At the same time that she turned, she was already losing impetus on her question as another body wound up arriving in time to pick up the slack. Two, actually. 


[color=FF1463]”So sorry, terrible at overhearing things! Cass!? I’m Irina Estevez!”[/color]
The slightly delicate voice matched an equally delicate looking girl. She was tiny, frail, like a piece of pottery. Her slender, olive colored hand reached out to shake.

Beside her, a nearly pure white woman of equal dainty build and structure. She was dressed in a short dress with a long denim coat over it. Of course, introductions weren’t needed in this regard. Leon had certain obligations he couldn’t escape even in his position. One was the shadowing of Layla Hyacinthus, and the more recent necessity of her to be in their life. She wasn’t a partner, no… It was a little sister role. Most of the time, she spent with the Polycule on the other side of the apartment. But any time she was going out, Leon needed to be on hand.

Giving a little nod, Layla let her fingers pull together into a set of devil horns at her side. Reactionary, from spending time with her new Sisters in the Dolly Apartment complex. 
[color=7ABBFF]”Hi Cass.”[/color] she spoke with the usual timid voice. 

Cass could easily see the chain of Alizee wrapped around the woman’s bicep, the imprint of it stuffed beneath her jacket sleeve. 

[color=629c3f]”Heyyyy Layla! Irina, nice to meetcha too.”[/color] Cass reactively hopped up, moving round to stand behind Trisha as she shook Irina’s hand. It always stopped Trisha from being more surrounded… At least, Cass was flanking her now. 

[color=d1b300]“Hello Layla, Irina…”[/color] Trisha said pointedly, not standing but instead just tilting her head up towards the three that had fully invaded their peace. She was a bit put out by not being greeted [i]at all[/i] by Layla. Did she want any of this attention right now? Not particularly, so the conversation once again focusing on Cass was fine… 

But she was still right [i]there[/i].

[color=629c3f]”But fuck, y’know about the fight? Huh, hard to keep quiet I guess… I’ll tell you guys all about it after Trish ‘n you sort out what you gotta.”[/color] Cass continued with a grin, one arm slinging around Trisha’s shoulder. 

Of course there’d been no fight for Leon to date her… Unless you counted in the bedroom, heh. But why not make up a grand story about it?! Keep the attention on something exciting and not real. 

[color=d1b300]“Uh, right…”[/color] Trisha smiled slightly, looking back at Mazie. The answer of two where was easy, the when was harder. She knew the overall schedule but, again, not when Casey wanted to propose, or when he’d be fine with leaving. It could vary so… A signal? But what would even work… 

[color=d1b300]“It’d be to the Cannery Building- just the parking lot would be easiest. As for when…”[/color] Trisha tilted her head, one hand moving from her lap and holding out to Mazie. 
[color=d1b300]“I can send a bee to let you know, if you don’t mind me ‘marking’ you temporarily.”[/color]

[color=61FFEA]”Oh, no date? No drinks?”[/color] Mazie responded, her tongue poking playfully out of her mouth.
[color=61FFEA]”No sweat. Whatever works, as long as I’m informed. Are you… Putting like a little light on it? Or will I just be accosted by a random bee in the middle of the night?”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“On the bee? Uh… Probably not, I don’t have any little lights. I can instruct her to land somewhere specific on you, if that works? Otherwise… Yes, a bee will just appear…”[/color] The more she talked about it, the more it didn’t seem like the right idea. But what else did she have? She wasn’t making up some hand signal she could use… Then Mazie would have to watch her for the [i]whole[/i] night too. 

It would be fine… Hiding her doubts, Trisha shifted forward on her chair to be a little closer to Mazie. She reached out, somewhat uncomfortably, for Mazie’s hand. A gentle floral scent lifted off her skin into the area. It was a bit awkward for her to purposefully channel the pheromones towards Mazie, crossing the bridge where their hands touched. Normally she didn’t do it on purpose… So it took some concentration to choose a specific pheromonal scent, leaving a mark that only the bees would smell. 

[color=d1b300]“There. The bee won’t see you as a threat because of it, unless you try to squash her.”[/color]


Mazie nodded with a grin, tapping the tip of her nose.
[color=61FFEA]”Aim for the face, I guess… I don’t drink, so you don’t need to worry about me missing some fuzzy lumpkin smash into my head. Uh… I think that’s all though?”[/color]

Her head turned to the other two, nodding. In turn, they both gave an apologetic look.
[color=7ABBFF]”You were talking… We just didn’t want to interrupt. [i]Hi Trisha![/i]”[/color]

There was a gentle abutment against Trisha’s Emotional Field. Familiar, yet distant. The gentle prodding of someone who had been somewhat closer… Alizee’s face shimmered in the space between Trisha and Layla. The entire group of Apparitions, in fact, were ones whose lives were spent mostly free to express themselves. Boudica, The Playful Thing, now Alizee Vul. Their faintest images coalesced in the space about them. Her voice was faint, but present.

[color=916BB4][b]”I carry a chain of ours now… Thanks to… Someone whom you wouldn’t approve of having given it to us. But I do remember what you did.”[/b][/color] the chained whyte stared without a mask, a single red hot line dragged through her face where a tear could’ve been.

[color=916BB4][b]”Thank you. For everything in those days.”[/b][/color]

Trisha was never comfortable with things touching her Emotional Field or mind like that. She’d grown a bit more used to it with Casey, but she still wasn’t entirely comfortable with it. Nevermind other people… Ghosts. A ghost who had threatened to separate her bones from her body at least twice the last time they met. 

She seemed to have calmed down a bit. Time around others in the Temple, maybe. She couldn’t figure out who Alizee meant by ‘someone you wouldn’t approve of.’ Leon? Lynette? 

Did it matter? The chain was there whether Trisha wanted it to be or not… 

[color=d1b300]“I didn’t do much.”[/color] Her first reaction was always to downplay her involvement… Years of reflecting on her participation in the war against the Stygian Snake and believing it wasn’t as much as some other. A feeling that conflicted with her irritation whenever Leon was called a hero- because weren’t they all? There was also the denial over its lasting effects on her… Her trauma really wasn’t that bad, was it?

She certainly didn’t remember doing much for Alizee.

[color=d1b300]“But you’re welcome, I guess. We all did our best to keep each other alive.”[/color] It was a neutral enough response, said with a seemingly calm smile. 
[color=d1b300]“I’m glad you’re both doing… Well.”[/color]

[color=7ABBFF]”We’ve been spending time at the Cannery with Mister- Uh… With Leon. And Cass! Not a lot, mostly I hang out in the spare bedroom in Mimi’s apartment. With the Cats.”[/color]

Which was probably a good indicator of why those bastards hadn’t been groping upstairs lately. Plenty to eat down there. 


[color=7ABBFF]”It’s best he and Cass get some spare time. Especially with Aunty Lynn having him closer to me lately. I… Was having a hard time adjusting. But, I’m not now! And I’m happy to be [i]here.[/i] And with the girls.”[/color]

She turned her head to look at Irina, who smiled in turn. With nothing to dispute, she simply nodded.
[color=FF1463]”And it’s been great! We were in the city earlier today as her assigned detail. Lynette’s worried about remnants of the House of Cards… Which, [i]thank you Cass![/i] That was an [i]incredibly[/i] Aberration-weighted situation. So, to any Adept willing to help ease our burdens in these trying times, I can only be thankful.”[/color] Irina nodded, facing Cass with admiration in her eyes.

[color=629c3f]”Oh it ain’t something I need thanked for. I mean… I ain’t a Temple Adept, y’know? If I can help, I help, I ain’t any better just cause I gotta magical lineage.”[/color] Cass waved Irina’s admiration away with an easy smile. She was trying not to outright just say she wasn’t prejudiced like so many Adepts were… Because it wasn’t all of them. And she knew there was the risk that’d set Trisha, with her Adeptal boyfriend, off. 

Honestly, Cass couldn’t even begin to fathom where the whole superiority thing came from in the first place… 

[color=d1b300]“You… helped with getting rid of the House of Cards?”[/color] Trisha’s eyes slowly moved to staring up at Cass. She hadn’t heard about this. She didn’t know much about the group, but she knew enough to know they were dangerous. And hadn’t Leon and Casey promised they’d [i]try[/i] keep Cass out of Temple business?

[color=629c3f]”It was more’ve a Sycamore rescue mission. A couple of em were kidnapped by those rich people and thrown in this massive warehouse. Leon gotta call to rescue ‘em, so of course I tagged along!”[/color] Cass explained it easily, not sensing the brewing danger towards both of their boyfriends. 

After all, it’d been her choice to go along- and hardly Temple business in her mind. 

[color=d1b300]“Rescuing who?”[/color] Like the answer would make her any less upset about it… Not that it would be visible to anyone. She was doing well at maintaining that calm mask. There was no Casey around to easily break it. 

[color=629c3f]”Who was it… Uh… Oh! Greyson, Linqian and Henri. Oh, I think he’s her lil brother.”[/color]

Greyson? Great. Definitely someone who deserved even a moment of Cass’ time… Nevermind her putting herself in danger! Trisha did her best to push that irritation back down into the boiling pool of issues in her mind. For another time. Not tonight. She didn’t want to ruin tonight… 

[color=d1b300]“Oh, you met Greyson and Linqian? What did you think?”[/color] 

[color=629c3f]”Oh he’s an asshole! She ain’t so bad… Oh shit-”[/color] Cass paused, wide eyes turning to look at Layla and the two members of the Sycamore fanclub.
[color=629c3f]”I ain’t gonna get thrown out for calling a Sycamore guy an asshole, am I? I know you’re fans of more than just Leon…”[/color] 

Irina laughed.
[color=FF1463]”Oh, not around us you won’t. Greyson’s an acquired taste anyway!”[/color] she said with her glance turning hard to her right. 

Mazie bit her lip, and was about to speak when Irina’s hand snapped up and clasped her mouth closed.
[color=FF1463]”[i]Nobody[/i] was curious… Before you get crazy.”[/color] her voice growled slightly. The thin frame didn’t match the assertive willpower leaking from Irina.

Mazie shook her head, throwing her hands up. Irina pulled her hand away, still staring at her.
[color=61FFEA]”Like, I was [i]just going to agree[/i]! My gosh, we’re touchy.”[/color]

Trisha tilted her head, but didn’t say anything. She’d rather interact as little as possible so that they could be left alone again… Though, this was a Temple event. They left and others would join. 

But of course, Cass couldn’t just stand by and watch shit she had a problem with.
[color=629c3f]”Hey, let’s not go silencing anyone! If whatever you say ends up crazy shit? We’ll say… but it ain’t nice to shut someone down like that, dude.”[/color]

Irina’s eyes widened, brows raised, and for a second she took in a gread whiff of air before trading a glance with Mazie. Mazie smiled back widely, nodding.
[color=FF1463]”Wasn’t expecting [i]that![/i] You like that toward [i]everyone[/i]? Want, like, a job? Or ten?”[/color] she asked with deep surprise in her voice.

[color=629c3f]”Course I am, y’think I discriminate? Or like, only towards people that look like a breeze could blow ‘em over? Nah… I’ve given Leon shit before too, and nothing’s blowing him over…”[/color] Cass almost lost the point, before retracing back to the second. 
[color=629c3f]”What kinda job? I ain’t so sure about ten- I ain’t dealing with the sad dog I’d end up with in that situation!”[/color]


Of course, she was assuming there wasn’t a real job. Nor was she seriously considering it.

At least Trisha hoped it was the latter. The Silent Sisterhood were… People Trisha was uncomfortable with. The thought of Cass spending more time with them made her even more uncomfortable. Because… Of Cass’ safety, right. Not the worry she’d lose one of her few friends, or that painful spike of jealousy she hated feeling. 

[color=d1b300]“Cass doesn’t tolerate shit from anyone.”[/color] Trisha confirmed smoothly, smiling up towards her friend as if there was no discomfort at all. 

[color=61FFEA]”We’ve got charities that could use people, there’s sports leagues with other friendly covens with pots we can win. There’s a bunch of niches we’re trying to fill, and we’re doing our best to find Adepts that we can trust to help bridge gaps between our communities as well!”[/color] Mazie was instant in rattling off all sorts of ideas.

[color=FF1463]”And we have funding enough to hire odd jobs here and there. We’ve been looking for freelance artists to make commissions, and we’ve been trying to work with computer technology oriented people for, uh… Like, cheap hosting? And then actually setting up a website. Ginara runs our blog forum, and a lot of our personal writing as a community gets stored there. But, we’re looking to, well-”[/color]

[color=7ABBFF]”-We want the Sisterhood to become a Publishing House! Produce our own original stories, and use the profits to live and to contribute to pro-Aberration causes in the Supernatural world!”[/color] Layla said with a strong, confident voice for once. Clearly they’d been discussing things more on their end…


[color=629c3f]”Oh, well, I do code here and there. I ain’t sure about making something for a publishing house like… Well, the coding bit’s easy. Setting up a website’s gotta bunch of design shit if you wanna actually market it. I ain’t so good at that part.”[/color] Cass nodded as she considered it. 
[color=629c3f]”But I certainly ain’t the person to be bridging any gaps… Magic’s still pretty new for me, I ain’t sure I got any sway with either community! But coding… That shit I can do, easy.”[/color]

Trisha’s brow furrowed a little. Trying not to get upset that Cass was considering it… Because of course she was when coding a whole website was being dangled in front of her. But there was the whole ‘bridging the gap’ and ‘pro-Aberration causes’ thing too. 

There were probably more covens or cults like the Temple out there. Ones that discriminated. There were Aberrations with problems caused by the Apparitions too. But from her perspective, the former wasn’t a widespread problem. She’d never experience discrimination from [i]any[/i] of the Adepts she’d met. Sycamore had been a shit thrown together coven, but they’d never discriminated like that.

[color=d1b300]“Most normal magical communities don’t need bridging like that, because the gaps don’t exist in the first place. And what kind of pro-Aberration causes do you mean? I didn’t know there were Aberration specific… charity groups?”[/color]

[color=FF1463]”If our community leaders perceive an action as beneficial to our community and our way of life, it’s a pro-Aberration cause.”[/color] Irina nodded with confidence.

[color=61FFEA]”Anything that allows us more freedoms and choice! As it stands, our commune here in St. Portwell consists of a small apartment complex housing almost three hundred tenants. And that doesn’t include their families if they have them.”[/color] Mazie explained, head tilting slightly.
[color=61FFEA]”And those tenants are all, generally speaking, bound by the same oaths and word to the Temple! Meaning that their families lives could be in jeopardy if that person doesn’t fulfill their end of whatever hairbrained oath they end up taking.”[/color]

[color=FF1463]”It’s a social contract veiling a very real potential threat to people’s lives and the wellbeing of at least a thousand innocent people. An oath is only a bunch of words until someone’s willing to back the supposed consequences up. And we know that things get followed through with in our neck of the woods… So we can only fight to end that system, and present a unified group consistently willing to speak against injustice.”[/color] Irina’s voice was so confident that one could almost imagine it was… Practiced…

Trisha’s lips twitched, threatening to move from fake, polite smile to frown. Of course she was against everything that was happening there… It was part of what had set her off during the meeting she went to. But then she and Casey had fought, and… It wasn’t like Adepts weren’t held to their insane oaths either. It was Adepts that Casey had killed that same night… 

And the system was going to end soon anyway. 

[color=d1b300]“The system is unlikely to last long enough for your future publishing house’s funds to be of use.”[/color] Trisha couldn’t hold back the blunt honesty. She wasn’t too worried about mentioning it either… It seemed like everyone knew. Even Lynette. So what was there to fear? 

Because the way they talked just seemed too… Not fake. Almost like they were reading from a script rather than making their own points. 
[color=d1b300]“Everyone deserves the same freedom. The oaths you took are bullshit… But it’s not really different pro-Aberration causes if it’s just going back to yourselves?”[/color] 


[color=629c3f]”Hey, that doesn’t really matter, does it?”[/color] Cass piped up, trying to make sure things didn’t get more combative. She was used to dealing with Trisha when she wasn’t in a great mood… All her little conflicting issues and triggers. 

[color=629c3f]”We all want the same thing, right? Freedom and equality and all that… Change for good is all good, whatever you call the cause. I’ve already spoken up about that shit… Ain’t really something I understand either. But I ain’t really from a magical background in the same way you guys are… It’s all just cool magic to me! Like… Trisha and her bees don’t seem any more or less magic than my shit.”[/color] Cass hooked an arm around Trisha, pulling her into a half hug. 

[color=629c3f]”Hey, I ain’t sure what you’re community leaders are wanting, but me and Trish are supporting in our own ways. Ain’t we?”[/color]

Trisha averted her gaze. She wasn’t like Cass. She wasn’t some good, selfless person. She didn’t like the oppression because of the fear it’d hurt her. The suppressant needles because they might take away her bees… and the Temple because it restricted her and Casey’s freedom. She saw the injustices, but she wasn’t running to fix them. Not if they didn’t affect her. But Cass would… 

[color=d1b300]“Yeah, I’m doing what Ed asked me to at the meeting. Giving my support.”[/color]

[color=7ABBFF]”Those oaths aren’t bullshit…”[/color] Layla muttered, seemingly retracting from the conversation despite her previous enthusiasm… 

Apparently, Trisha’s comment was enough to turn the three of them off, because there seemed to be a collective clamming from both Layla [i]and[/i] Irina. Mazie knew she had a job to do later, for a fellow Adjoined, so her only response was silence.

[color=FF1463]”I mean, sure… You’re both doing what you can. Once that bandage gets ripped off, s’not like we’re welded together, right? Help now becomes wasted effort later. Some of us uh… Show up at things and bring negative energy. Others actually jump into action, preventing others from being endangered in turn. Sometimes those concepts coexist.”[/color]

Layla looked at Irina, who returned the exchange.

[color=FF1463]”Well, it’s nice talking. Sorry to bother again. C’mon girls.”[/color]

Layla didn’t say bye. Mazie stuffed both of her hands in her pockets, looked at the back of Irina’s head, then turned to smile at Cass and Trisha.
[color=61FFEA]”So, Bee in my face? Like, can do. For sure. Just make sure you’re not carryin’ anything big. No boxes, no trophies, no big stacks of anything. If you can’t lay it parallel to your silhouette, it’ll get lopped off in transit. Playful Thing needs toys occasionally.”[/color]

She winked, then proceeded to follow her Silent Sisterhood as they made way for their own spot to sit [i]far away[/i].

The smile fell from Trisha’s face as they disappeared, replaced by a frown. 

With their leaving, the anxiety creeped in. She didn’t like them. So she shouldn’t care what they thought of her. But what Irina said felt pointed. [i]Some of us show up at things and bring negative energy.[/i] Was that directed at her? It had to be, didn’t it. 

It wasn’t like she’d asked to end up in this position. She was doing her best to help where she could… But what could she do? She was an outsider. Outside of Casey, no one in power really liked her. And it was all going to come crumbling down sooner or later…

Because of her, according to Mia’s dream. Wasn’t that enough?

[color=629c3f]”Well that was… odd.”[/color] Cass watched them go before shrugging and sitting back down beside Trisha. She got that maybe they were touchy about all of these things… Well, it wasn’t something she was going to worry about.

Not when her close friend was making such a cute grumpy face. 

[color=629c3f]”Heyyy, looks like we can chill again! No more interruptions. So…”[/color] Cass shuffled closer to Trisha with a grin, lowering her voice to a whisper. 
[color=629c3f]”Tell me more about the first proposal.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I already told you…”[/color] Much as Trisha trusted Cass, she wasn’t going to go into details of their argument. It was caused by feelings she tried to keep buried deep down. That Casey had managed to dig them up was something she was still struggling to accept.

[color=629c3f]”Yeah, but I want the deets! How did he do it?! Like, did he get down on one knee [i]while[/i] you were fighting?”[/color] 

[color=d1b300]“No, obviously not.”[/color] Trisha couldn’t help but laugh just a little at that image. Even immediately after had felt ridiculous. 
[color=d1b300]“He… said he wanted me to be his everything. When we’d calmed down a bit, I joked that it sounded a bit like a proposal. [i]Then[/i] he got down on one knee.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Holy shit!”[/color] Cass exclaimed, grinning widely. It took everything to not push into Trisha’s personal space and hug her again. But right now, she needed to take things slow. Keep Trisha’s mind off the other things… Just chill together. Or, as chill as Cass could be. 
[color=629c3f]”That’s [i]so[/i] fucking cute! Seriously- God, if I could have half of what you guys have, I’d die happy.”[/color] 

Trisha blushed slightly as her head tilted. 
[color=d1b300]“You don’t think you’ll have that with Leon?”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Well… probably! I can see a pretty good future, but hoh boy is there a lotta shit to work on first. And I don’t see it being so sickeningly sweet! Like, you guys are on another level!”[/color] Maybe it could be. But Cass struggled to imagine it from [i]her[/i] end, rather than Leon’s. She had a lot of love to give, but she wasn’t particularly… sappy? At least not verbally. 
[color=629c3f]”I dunno if I wanna settle down like that yet anyway.”[/color] 

[color=d1b300]“Like, marriage?”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Yeah, yeah. It ain’t a worry for the near future with use anyway, but… I ain’t sure if it’s something I want anyway.”[/color] Cass admitted easily. There were a lot of things she wasn’t sure if she wanted yet… 

It wasn’t really something Trisha understood. She’d always wanted that [i]person[/i]. Her person. Who she’d love and marry, and have children with. It seemed like such a basic want, but it had been so hard to find. Until now, with Casey. He made the waiting worth it. 

[color=d1b300]“I guess you don’t need to know yet? We’re still young.”[/color] Trisha tried to awkwardly comfort Cass, who just laughed. She didn’t need comforting after all.

[color=629c3f]”Yeah, it ain’t gonna be a problem unless Leon decides to act insane and pop the question in a couple of months. Not that I think it happening after that period is a problem for the right people! That just ain’t me. But…”[/color] Cass grinned, unable to resist the urge to actually hug Trisha. She pulled her in tight.
[color=629c3f]”I really am so fucking happy for you. I can see how happy Casey makes you.”[/color] 

[color=d1b300]“I am happy.”[/color] Trisha smiled, relaxing slightly. There was still tension in her body- and it would remain there until she was home. But at least she wasn’t quite so one edge. She’d taken a few steps back from the precipice. 
[color=d1b300]“I miss him whenever he’s not here.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Aw, you’re [i]so[/i] fucking sappy. I ain’t enough for you, huh? How rude!”[/color] Cass teased, shaking Trisha before letting go of her. 
[color=629c3f]”I get it… I’m sure you don’t have to wait long, anyway. Then you’ll have me [i]and[/i] Casey around.”[/color] 

[color=d1b300]“Mm, I hope so.”[/color] Even if Casey arriving meant Lynette would too… And all of the rest of his family too. Then, hers as normal guests. More stress… But at least she’d be with Casey. She could get through anything with him.

They had a few more minutes to chat to themselves about the situation before Ed finally managed to work her way back around to them. By then, she looked a shade paler than the usual French Nobility’s pallid bloodline was typically. 

[color=66bb6a]”Aaaalright girls! Here, let me take you to your [i]actual[/i] seats. Unless you’d rather be standing for when the congregation arrives, Leon and Casey will end up right next to the two of you.”[/color] she smiled, pointing back. 
[color=66bb6a]”Just got word they were coming in pretty quickly, so I figured you guys deserved the option!”[/color] she smiled.

Trisha definitely didn’t want to be standing when they arrived. She stood up, looking at Ed with a hint of concern for a moment. It was difficult not to when she’d come back looking so pale… But she didn’t want to ask. Couldn’t, because she knew it was the kind of question she’d avoid if asked. 


[color=d1b300]“I’d like to be in our seats. The last thing I want is to be swept up in some kind of crazy festival crowd…”[/color] Trisha managed to smile back. 
[color=d1b300]“As long as Casey ends up next to me, I’m happy. I assume going to the assigned seats is the fastest way to make that happen.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”Well I’m easy, whatever Trisha wants- so take us to our seats!”[/color] Cass laughed, hopping up and slinging one arm around Trisha’s shoulders and the other around Ed’s. She leaned in towards the latter.
[color=629c3f]”Did you go into some kinda reverse tanning booth while you were gone?”[/color]

Ed tensed up, unable to find a good way of answering that question. The thought [i]’At least I’m not high.’[/i] came to mind, but ultimately, there was only so much her personal problems could act as a silver lining in this moment.

[color=66bb6a]”It’s pretty cold outside the tented areas. A trick Ren and I have down is her being able to relax my body. It sinks my blood vessels under the skin further, keeps me warm. It’s a uh… Funny side effect of heroin use. I can get her to simulate pretty much every part of it from the start to the bitter end. But, separate from one another. A weird little benefit without the actual, y’know, habit forming shit.”[/color]

Overexplaining. [i]They were going to think she’s high now…[/i] Ed could accept that. Casey and Leon just had to get here. Casey, Leon, Grandpa and Grandma, the dozens and dozens of other powerful Adepts that would… Hopefully keep them safe. They’d be safe!

[color=629c3f]”Huh…”[/color] Cass looked thoughtful for a moment, before grinning. 
[color=629c3f]”That’s pretty cool! Well, y’know, not condoning the heroin use- but I ain’t here to give a lecture either, heh… What was I saying? Oh, yeah! It’s neat that you can separate out all the shit to your benefit like that. Lil good things from something bad, yeah? Even if it makes you look as pale as Ren herself! Like daughter like Mama, I guess.”[/color]

Trisha didn’t say anything one way or another. But her expression was neutral and didn’t seem particularly judgmental. She assumed Ed hadn’t gone and gotten high… Mostly because she was still functioning, and there wasn’t that horrendous plastic smell in the air. The strange magical traces similar to her pheromones. 

[color=d1b300]“Let’s just get to our seats. How quickly do you think they’ll get here?”[/color]

[color=66bb6a]”Like, anytime now.”[/color] she expressed with a little bit of hope in her voice; like she was praying that she was telling the truth.

Her head tilted, physically guiding them off toward the table that had been set up to be higher than all the other tables. The one that you actually needed to climb a small set of stairs to get to. Getting up on that little platform made it much clearer that this wasn’t just a single group ordeal. Three tables were crammed in fairly close proximity, each one ready to accommodate twenty four guests a piece. 

Whether it was for better or worse, Trisha was sat in the queen’s seat at the stair-side head of the table. The very first table, in the very first seat. An easy escape route [i]during[/i] dinner, but when everyone was filing up, she’d be a sitting duck. Cass wasn’t in a much better position, being tucked as the second chair in the inner row of the same table, essentially sandwiched between Leon, and whoever the hell was going to be sat next to her.

As Ed got them both seated, she took a deep breath.


[color=66bb6a]”I am… Not going to be sitting with Mia and Hari. I’ll be at the next table over, as part of the cousins. Trisha, I saw the seating plan obviously: Your sister [i]and[/i] your brother are at the helm table here. So’s Lynette… But, she’s at the opposite end of the table from you. Grandma and Grandpa both sit with us at the next table… Am I… Babbling? I’m nervous, I know you’re anxious, I can read it. I can’t alleviate it, but I can at least prepare you for the next hard part.”[/color] 

Her eyes screamed love and care, like all she wanted to do in that moment was protect Trisha. It was sincere.

Trisha tried her best to give Ed a weak smile in return as she took her seat. Without anyone else there yet, it felt exposed. That meant everyone would be going past, or near, her on the way to their own seats. She could end up trapped in all sorts of conversations she didn't want… Hopefully Casey would be one of the first ones up, so she'd at least have him by her side.

She wanted to lie and say she wasn’t anxious, but she just couldn’t bring herself to in the face of Ed’s sincerity. Like she really cared… It was impossible to deny in that moment, even if Trisha struggled to believe it was real. 

And she’d know that there was a high chance she’d end up at a table with Lynette and her siblings. No, expected it. If Lynette got a say in the seating arrangements? Of course it was bound to happen. 

[color=629c3f]”Man, they crammed as many people up here as possible, didn’t they?”[/color] Cass complained under her breath, standing behind her chair rather than sitting on it. She foresaw an inability to move as soon as the table was filled up, so she wanted to stretch her legs for as long as possible. It was going to be an absolute nightmare to go get food too… Especially with the amount she’d need. 

Trisha glanced at her friend with a slight smile, before looking back at Ed. 
[color=d1b300]“Thank you. I’ll be… anxious until I’m home, I think. But I appreciate it.”[/color] She managed to admit genuinely. Trying her best to be a little honest, like Casey would want.
[color=d1b300]“Who else is sitting at this table? Me, Cass, Casey, Leon, Lynette, Tansy, Ezra… Hari, Mia and Elise I assume. That’s only ten people…”[/color] 

[color=629c3f]”Oh yeah, who’s gonna be next to me? That ain’t Leon, of course.”[/color]

Ed could only close her eyes in shame.
[color=66bb6a]”Casey, Leon, you, [i]Junior.[/i]”[/color]

Her voice sounded like eighteen tons of metal traveling down a cliff. Such angst hadn’t been summoned since Ed was a little goth.
[color=66bb6a]”I’d have sat you across if- y’know, never mind! I didn’t have a say in this. Both my girls are aaaaaaaall the way up there.”[/color] she pointed at the opposite corner from Cass.
[color=66bb6a]”And you guys are stuck here. With Trisha’s siblings, and Maxwell [i]fucking[/i] Junior. The third, really. And our Grandfather is going to be right behind you, so expect Maxwell the Eldest to be in your ear at some point, Cass.”[/color]

She really did look exasperated. Like she didn’t have much in the tank after the ride there, then actually dealing with whatever she was. [i]If only she could tell them…[/i] But they didn’t need to know, because once all the powerful people arrived, there’d be no problems. The night would be [i]fine.[/i]

[color=66bb6a]”And, as for June… Just, try your best to deflect whatever negative bullshit he has to say. Leon [i]won’t[/i] let him talk to you squarely. And Junior actually respects Leon, unfortunately. He’s about the only one nowadays.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”I’ll just punch him if he acts up!”[/color] Cass’ punched upwards in front of herself. 

[color=d1b300]“Please don’t punch anyone at the table.”[/color] Trisha frowned at Cass. She didn’t think she really would, but there was no knowing with her. She really could be unpredictable at times. Still frowning slightly, she looked up at Ed. 
[color=d1b300]“Punching aside, if anyone can deflect his negative bullshit, it’s Cass. She’s basically got a positivity bubble.”[/color]

[color=629c3f]”So true! I got all sortsa techniques. Acting stupid, positivity bombing back… Or just letting Leon handle it!”[/color] Cass shrugged. She was much more chill than Trisha about everything, aside from feeling a bit trapped in. But she was sure Leon and Casey would forgive her if she had to clamber over them for a bit of space. 
[color=629c3f]”I can handle the older Maxwell too, no worries. He can’t be any worse than my own Granda!”[/color]

Trisha let out a very quiet, not quite happy laugh. If anyone was as loud as Maxwell, it’d be someone related to Cass. But it meant they really were surrounded on all sides. She should’ve expected it… It was a small blessing, maybe, that her siblings were so separated from Lynette. Mia, Hari and Ed too for different reasons. There was the fear that Tansy would work her disgusting magic and somehow make people love her, like she was so good at doing.

Easily influenced people who didn’t see through her bullshit. People who thought she genuinely cared for Trisha. She didn’t want to risk her influence spreading too far… Even if it meant dealing with her herself. And Ezra, but he was less of an issue. Boring, but not someone who wanted to intrude on her life.
 
[color=d1b300]“Also, I know you didn’t have a say in all this, Ed. I expected it to be like this.”[/color] Trisha shrugged one shoulder, managing a pained smile. 
[color=d1b300]“We’ll be able to handle it. At least my siblings are problems I know how to deal with.”[/color]