faerietothe-otherside

[faerietothe-otherside]

"Please do," Rangi said back, still focused on the little box in her hands, only half hearing what it was that Dhruv was telling her. She was shuffling through the photos, moving each one gently, as if they were the most fragile, precious things in the world, breathe shuddering as she tried to level out her emotions. It was proving more difficult than normal. She reached up to wipe away her tears with a sloppy swipe from her palm. "It's hard to get back to anything normal with such a large hole...in everything." In her heart, in her life, in her everything. Her soul. She let out a long sigh and closed the box.

"Thank you," was all she said, both an acknowledgement and a rejection of the idea. She didn't feel like she deserved their support. They had too much to worry about on their own, for their real family. Rangi had always been an intruder, welcome or not.

"Oh no no that's quite alright, you don't have to stop I understand that Mason, yes, would know more. But please, continue, maybe I can pick up some words along the way?" he posed the question with a shrug. She didn't have to teach him anything of course, and likely would not be able to be quite the friend Mason had been to her but it could be nice. "To answer, she's doing okay, or at least as okay as okay gets. It's hard to tell sometimes but..." Dhruv petered off to thoughts shifting to his aunt, "Trying to go back to a routine has been difficult. I'll tell her you asked about her if that's alright? She'd been asking how you were doing too, that's another reason for this."

Dhruv nodded, she didn't have to say much on that, dealing said enough. Steeling his grip on his own emotions, he watched as she opened the box, he knew its contents and had a expected the reaction that he saw, "It's yours, didn't feel right to keep it. I'm - I'm sorry for your loss too, I know he meant a great deal to you... we're here for you, hope you know that."

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At first, Rangi worried she'd done or said something wrong, despite the reassuring squeeze of her hand moments before. She blinked in confusion for a few moments before letting out a relieved chuckle. "No, s'pose not," she said back, falling in line next to Savannah as the other woman hooked their arms together. But as they walked, Rangi was very aware of how close they were and very aware of the fact that she hadn't been this close to someone physically since Mason's passing. She couldn't even remember the last time she held someone's hand, let alone walked with them. She couldn't remember the last time she'd let someone hug her. She'd pushed everyone away, both physically and socially, leaving behind a hole she hadn't noticed until just this moment.

"I think the only pie I've had is pumpkin pie, for a Thanksgiving dinner at my boss's house, once," Rangi admitted. "It's just never really been uh, a part of my diet, I guess? Pie wasn't really a big thing back home." She shrugged. "Can't say I do, but who knows, maybe I'll figure that out today, huh?"

A look of concern momentarily fluttered across her bright blue gaze as she glanced back the other's way. Sav knew when someone else seemed lost in thought, but rather than acknowledge the elephant in the room, she simply gave Rangi's hand another reassuring squeeze, before a gasp broke from her lips. "What in sweet heavens!" Her feet slammed to a halt as she spun back around. "You mean to tell me you’ve truly never tasted a peach pie before?" Her practically lighting up as she declared, "Well, what're we waitin' for? That cornpit’s just gonna have to wait—this here’s somethin’ that needs tendin’ to."

"You don’t mind takin’ a little detour over to Peggy’s, do ya? They baked up some peach pies earlier today, and I reckon we could fix you a slice," She reasoned. Slipping her hand out of Rangi's, she moved to loop her arm through the other's so that they could walk side by side. Huh? No, no, I wouldn’t say that’s my favorite. If I had to pick, I’d go with maybe a key lime or banana cream. But, then again, a good chocolate pecan’s hard to beat, and you sure can’t go wrong with a classic apple or pumpkin. Truth be told, I think I’m just a fan of pie, plain and simple. But what about you, Sugar? Got a favorite slice I oughta know about?" She asked, giving Rangi a light bump of her hip as she did.

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Stop pretending to be okay. Rangi had stopped doing that a long time ago, she hadn't pretended to be okay since the moment she felt Mason stop breathing in her arms. Since she got his blood smeared on her hands. Since the ambulance had taken his body away. Not a single moment since then had she pretended to be okay, but the world around her had kept turning, as if nothing had happened, as the world just didn't care. She knew it did, she knew people did, but life went ever on without Mason and Rangi was being left behind. She leaned into Leyla. "I don't know what to do anymore," she muttered.

Leyla was wrong. Rangi wasn't strong, she'd never been strong. She was a coward, who hid in her house and her lab, and hid her feelings and her want and needs. She was even too much of a coward to admit that to anyone. So she just sighed and nodded. "We can stay here," she agreed quietly, "for as long as you need."

"Thank you," She whispered softly out. Her hands tightened around Rangi's as she gave her another firm squeeze. "I get it. Hey," She scooted a little closer as she moved to wrap her arms around the other, pulling her in for a small tug. "You're not someone to deal with. You're here, you're real and I-" She bite down lightly on her bottom lip as she found herself letting out a small and shaky breath of her own. "I've been pretending that I was fine for as long I could remember, but it never seems to make it any better, so maybe it's time we stop pretending? Maybe we just let ourselves not be okay? I mean it's acceptance supposed to be one of the last stages of grief or something? And I mean we've both already hit anger so why not try to figure the rest out together?"

"You know, there was this show I used to watch as a kid and in it there were two twins who could see the future. Only one of the girls only ever saw the bad and, yet, she was brimming with optimism and hope, because every good moment got to be a surprise. It was beautiful and unexpected. While, the other sister only ever saw the good and she was miserable because everything wonderful had already been spoiled for it. What I'm trying to say is, things have been really bad right now, but when you hit rock bottom, there is no where else to go, but up right?" Or at least she hoped so anyhow.

"I'm not. Worried that is? You're really strong, Rangi. And honestly, it's kind of nice hanging out just the two of us?" She found herself admitting. "My family doesn't want to be taken care of and, recently when I've been trying to, I either feel like I'm fighting them or falling short? What I mean to say is that it's sort of nice to just exist for a little bit, if that's okay with you if maybe stay here for a little while?"

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Rangi let out a small snort of a laugh. "You sound like my mom," she muttered, tossing back her first shot of brandy. She poured herself another shot and looked over at Ralph, trying her best to smile. She was happy that they were having the park built in Mason's honor, but every time she thought about it and walked by the future location, it just made her heart seize up and her eyes burn, knowing that Mason would never get to see it, to ride his board there, to fall down on the ramp while Rangi watched from a distance, sipping boba they had gotten earlier. She shook her thoughts away. "To Mason," she responded quietly, tapping her glass against Ralph's before downing her second shot.

Tracing the rim of her glass as she listened, Rangi could feel a sense of familiarity in Ralph's words. Before she'd landed in Lunar Cove, Rangi had traveled the world by herself. She'd seen a lot, done a lot, but always, always kept her distance from people. She'd grown up isolated and lonely, it was hard for her to break from the habit. She felt as if keeping her distance was the best course of action. She was fae, she would live too long to form connections that wouldn't eventually break and burn and hurt her. But Ralph's final words were what stuck with her the most. Rangi's connection with death was something she couldn't deny. It was her calling. She sighed and poured another glass. "Does it always hurt this much?" she asked, leaning back in her chair. "The loss."

Ralph blew a raspberry, a joking noise. "Idle hands are the devil's playthings. And much as I like it when ol' Lucy plays with me, I oughta be saintly." In truth, he did not mind the work; it kept his mind occupied when it threatened to venture into darker territories. And while he had never quite given up sleep completely, he feared now what nightmares awaited him if he tried it. He would thus stay awake, even when the sun was out.

Stepping into the room more completely, Ralph settled down and rested his hands on the desk. "Sure," he replied, giving a nod. "We oughta toast to something, though, ya dig it? Somethin' good." He could not think of what. "I know. We just about have enough douh to build that skatepark. In Mason's name, you know? Here's to that."

Knitting his brow, Ralph gave a nod. "I hear that. I didn't...for a long time. Get close to nobody or nothing, I mean. Out there, on the road. Town-to-town. No roots. But...it's better to love, ya feel me? You should love everything and everyone as much as you can 'cause it comes back to you five times. It's why you and me do what we do. 'Cause we know everyone that comes through this morgue was someone and belonged to someone, and we care about shit like that."

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She's a giraffe, cause she's so tall. Get it? Rangi was feeling lazy and sad this year for whatever reason.

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"Preoccupied is one word for it," Rangi answered, a little quietly. It was only after she stood and shook out her legs did she realize the cold feeling that raced up her arm from where the other woman had grabbed her hand. It was a feeling she recognized, a feeling she loathed, as visions tried to press against the backs of her eyes. Rangi blinked, heavily, and made herself focus, instead, on the woman beside her, ignoring both the warm feeling of someone's hand in her own and the cold feeling of death creeping up her spine.

"I think I'd like peach pie more, but if I'm being honest, I don't think I've had either?" Rangi shrugged. She'd eaten peaches and cherries, but pie had never been a big part of her diet. Which was strange, considering her love for sweet things. She hadn't been in the mood for anything sweet in a long time, though. It reminded her too much of Mason. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Is that your favorite kind? Peach?" she asked, trying, once again, to ignore her feelings.

"You didn’t sound rude. Maybe a lil’ preoccupied? But, not rude. Don’t you worry, sugah," She promised her, shooting her a hint of a wink as she stood there. A smile dancing at the corner of her lips as she waited. Call it overconfidence or a lack of rejection- fae were known for being alluring after all, but Sav didn't have a doubt in her mind that she couldn't sweet talk the woman before her into having a little fun with her and, for what she gathered, it seemed like they both could use some.

Her grin only growing as her prediction seemed to be right. Giving Rangi's hand a small squeeze, a mischievous spark seemed to dance across her gaze. The blonde, completely oblivious of what Rangi might see at her touch, pressed her lips together as if mulling over the other's question. "I dunno, is it?" She played dumb as she bumped Rangi lightly with the side of her hip as she began to sway their hands still intertwined as they walked toward the corn pit. "I like mine better. How 'bout you?"

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"Shit," Rangi said, sitting up. She'd forgotten Ralph had lost his daylight ring and the guilt stung. "Sorry, um-- yeah, sure. You-- You can also just stay here, you know. You don't have to work." As someone who loved nature and the sun and being outside, having to hide indoors while the sun still hung in the sky sounded like a nightmare. She didn't know exactly how Ralph felt about it, but from what she knew, he'd been a vampire a long time, and she wasn't sure it was comfortable to bring up.

Once again her mind had wandered and Ralph's voice broke through her thoughts, stirring her. She looked down at the half finished paperwork on her desk, before sighing and leaning back in her chair. She motioned to the chair across from her desk for Ralph to sit in before she tugged open the bottom drawer and pulled out a bottle of brandy. "Want some?" Maybe it wasn't very professional, but Rangi didn't feel very professional at all lately. Or that she should even still have her job or freedom after what she'd done.

"Sometimes..." Rangi started, her voice quiet, "sometimes I think maybe I'd have been better off not getting attached to anyone, like I'd planned." Sometimes, it just hurt too much, so much, and she felt like she was choking and dying and sometimes she wished she were dead. She wondered if it would all stop in death.

Leaning in the doorway, Ralph crossed his arms and gave a shrug. "Sun's not set yet, boss, and I forgot my umbrella and nosecoat at home. Did ya need any overtime?" He flashed a smile, but he really had been hanging around the hospital more often than usual, even when he wasn't working. In truth, for as long as he had gone without a daylight ring, he found its absence now vexing. Perhaps he had allowed Lunar Cove to make him soft, or perhaps he simply forgot how often he once had to spend indoors.

After a beat, Ralph furrowed his brow as he took a step into the room. "You doin' all right? You need a break? The reports'll still be there in fifteen minutes, you know. Have a coffee. Or a cigarette. Or hell, a double shot. I won't tell nobody."

He pursed up his lips, cocking his head to one side. "Shit's bad, ain't it?" The question came as something of a deliberately vague opening, an opportunity for Rangi to interpret it in any direction. "I wanna say it'll get better, but it don't ever."

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Hidden in a corner of Mason’s room, Dhruv found a memory box that belonged to Rangi. In it are a bunch of photos, little notes Mason wrote to give to Rangi at some point, funny fortune cookie fortunes (eg: this cookie is never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down), ticket stubs from various places like the arcade and movies, a moth necklace that reminded them of her wings (which was meant to be birthday present)…and many more things that he collected over time.

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"Oh, uh, sorry," Rangi stuttered, shaking her head, "i-it's a term of endearment, sort of means, like, mom or mother. Um...in my native language, Te Reo. Māori. Sorry...I just kinda grew used to them knowing..." She'd taught Mason quite a few words and terms in the language, and he'd been so excited to learn them, to know it. The thought made that lump form in her throat again. "I'll um, I'll stop, if you want." Was she even part of this family anymore? She hoped so, she wanted to be. The Mahir's had been more family to her than her own parents, after all.

"I'm--" well, she couldn't really lie, could she? "I'm dealing." Poorly, sure, but it wasn't a lie. Her eyes fell to the box Dhruv produced, then, and the world seemed to stop. Pictures, notes, trinkets. All of them collected by Mason, about her, for her. Fingers traced the outline of a photo of them, a big smile on their face. She remembered the moment, she remembered taking the photo. They'd been at the boba shop, a frequent spot for them, and Rangi had cracked some silly joke, and of course Mason had laughed too hard at it. And now it was a moment, frozen in time. A memory that not even all the death in the world could take from her.

She felt a tear roll down her cheek and she quickly reached up to wipe it away. "Th-thank you...for giving me this. I, um-- just...thank you."

He likely didn't give her much choice but really he would've accepted a no too, this wasn't a must, while yes he did have something for her it had been hanging around in Mason's room for so long, what was a few more days till she was less busy? But taking her word for it Dhruv simply nodded. "It's been quiet," he answered honestly, giving her a weak smile, "A bit too quiet, but it's alright I suppose, given circumstances and all." He didn't know what else to say in that matter, things were moving because they had to, though he hadn't been around in recent years the lack of Mason's presence was felt drastically. "Matua? What does that mean?" he asked when he word didn't register with him. "How are you getting along?" Dhruv genuinely did want to know how she was doing, knowing how close she had been with Mason he wanted to check on her too but also not wanting to dawdle any longer, he brought out the box, "I did want to give you this," he said quietly, "He had it tucked away but I came across it when I was clearing Mason's room. Sorry I did have a peek at it..." he cleared his throat to not let emotions crack his voice, "You should have it."

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Rangi's eyes widened a little bit. "Oh, no, no, I-- I wasn't-- I swear-- I didn't mean to sound rude. If I wanted you to go away, I promise I'd just tell you." The people pleaser in her was a deep seated part of her that she'd never quite been able to get rid of. And it was oddly comforting to know that she still had some part of herself, after everything else had been stripped from her. Rangi felt her chest shudder a little as she looked up at the other woman, at her smile, at her soft demeanor, at her genuine kindness. How could she not smile, just a little, even despite everything else?

"I--" she shook her head, let out a small breath, "I can't say no to that." This time, she took the offered hand and stood, brushing her hands along her pants to pat away stray pieces of hay. "Isn't it usually cherry pie on top?" she asked, tilting her head. "Not that I'm complaining."

"I mean, we’re sittin’ here talkin', and you don’t seem like bad company to me," Sav reasoned. Her shoulders lifting and falling into an eased shrug as leaned back against the heels of her boots. "And anyhow, what kinda mood do you really gotta be in to go lay in a pit of corn, right?"

"Listen, if you were just throwin’ out the cornpit idea to get me to leave you be, I get it. We all need some time to ourselves now and then. Just say the word and I’m gone. But if even the smallest part of you’s thinkin, ‘hey, layin’ in a ballpit full of corn with this cute blonde could be fun,’ then," A playful smile danced at the corners of her mouth as her shoulders slumped once more. "Well, I did say I would, now didn't I, so," The siren fluttering her lashes over at the other tempting. "Wanna check out this here cornpit with me? Pretty please with some sweet tea and a slice of peach pie on top?"

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Rangi simply shook her head. "I won't tell anyone." She felt the same way. What else did she have to give? This place had taken everything from her. She'd built a life, one she'd been proud to lead, and then she'd watched it all crumble in front of her, piece by piece, so small and fractured she couldn't pick up any of the pieces to put it back together again.

Rangi swallowed a shudder, looked down at the burns peeking out just barely from beneath her sweater sleeves. Tugged on the turtled neck to hide the bruises still around her neck. Pain and loss were the only constants in her life now and she worried what might happen if those went away, too. She needed something, after all, something besides the emptiness that overwhelmed her at night, when she was alone with her thoughts and her memories. "I try to remind myself it's real," she answered quietly, "but it doesn't feel real. I want to wake up from this nightmare, but every time I try, Mason is still gone and the world is still cold and I still kill-- I killed-- I--" her words caught on a sob and she drew in a breath, holding it. Tensed her whole body, closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to-- to deal with me, too. I'll be-- I'm--" but she couldn't lie. Even if she could, physically, she wasn't sure she would. She swallowed her breath, body still tense. "Don't worry about me. Just-- just take care of yourself and your family."

"No," She shook her head quietly as she built up the courage to reach out and tentatively rest her hand onto of Rangi's shaking ones. "No, it really doesn't. I," She nibbled on her bottom lip as she found herself quietly admitting, her voice no more than a hush whisper under her breath, "I haven't been able to truly sleep since the e-Emerald Ball and, now, I sort of feel e-empty to it all? Like there might not be any more in me left to give? D-don't- please don't tell anyone I said that? I haven't told anyone that y-yet and," She bite down on her bottom lip. Leyla used to stutter when she was young. She had been a shy kid who kept to herself, often with her nose in a book. But, with time, the stutter went away and, it wasn't until she had been dropped from the bell tower, that her anxiety seemed to retake hold. Recently, the fogginess that clouded her brain seemed to be helping, but the thought of anyone else knowing how truly empty she currently felt sent her anxiety spiking back up. "She's... She's Dilan. She refused to take vampire blood for a while and then was upset to be offered a wheel chair temporarily after she did. I think she's doing as well as she can given the circumstances? But, I also am not sure if its sunk in yet that she-" She cut herself off before saying the words out loud. She killed Hande. Instead Leyla found herself pivoting to say, "I don't know if it's truly sunk in for me either though. And you? Has it sunk in or does it sort of feel like a bad dream you still haven't managed to wake up from yet? Because that's how it sort of feels for me."

[faerietothe-otherside]

Rangi gripped the basket in her hands tightly and stepped aside, leaving room for Dilan to grab whatever it was she needed. Her mind was still trying to claw it's way out of the darkness that it was swimming in, and the words echoed in her head. Are you okay? The answer was no, it had been no for far too long now. It had been no since June 13, 12:23 am. And it would be no for the foreseeable future. Rangi didn't know how to make anything better.

"No," she murmured, still not looking over at Dilan. "I don't think...I'll ever be okay." Finally, she lifted her gaze to meet Dilan's, and her eyes were hollow and distant and pleading. "Does it feel wrong to you, too? Did I do the right thing?" She didn't know why she was asking Dilan of all people, but Dilan had taken a life as well and Rangi was hoping, desperately, that she felt the same shame and guilt that she did. Lorelai Cavanagh was unequivocally bad, but had she deserved to die? Had Rangi really done the right thing? Was it really her place to decide that? The questions hung thick in her heart and choked her throat every time she closed her eyes. Every time she drew in a breath and remembered how she'd felt Lorelai's breath fade from her body. "It doesn't feel real."

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

While Dilan was still sore from everything she had been forced by Ken to stop being a terror and actually heal, despite her many protests. As she walked around the grocery store looking for things to fill Devrim’s fridge with before he got home her feet started to hurt. Reminding her of the pain she had once felt in her leg and chest. Seeing a familiar face blocking the chicken made her wheel her cart over there, she softly said the others name. “Rangi.” Waiting for some type of reaction, but the reaction had been rather delayed. 

When Rangi asked if she was in the way Dilan froze for a moment before nodding yes softly. Noticing the bruises still evident on Rangi, she knew it was a reminder of what they’d done. Feeling her own bruises ache, she looked down. “I was just getting some chicken for Devrim for when he comes home.” Looking at her hands as she spoke, she couldn’t bring herself to look at Rangi. Rangi hadn’t taken the easy way out like her, if it had been her choice she would still be suffering, well more than she already was. “So—umm…” Trying to start a conversation as she looked up but words failed her. “Are you okay?”

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The offer surprised Rangi-- she didn't feel particularly thrilled at the idea of being around people, but she'd made herself come out here, right? She'd made herself get out of bed and come down to this festival to try and forget, for maybe just a day, an hour, a moment, about what had happened. And this stranger was offering to help with just that. Rangi couldn't help but let out a little chuckle, hollow as it was. "That's one way of putting it," she said, shaking her head. She wasn't trying to be rude, she just didn't think she was a good person right now, or anymore. She didn't think she deserved a kindness even as simple as this.

"I-- I'm not sure I'd make good company right now," she told the other woman honestly, looking at the offered hand, wishing she had the guts to say yes. "I wouldn't want to bring down the mood even more."

"Ah," Her voice was no more than a soft hum as she pressed her lips together and gave the other an understanding nod. While she might not have the smallest idea what 'some bad shit' could entail, she was smart enough to realize from the prolonged breath Rangi took to the hush quietness that seemed to cast a shadow over downtown, that whatever the hell it was, it had been bad. Growing up in small towns like this, she was used to the quiet, but this silence was practically eerie. So much so that a part of her couldn't help, but wonder if she had made a mistake in coming here?

Oh, Savannah, what the hell did you get yourself into? But, the sinking weight in her chest wasn't exactly something you went around voicing to strangers. So, rather than question the bad shit, she turned to the woman beside her and told her genuinely, "Well, I'm really sorry to hear it," before she dusted herself off and pulled herself up to her feet. Extending her hand out to Rangi, a warm smile broke across her lips as she offered her, "Come on now. I might not know a whole lot, but I'd like to think I know a thing or two 'bout cheerin' people up. And, forgive me for sayin' so, but you look like you could use a little pep in your step. So, what d’ya say? Wanna check out this cornpit with me? And don’t make me say ‘pretty please,’ 'cause I sure will."

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The cup of coffee offered in front of Rangi took a moment to come into focus, registering slowly in her brain even after the voice spoke again. Robotically, Rangi reached out for the cup, turning her head to look up at Leyla. She thought maybe volunteering to help clean up would make her feel better, but she hadn't been able to go inside the theater quite yet, opting to help clean up the outside instead. Her hands shook as she held the cup, something they'd been doing every time she gripped something, now, ever since she'd let go of Lorelai's neck and felt her pulse stop underneath her fingers.

"It never stops, does it?" Rangi murmured, staring down at the lid of her coffee cup, before glancing over at Leyla. The fog that Rangi felt in her head, her body, was reflected perfectly in Leyla's eyes as well. She had to look away. "Is Dilan doing okay?"

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"Hi," Leyla held out the coffee cup to the other girl as she motioned with a tilt of her head toward the spot on the bench beside Rangi. "Can I join you?" She asked softly. Leyla had thought that signing up for the clean up crew would have made her feel better. Since the Carnival, her head had been in fog. The days all seemed to blend together and, no matter how hard she tried, what happened to them still hadn't seem to set in. It was like the whole evening had been some terrible dream. One that she still hadn't been able to find a way to wake up from and, while she was glad she could help Rohan out, being back at the Pendulum didn't seem to make the feeling any better. "I know we should be heading back in soon-" Their break was almost up. "But... this isn't easy, is it?" She asked quietly. Her brown eyes meeting Rangi's as she debated whether or not Rangi would be receptive if she reached out and gave the other fae's hand a small squeeze.

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Rangi had made her way down to the fair in an effort to not hole herself up in her house all day and to try and get back some semblance of normalcy in her life, but she'd mostly just ended up buying a bag of kettle corn that still remained untouched and wandering the hedge maze aimlessly for way too long before finally finding her way out and sitting on the curb just outside it. She'd been staring into her popcorn kernels for much too long when she heard a sigh beside her and her body stiffened as she sat up straight, glancing over. Whoever this person was, they were new, that much was obvious even before she mentioned just getting to town.

Now, she could've answered honestly. Could've explained how the town and all of its residents had been plagued and taunted by a psychotic witch who blamed them all for the wrong doings of those who came before them. Told her how people died, no matter how good or kind they were. Told her how people were forced to kill, no matter how many times they swore they never would.

But something inside of Rangi just didn't want to say any of that. Something inside of her wanted to keep at least one person from the horrible truth, to keep at least one thing in this town that wasn't death and decay. "Some bad shit happened recently," she finally said, "I think they threw the fair to try and cheer people up after it. Try and help take their minds off everything." Even if it wasn't working at all, at least they were trying, right?

"Um, I hear the corn pile is nice, if you want to try something fun," she suggested, trying not to let the somberness in her voice show too much.

@lunarcovestarters

"Alright," A soft sigh broke from her lips as she slide down next to the stranger on the curve just a few feet over from the hedge maze. She had only been in town for a hot minute and, don't get her wrong, she was more than thankful that her daughter had finally seemed to perk up at the mention of a fall fair. The teenager disappearing off into the crowd the second they had reached the start of downtown. But, she couldn't quite put her finger on why the vibes had seemed to be off from the moment she had gotten here. "Now, I've gotta ask and I ain't tryin' to stir no pot, but what in the sam hill is goin' on here? Since I've waltzed into town, it's like... like someone's gone and pissed in ya'll cheerios, no offense or nuttin', but isn't a fair supposed to be, I dunno, fun?"

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with: @moonglowmagic (Dilan) where: the grocery store (because who doesn't love a good meltdown in the grocery store)

Rangi didn't know how long she'd been standing in the cereal aisle when she heard someone say her name. Blinking, she turned to look towards them, taking a moment to readjust back to reality instead of the disassociate trance she'd just been in. For a moment, her mind didn't recognize who was there. Her mind didn't recognize a lot, lately. It felt like it was drifting away from her, faster and faster each day.

"Dilan," she finally said, when her brain finally made the connection between the voice and the face. The last time she'd seen Dilan the two hadn't exactly been on good terms, but any resentment or guile Rangi had had for the other fae had drained away long ago. "Sorry, am I in your way?" It was really the only thing she could think to say. Her eyes scanned the other girl, checking to see if she, too, still possessed the scars of what they'd both done just a few nights ago. Rangi knew vampire blood was an option to help heal, or even magic, but she'd ignored any offered help and made sure to look at the bruises around her neck each morning, and the iron burns on her wrists each night. Strangling someone didn't leave anything behind, only the crushing weight of their life still held firmly between her palms.

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with: @rxmiddlemasx where: the morgue

Rangi was in her office down in the morgue and she'd been there for a while now. There were bodies on the table that needed processing but she hadn't touched them. The medical director, her boss, had asked if she'd needed time off, but without her job, Rangi felt as if she had nothing. She would have no reason to get out of bed. Things had been bad before, but they were worse now-- that, she could admit.

She'd killed someone. Sure, she was a bad person, someone who had tormented and hurt and killed others, but that didn't change the fact that Rangi was now a killer, too. Something she'd never even dreamed herself capable of.

But it had happened, and maybe that meant her parents were right-- maybe she was something to be afraid of. Maybe she was something bad.

A knock at her door startled her from her thoughts and she looked up. Her hands were still halfway through writing something down on a report in front of her. She blinked. "Oh," she murmured. It was Ralph. "Sorry, I was...spacing out. Did you need something?"