#𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 ── . ★ lone walks at dawn.ᐟ

[houzdini]

WHERE : merrock grill-off. WHEN : 7th of september. WHO : closed + @jcksonfields.

euridyce would live to declare her disdain for anyone lacking punctuality, and perhaps because of this, as she strode through cityview park in her favourite pair of platform sandals, she tried to convince herself that she wasn’t late. even though the hands of her watch told a completely different story. besides the traffic issues, she had to deal with thistle, her greyhound, begging to be carried while scout, the scottish deerhound, dragged her in every opposite direction, turning the task of buying her ticket into a comical challenge that could elicit a chuckle from onlookers and bring a crimson blush to her own face.

" jd, i swear, i prepared, i planned not to be late, but it seems the fates had different plans for me today! " riddy justified herself from a few paces away, her long curls even more unruly than usual when she stopped. her eyes lifted to meet his as a soft laugh escaped her. " i told you, workaholics can't have leisure moments. the world, it collapses with that! " with some effort, she managed to put thistle on the ground, stroking the dog’s head as she withdrew her free hand from behind her back, revealing a single sunflower and extending it to the man. " i really thought about buying a bouquet, but the options weren’t very good, so there was this, and there’s that silly quote, and also that meaning, and i thought ‘why not?’. " embarrassment pushed her into a torrent of endless, jumbled words. her gaze dropped to the ground, curls falling over her face like a curtain as she tried to compose herself.

[houzdini]

riddy had heard stories about arranged marriages; she knew her grandmother had been arranged, and that her marriage to grandpa whitmore hadn’t had love. there were many rumours around merrock about her grandmother’s affair with one of the sailors who once worked for her family, and, although her father hadn’t had an arranged marriage, there wasn’t love there either. so, listening to cage talk was… different. necessary. she sighed amidst a small laugh. “ do you and your brother still joke about that? i don’t see cordelia with him, ” she murmured, glancing over at the smiling woman, who seemed like a beacon among the others. she thought about it, about not imagining herself anywhere else, and then her mind drifted to memories of conversations with jackson about ‘those times,’ about… not wishing it had been any other way. riddy took a sip of her drink, her shoulders hunching as she cleared her throat. “ you had a life before reaching this point, didn’t you? so how did you know she was the one? that it was right? how did you know you could… trust and take the plunge, you know? ”

A humble man, Cage didn't talk up all of the successes that he had achieved in his life: rising to the ranks of each construction crew that he had worked on, starting his own company, becoming one of the most recognized faces in the business in that area… but his biggest source of pride, the thing that filled his heart with the most warmth, was absolutely his family. His wife, their kids, their home… he would give everything else away in a heartbeat if it meant making them happy and taking care of them for the rest of his life. "When we were growing up," he gestured to Cordelia, across the way, "her parents wanted her to marry a Newman so badly. My brother, actually, being the oldest and all, they thought it was a good match. I don't think they ever loved me being the one," a small smirk tugged at his lips as he said it before he shrugged. "And it used to scare the shit out of me, all that pressure to settle down, like our whole lives were planned out for us, and now, I can't imagine being anywhere else." And he had. He had been a single father, he had gotten married, divorced, dated, everything in between. But this was truly good. Lifting his own glass, he offered her a grin, before taking a long sip.

[houzdini]

WHERE : riddy’s house. WHEN : 4th of october, evening. WHO : closed + @lenavaz.

if anyone were to ask riddy what she expected to be doing on a friday night in her mid-twenties with her best mate, they’d probably expect euphoric, energetic answers—something about clubs and bars, definitely not this. she’d covered a roll of paper on her bedroom table and bought a few pumpkins to carve, far too excited about the holiday and its decorations. steaming mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, toasted marshmallows, and biscuits sat on the windowsill, while another episode of gilmore girls played on the telly. a halloween-themed skin care face mask rested on riddy’s face as she held the pumpkin, staring at its sad, lopsided eyes before turning it towards her mate. her expression froze in a playful grimace of frustration as she realised it wouldn’t scare anyone. “ is this what taylor swift meant by ‘sad girl autumn’? ”

[houzdini]

WHERE : creek fest. WHEN : september 21. WHO : closed + @jcksonfields.

riddy had legged it. of course she had. ‘cause she knew – knew the moment those fingertips brushed against her skin, in that tingling that followed jd’s fingers – that she wouldn’t need any more dates to snog him. his touch was like flames on a body doused in petrol, and she was burning up, scorching through walls that had once kept her safe, but now only seemed to push her away from him. she’d remember it later that day, while sitting on the pier, listening to the waves break further out on the sand, how crap her response had been, the confused look on his face when all she could manage was a pitiful, “ i’ve got to go. ”

she was hopeless when it came to dating. not exactly confident or experienced. could be worse though. i mean, those first years at uni had been brutal, but she muddled through. yet, with him, some part of her – the scared bit – kept screaming that he was still the lad from school, and every date felt like testing the waters to see what he was really after. but that other part – the starry-eyed, head-over-heels part – wanted to kiss him. she craved those bloody fierce butterflies that tore through her stomach whenever he was around, the shivers and tremors whenever they touched. she wanted it. no, she ached for what lay beyond the line, beyond the safe. him.

so, when creek fest rolled around, and she invited him for another date, telling him he’d better pick her up this time – a safe bet so she wouldn’t ‘run off’ again – there she was, sitting quietly in his car, dolled up in her best flowy dress, curls pinned up high, so nervous her knuckles had gone white against the fabric of her skirt. she watched a few people walk by the car as she cleared her throat. “ the sensible part of me says three, maybe seven dates feels safe, seeing as you’re still here. ” she blurted suddenly, her hand reaching for the door handle. “ but me – riddy – i reckon i can’t wait another date to kiss you. ” she murmured, barely a whisper, the silence making her want to leg it again.

[houzdini]

WHERE : hospital center. WHEN : 7th of september. WHO : closed + @mikeyhartman.

riddy had slipped away from the event, just as she knew she would. sometimes, crowded places got the better of her, pushing her to the brink of anxiety and suffocation, like an itch beneath the skin that consumed her bit by bit until she distanced herself from it. of course, the excuse she gave was about the kids—her dogs—who really needed to eat and rest after a day full of attention and excitement. she had missed mikey and, even though she was in the ‘i’m really disappointed in your behaviour, young man’ phase, she wasn’t going to resist bringing him some treats and desserts, especially a big slice of blueberry pie. so, after taking the dogs home and feeding them, she headed to the hospital. at the reception, she gifted the staff on duty with grilled doughnuts she managed to grab, and then headed to her friend’s room. she gave a few knocks on the door before peeking her head through the small opening and looking at him.

“ not that i’m trying to be your favourite person, but… ” she opened the door to step inside, waving a paper bag in one hand and a cup holder with two massive milkshakes in the other. “ i really bribed the folks downstairs to get this up here, and i fought off plenty of residents to bring these beauties. ” she mused thoughtfully, having indeed persuaded two kids to part with noa’s last grilled peaches. she placed the cup holder on the tray table and began setting down the wrapped dishes from the grill-off. “ not that you deserve them by the way. ” she narrowed her eyes. “ how are you feeling today? plenty of painkillers? ”

[houzdini]

riddy’s hands were trembling, and her heart thundered through her entire being with every single beat, leaving her wide-eyed like a deer, her pupils seeming to battle against the green of her irises, struggling to expand. " i vote for haunted houses, but that calls for a few drinks first! " she sang, her head tilted slightly to the side until her wild curls tumbled down her shoulders like cascades of ebony. " how about we make some drinks, have a few spooky cocktails while we call an uber? " she asked with a grin, her eyes sparkling with the mischief of someone eagerly anticipating all the thrills and chills the night had to offer.

WHO: Stelly & OPEN!

WHERE: downtown Merrock

WHEN: Hallo-Week (October, 2024)

"My adrenaline is pumping," Stelly let out a jittery, but delighted laugh as they trailed out of Stubs, following the crowd of movie-goers, "like, not ready to go home pumping. What do you want to do for the rest of the night? The haunted spooky things are all open late, we could go skating, take an uber out to the haunted houses, go to the bar -- I could mix us up some drinks, we could go back to my place and hang out. What do you feel like?"

[houzdini]

WHERE: Cordelia & Cage's Wedding WHEN: October 19, 2024 WHO: Riddy & @kennedyxwarren

riddy couldn’t think of anything else besides the build-your-own cowboy hat station. sure, there were drinks and food she’d love to dig into… but only after she’d made her own hat. she’d waited until the station was a bit quieter, sitting down at one of the available chairs, sorting through the colourful, sparkly gems she planned to use, along with some feathers and glitter—lots of glitter. “ have you been drawn in by the idea of making your own hat too? ” she asked as she saw ken approaching, looking stunning as always, which made riddy smile in admiration. “ i mean, is there anything more brilliant than having your own hat? the ceremony was amazing, by the way, everything looks incredible—congrats! ”

[houzdini]

WHERE: Cordelia & Cage's Wedding WHEN: October 19, 2024 WHO: Riddy & @xsylcuenco

riddy had somehow ended up in the middle of the dance floor. she wasn’t much of a dancer—not even close to the best. but she knew how to jump, and of course, there were kids all around her, jumping just as much. she was the ‘auntie’ of the place, often seen playing with the little ones, keeping them entertained so the parents could have a bit of fun too. her eyes caught sylvia’s—her favourite hairdresser and one of the best when it came to mixing drinks. she danced her way over, shoulders moving in a silly groove. “ oi, gorgeous, ” she called, raising a hand. “ come dance with me! you look far too amazing to be standing there doing nothing! ”

[houzdini]

WHERE: Cordelia & Cage's Wedding WHEN: October 19, 2024 WHO: Riddy & @zalder

riddy approached her friend with a look alight with excitement, her natural curiosity bubbling over as she wanted to take in everything around her, though something in particular had caught her eye. " zarah, " she sang in her friend’s ear in a conspiratorial tone. “ did you know there’s a build-your-own cowboy hat station? ” she asked, as if it were nothing, though she was clearly keen. “ and there aren’t many people there… i reckon we should go, you know, just to have a little peek! ”

[houzdini]

" i reckon i'm at that stage now where i get dolled up for myself, y'know? saw in some show that we're meant to treat the pavements like our own catwalks… feels like i’m living in a never-ending merrock fashion week. " she chuckled, slicing a bit of the golden, soft peach and popping it into her mouth, blowing on it with a low grumble. " bonne merde when it’s over though, with a good 30 minutes for a shower. if it’s heaving, we could always nip to mack’s. " of course, she was thinking about giant burgers, even though she was stuffed. she'd never say no to chips drenched in mustard. " you, me, your fab drink suggestions, a few shots of tequila 'cause i’m god’s child too, and loads of gossip. if you win, your prize’ll be something perfect for showing off! " she gave a cheeky wink, finishing off the peach.

"And I," she passed a peach from the grill off to the plate Riddy handed her, "think about it as spreading the luck around. But if you insist, then I'll get you back. Just say the word and I'm there, okay? Family headaches, there. Boy trouble, there. And drinks on me that time." She didn't have advice for those she cared about, but she had a good ear and a few good drink recipes up her sleeve. Sometimes, that was all that was needed. She nudged a little bit of the ice cream, kept on ice toward her friend and shook her head. "Please don't get dressed up on my account."

[houzdini]

WHERE: Cordelia & Cage's Wedding WHEN: October 19, 2024 WHO: Riddy & @steviemaylane

riddy had been meaning to visit stevie for ages, but her hectic schedule kept her a bit out of the loop. however, she spotted her friend’s golden locks from afar, seeing her near the bonfire while some lively country music played on the dance floor. " hey, girl! " she chimed with a grin, greeting eli and handing him some snacks she’d picked up. “ how’s it going, mate? you’re growing up way too fast—stop it, please! ” she lamented dramatically, laughing before turning back to her friend. “ you, me, dance floor, ok? we’re going! put down your drink and grant me the honour, ma'am! ”

[houzdini]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ★ ── MOOD RING N' DUMP ̟ꜜ₊

[houzdini]

WHERE : harmony ranch. WHEN : october 12. WHO : closed + @cordeliaeli.

riddy was beaming, taking in all the twinkling lights decorating the ranch. it felt like every woman there shared in cordelia's happiness, and beyond that, they seemed kinda dazed by the love she radiated, eyes glazed over like they were watching a dream about to come true – and it would. riddy waited for her moment to say hello, pulling her into a tight hug. " i'm so happy for you! so glad you've found love and get to live it out so beautifully. you two deserve this, all this happiness, " she whispered in her ear. " you look amazing, and i can't wait to see your dress! congrats, congrats, congrats! "

[houzdini]

it was a fact that riddy was not a fan of parties or clubs, but god would always be witness to her wicked inclination for drinking, with spirits always being her favourite. her eyes became mischievous, crescent moons bringing euphoria to her face, which was framed in the guise of emily, the corpse bride; she had only chosen characters from tim burton’s universe for halloweek, entertaining both herself and the children of merrock by reenacting specific scenes from the films. " hmm, let me think … " she raised her bouquet of 'dead' flowers, looking pensive as she surveyed the downtown area, eager to break away from the large crowds at the bars. " how about the mirage? did you know there’s a secret bar in the basement? who doesn’t love secrets, right? " she asked playfully, her big green eyes filled with anticipation. " i promise we'll hit loads of bars tonight … an epic bar crawl, alright? "

Who: Jamie & OPEN!

Where: around town

When: Hallo-week

"Okay, so it's still early enough to get some drinks, and late enough for all the lights to come on... maybe," he squinted his eyes, looking up at the dim lamp posts. There was tons to do and see, so an adventure was probably the best answer there. "So, where to first?" he grinned, rubbing his hands together.

[houzdini]

WHERE : creek fest. WHEN : september 27. WHO : closed + @nxverending.

euridyce had overheard one of the kids tagging along with a group of tourists moaning about the hay maze, calling it terribly boring, and as a staunch defender of this local festivity, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. turning to face the kid, her own face painted like a tiger, she flared her nostrils, making her whiskers twitch. “ you know, i reckon the maze is loads better than that water park you’re on about. i know, i know! pools, right? but they don’t have what we’ve got. ” she leaned in to whisper to the wide-eyed little ones staring up at her. “ we’ve got talking scarecrows and wish-granting apples. they say if you’re well-behaved and a good kid, by the end of the night, you get as many sweets as you want! ” then, noticing the kids’ excitement bubbling up, she turned away, slipping off between the older folks until she spotted henry. “ i think i’ve promised more than merrock can actually deliver, ” confided in a low whisper, trying not to burst into laughter. “ let’s pretend i’m not standing here with a tiger painted on my face, and you didn’t show up lugging around a book. ” she turned to look at him, flashing a beaming smile. “ mind if i go with you? i hate going alone since school. they pranked me with fireworks and creepy scarecrows, and i swear i didn’t sleep for like three nights straight! ”

[houzdini]

her eye-roll was almost theatrical, perhaps even caricatured, and it took all her self-control not to burst out laughing. ryder was visceral, without pretence or gimmicks; what he displayed was exactly who he was inside, and she simply adored that about him — his loyalty to himself. it was something she perhaps would never have. a genuine, feverish laugh bubbled from her lips, forcing her to cover her mouth, her fingers brushing her face as she shook her head with a playful grin. “ you are unbelievable! just that — un-be-lie-va-ble! ” she said, jabbing a finger in his direction, twirling it as if stirring up a whirlpool aimed right at him. “ honestly, you’re in the wrong job. you should be a life coach. ‘ five steps — or fewer — to be as self-assured as owen ryder. you’re not the best until you’re the best ’ — doesn’t that make a brilliant title? ” she laughed, clapping her hands together in excited agreement. “ what are terrible decisions if not a less boring and more thrilling way to live? ” she led him to the bar, ordering six tequila shots, three for each of them. she sliced a lime into thin wedges, handed him the salt, and sprinkled a little on the back of her own hand, licking it before raising her first shot towards her friend. “ arriba, abajo, al centro, adentro! ”

"You say beneficial… I say boring," he shrugged both shoulders in a dramatic fashion, unable to help himself, even if he knew that it would probably drive her up the wall. Besides, Ryder had long ago accepted that he was a cheeky lad -- as she said -- there was no sense in denying that or trying to act right or grown up or whatever it is that a lot of people expected of him. Ryder was who he was, at that point in time, he wasn't going to be changing, or worry about whether or not people liked him. The right ones did, and the other ones didn't really matter all that much. Letting out a loud scoff when she brought up the walk of shame, he gestured to himself, "firstly, that implies that there is any shame involved in this. No one shamefully walks away from me, and I don't shamefully walk away from anything that makes me feel good," that made him grin as he said it, but there was some truth to it. Ryder just didn't have the time to worry about what he should feel, or what other people thought of those situations. As long as he had fun. "Riddy, tequila is always a terrible decision," he replied with a wide grin, "and therefore, that's what we're going to drink."