#in person003

[s-bradburiedalive]

One of the things that Sutton couldn't understand was the way other people used dating apps. It was called a dating app. If she was using a dating app, it wasn't going to be for some casual hookup; she could go to a bar or a club if she wanted that. No, Sutton was on dating apps for dates. If something more came from it, then wonderful. But there would at least be a first date, typically during the day or on a weeknight just to really solidify the idea that she wasn't looking to go home with anyone, and she certainly wasn't going to bring them home with her.

So, when she'd actually managed to have a decent conversation with a guy on Tinder that wasn't immediately a proposal to meet up at a bar or Netflix and chill, Sutton had latched onto it, offering to meet him for Sunday brunch and maybe go for a walk after. No one expected you to stay the night if the date ended in the early afternoon. When the guy accepted, she couldn't help but feel intense relief.

She just wanted to feel normal; she was aching for it. After the night that Abigail had broken into Sutton's apartment, it'd taken long enough for the horns to finally fade from her head that she'd thought they'd never go away, and, when they did, she'd felt sick. Not terribly sick. She'd just had a fever the day after, one that was bad enough for her to email her professors that she wouldn't be coming in that day. Her body had been so hot and cold at the same time, and she'd just ached to the point that she was worried she needed a doctor, but it'd finally gone away.

And now she was actually having a decent conversation with a law student, the two of them having already enjoyed their meals and now simply enjoying each other's company. He was certainly a nice enough guy, easy to talk to. He had no problem talking about himself but actually cared enough to ask about her, too. It was certainly better than the dick pic she'd gotten from one guy or the offer for a threesome one girl wanted with her boyfriend.

It was so nice that Sutton didn't actually notice Abigail until she was walking near where they were eating outside. She didn't shrink into her seat or try to hide, not wanting to look suspicious, but Sutton couldn't help but hope that maybe Abigail didn't see them as she tried to focus on her date's conversation, laughing at all the right moments as he told a story about his internship serving people last summer.

@abigailxiang

[s-bradburiedalive]

.

It felt like a promise. It felt like a threat. They'd see each other later. Sutton felt anxiety in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't all bad anxiety, though. Don't get her wrong, she was utterly terrified of Abigail and of whatever happened next when they started whatever interrogation to begin figuring out what Sutton was. But she'd had a week and a few more weird circumstances to understand that she was... not completely human. She'd like to understand what was going on with her, even if it ended up being dangerous.

"See ya, Abigail," She said, lifting her hand in a little wave even though Abigail's back was already turned. She watched until Abigail was out of sight, feeling the tension she hadn't realize was still lingering between her shoulders.

Jason was watching Abigail, too, before he turned back to Sutton. "So, I know it's kind of early, but if you wanna maybe come back to my place, watch a--"

"It was really nice to meet you, Jason," Sutton said, smiling at him and patting his hand before she started gathering her things. "I have some stuff to work on for class tomorrow, though, unfortunately." It was as goon an excuse as any. She didn't really give him any time to respond, instead getting up to collect her card and head out.

On the way out the door, making sure to turn in the opposite direction of where Abigail was headed, even if it took a little longer, Sutton pulled out her phone, holding her finger over the dating app and pressing delete. Honestly, after the way this date went, she didn't want to attempt another.

. Abigail drummed her fingertips on the side of her paper cup before immediately quelling the motion. Xiangs did not fidget. Instead, she forced herself to focus on maintaining her rigid posture as Sutton spoke. Her lips pressed into a thin line at the creatures words. She knew that what it said was true, but it all only added to her confusion.

What kind of monster could make art? She would have to do some research as to what kind of art Sutton was making. Perhaps it was capable of stealing away another person's artistic talent, the way some Yaoguai were capable of draining life force and energy. Perhaps not as horrifying as sucking the life out of someone, but if the creature had stolen someone else's talent, that would need to be addressed.

She dipped her head in a brief nod at Sutton's thanks-- at least it had manners-- before rising from her seat. Even from here she could see that the waitress had her box of food in her hands and was waiting to print the bill at the check stand. Finally.

"I am." She replied to the rather slow boy, doing a cold once over of him. If Sutton was a human, she'd say that she could do better than this. But, as it stood, even he could do better than a monster. "I'll see you later, Sutton." Abigail said over her shoulder as she left the patio, eager to escape from the situation that she knew was entirely of her own making.

She hated retreating. But this was a... tactical withdrawal. Abigail paid for the bill and wrote out a generous tip in neat handwriting. Besides. It's not as though Abigail could kill Sutton now.

She still didn't know what she was.

[abigailxiang]

. Abigail drummed her fingertips on the side of her paper cup before immediately quelling the motion. Xiangs did not fidget. Instead, she forced herself to focus on maintaining her rigid posture as Sutton spoke. Her lips pressed into a thin line at the creatures words. She knew that what it said was true, but it all only added to her confusion.

What kind of monster could make art? She would have to do some research as to what kind of art Sutton was making. Perhaps it was capable of stealing away another person's artistic talent, the way some Yaoguai were capable of draining life force and energy. Perhaps not as horrifying as sucking the life out of someone, but if the creature had stolen someone else's talent, that would need to be addressed.

She dipped her head in a brief nod at Sutton's thanks-- at least it had manners-- before rising from her seat. Even from here she could see that the waitress had her box of food in her hands and was waiting to print the bill at the check stand. Finally.

"I am." She replied to the rather slow boy, doing a cold once over of him. If Sutton was a human, she'd say that she could do better than this. But, as it stood, even he could do better than a monster. "I'll see you later, Sutton." Abigail said over her shoulder as she left the patio, eager to escape from the situation that she knew was entirely of her own making.

She hated retreating. But this was a... tactical withdrawal. Abigail paid for the bill and wrote out a generous tip in neat handwriting. Besides. It's not as though Abigail could kill Sutton now.

She still didn't know what she was.

.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence," Sutton said, her teeth grinding together briefly. "I have made it pretty successfully in the art world for the last few years before I moved here." She turned to Jason and smiled, though she wasn't really talking to him. "Quite a few gallery shows in New York, a couple of trips to LA and San Fran and one to London. I lived in Brooklyn for a time before coming here."

And she didn't know why she was bragging. She didn't usually just straight up brag about shit. Sutton had been born lucky, she knew that, but she liked to think that she had a significant amount of talent. She just didn't brag. She posted about things, and she'd mention stuff in passing or write about it on applications, but this was more overt. Maybe she just wanted Abigail to see that she was someone with a life, a whole one, not just a made up one to keep the other woman from killing her.

Still, Sutton put up her hands. She was stubborn, but she wasn't stupid. She didn't want to push Abigail into sneaking back into her apartment in the middle of the night and slitting her throat because the big bad monster taunted her about money too many times. "Thank you. You don't have to, but thank you."

"Wait, so... who's paying," Jason asked.

[s-bradburiedalive]

.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence," Sutton said, her teeth grinding together briefly. "I have made it pretty successfully in the art world for the last few years before I moved here." She turned to Jason and smiled, though she wasn't really talking to him. "Quite a few gallery shows in New York, a couple of trips to LA and San Fran and one to London. I lived in Brooklyn for a time before coming here."

And she didn't know why she was bragging. She didn't usually just straight up brag about shit. Sutton had been born lucky, she knew that, but she liked to think that she had a significant amount of talent. She just didn't brag. She posted about things, and she'd mention stuff in passing or write about it on applications, but this was more overt. Maybe she just wanted Abigail to see that she was someone with a life, a whole one, not just a made up one to keep the other woman from killing her.

Still, Sutton put up her hands. She was stubborn, but she wasn't stupid. She didn't want to push Abigail into sneaking back into her apartment in the middle of the night and slitting her throat because the big bad monster taunted her about money too many times. "Thank you. You don't have to, but thank you."

"Wait, so... who's paying," Jason asked.

.

Flustered as she was, Abigail couldn't help but stiffen at the insult of having her card waved away. Bradbury money. Even if she wasn't actually a Bradbury, the Yaoguai had access to it. Delightful. Abigail was no stranger to people throwing their weight around financially-- trips back home had been like that, when her father and her uncles would loudly proclaim how successful their children were and throw their credit cards down like a winning hand of poker. She watched as Sutton leaned back, a smug smile on its face. Like a cat that got the cream.

Swallowing, she glanced back over at the waitress, who looked bemusedly from her, to Sutton, to the polo shirt boy. "Consider this a treat to a starving artist in training." She directed at Sutton, firmly extending her card to the waitress with a steely gaze. Abigail poured her coffee into the paper cup the waitress offered her and took a sip that nearly scalded her tongue. It burned, but far less than the embarrassment of all... this.

[abigailxiang]

.

Flustered as she was, Abigail couldn't help but stiffen at the insult of having her card waved away. Bradbury money. Even if she wasn't actually a Bradbury, the Yaoguai had access to it. Delightful. Abigail was no stranger to people throwing their weight around financially-- trips back home had been like that, when her father and her uncles would loudly proclaim how successful their children were and throw their credit cards down like a winning hand of poker. She watched as Sutton leaned back, a smug smile on its face. Like a cat that got the cream.

Swallowing, she glanced back over at the waitress, who looked bemusedly from her, to Sutton, to the polo shirt boy. "Consider this a treat to a starving artist in training." She directed at Sutton, firmly extending her card to the waitress with a steely gaze. Abigail poured her coffee into the paper cup the waitress offered her and took a sip that nearly scalded her tongue. It burned, but far less than the embarrassment of all... this.

.

It was almost amusing to watch Abigail. Almost enough to make Sutton forget the other woman had really, really wanted to kill her the week before. Not quite. The fear was still there, just below the surface, lingering. But it was almost easy to forget when Abigail stumbled over her words and had such a hard time looking Sutton in the eye. It was almost disappointing when Abigail decided she was going to go.

Sutton waved Abigail off, shaking her head. "Nonsense. They already have my card. I was paying for our food anyway. I've got yours, too. As a treat," she added, smiling almost lazily as she leaned back.

Jason, for his part, looked incredibly confused. "You're... paying? But I was gonna-- I was supposed to... Huh."

"It was my idea to meet here, of course I'm going to pay," Sutton said sweetly. Of course she was going to make sure she left this date not feeling like she owed some stranger another one, just in case things went wrong. They hadn't, for the record, at least not on his part, though Sutton didn't know if she wanted a repeat. She looked at Abigail. "Thank you, Abigail, for being such a lovely friend, but, really. I insist. It's no problem for me."

[s-bradburiedalive]

.

It was almost amusing to watch Abigail. Almost enough to make Sutton forget the other woman had really, really wanted to kill her the week before. Not quite. The fear was still there, just below the surface, lingering. But it was almost easy to forget when Abigail stumbled over her words and had such a hard time looking Sutton in the eye. It was almost disappointing when Abigail decided she was going to go.

Sutton waved Abigail off, shaking her head. "Nonsense. They already have my card. I was paying for our food anyway. I've got yours, too. As a treat," she added, smiling almost lazily as she leaned back.

Jason, for his part, looked incredibly confused. "You're... paying? But I was gonna-- I was supposed to... Huh."

"It was my idea to meet here, of course I'm going to pay," Sutton said sweetly. Of course she was going to make sure she left this date not feeling like she owed some stranger another one, just in case things went wrong. They hadn't, for the record, at least not on his part, though Sutton didn't know if she wanted a repeat. She looked at Abigail. "Thank you, Abigail, for being such a lovely friend, but, really. I insist. It's no problem for me."

.

"Not exes in the slightest." Abigail said to the man firmly. She glared in Sutton's general direction, though she found herself suddenly unable to look her in the eyes. It! It. She just didn't want to look over and see black eyes, or horns protruding from its skull. What kind of fairy even had those traits? She'd have to do more research, though she really didn't want to have to subject herself to another night in the bunker. All the more reason why her duty to the family was so important.

"Friends-- We," Abigail blustered before managing to flag down the waitress. "Hi, sorry. Something came up, can I get my order to go?" She glanced over her shoulder at the empty plates and half full coffee from before she had barged in. Hand slipping into her jacket pocket, her fingers grazed against her staff before closing around her wallet.

"As a friend, breakfast is on me." She said, holding her card out to the waitress, though her words were directed at Sutton.

[abigailxiang]

.

"Not exes in the slightest." Abigail said to the man firmly. She glared in Sutton's general direction, though she found herself suddenly unable to look her in the eyes. It! It. She just didn't want to look over and see black eyes, or horns protruding from its skull. What kind of fairy even had those traits? She'd have to do more research, though she really didn't want to have to subject herself to another night in the bunker. All the more reason why her duty to the family was so important.

"Friends-- We," Abigail blustered before managing to flag down the waitress. "Hi, sorry. Something came up, can I get my order to go?" She glanced over her shoulder at the empty plates and half full coffee from before she had barged in. Hand slipping into her jacket pocket, her fingers grazed against her staff before closing around her wallet.

"As a friend, breakfast is on me." She said, holding her card out to the waitress, though her words were directed at Sutton.

.

"My God, how in the world could I forget?" Sutton asked drily. "You did have other ways to get in touch, though." Like all of her social media. But, no, Abigail had taken the most direct path possible and simply broken into Sutton's apartment like that was the most normal thing in the world to do.

At least Sutton had gotten Abigail to crack first. Well, Jason did, but Sutton was still counting that as a win. "Harsh. Well, I can't be everyone's type. That just wouldn't be fair," she mused, leaning her head on her hand and her elbow on the table as she grinned.

"So... not exes?" Jason, apparently, had to make sure. Maybe Yale law school was breaking his brain. Or, perhaps, he was caught up on the fact that a potential near stranger was interrupting their date.

"Not exes," Sutton confirmed, though it was hardly necessary. "Since I'm not Abigail's type, and we're making that very clear. Just," she kept her eyes on Abigail, "friends."

[s-bradburiedalive]

.

"My God, how in the world could I forget?" Sutton asked drily. "You did have other ways to get in touch, though." Like all of her social media. But, no, Abigail had taken the most direct path possible and simply broken into Sutton's apartment like that was the most normal thing in the world to do.

At least Sutton had gotten Abigail to crack first. Well, Jason did, but Sutton was still counting that as a win. "Harsh. Well, I can't be everyone's type. That just wouldn't be fair," she mused, leaning her head on her hand and her elbow on the table as she grinned.

"So... not exes?" Jason, apparently, had to make sure. Maybe Yale law school was breaking his brain. Or, perhaps, he was caught up on the fact that a potential near stranger was interrupting their date.

"Not exes," Sutton confirmed, though it was hardly necessary. "Since I'm not Abigail's type, and we're making that very clear. Just," she kept her eyes on Abigail, "friends."

.

"For some reason, your phone wasn't working. Out of commission, it seemed." Abigail shot back. A little reminder to Sutton that while she wasn't in the business of killing it just yet, she could still make her presence very, very known. That was, in a way, why she was here now. Sitting at a table with a monster and a boy who wore boat shoes in March. Incredible.

Sutton's own description, while technically accurate, wasn't the truth in the slightest. Abigail's eyes narrowed. Could Sutton lie? It had been remarkably truthful the entire time she had interrogated it, though the staff to the face could have had something to do with that. But what if it couldn't lie? The Fair Folk, the fairies she'd read about last night, she had found that there was a mythology surrounding their inability to lie that only made them even better at spinning half-truths. Was Sutton some kind of fairy?

Jason's words caught her attention and she nearly spat her water out. "No, no. Absolutely not. I-- Sutton is not my type." For one thing, Sutton was a Yaoguai. Not a person. And Sutton also appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be an incredibly blonde woman. The blonde thing was bad enough, but Abigail was absolutely not-- no.

[abigailxiang]

.

"For some reason, your phone wasn't working. Out of commission, it seemed." Abigail shot back. A little reminder to Sutton that while she wasn't in the business of killing it just yet, she could still make her presence very, very known. That was, in a way, why she was here now. Sitting at a table with a monster and a boy who wore boat shoes in March. Incredible.

Sutton's own description, while technically accurate, wasn't the truth in the slightest. Abigail's eyes narrowed. Could Sutton lie? It had been remarkably truthful the entire time she had interrogated it, though the staff to the face could have had something to do with that. But what if it couldn't lie? The Fair Folk, the fairies she'd read about last night, she had found that there was a mythology surrounding their inability to lie that only made them even better at spinning half-truths. Was Sutton some kind of fairy?

Jason's words caught her attention and she nearly spat her water out. "No, no. Absolutely not. I-- Sutton is not my type." For one thing, Sutton was a Yaoguai. Not a person. And Sutton also appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be an incredibly blonde woman. The blonde thing was bad enough, but Abigail was absolutely not-- no.

.

"If you'd called, we probably could have worked through things easier!" Sutton gave Abigail a smile. "I know you have my number. I would've let you right on in if you'd asked." Probably not. Between the alley and the fucking fact that Abigail had contacted her through her own phone, Sutton probably would have slammed the door in Abigail's face as fast as she could to hopefully make sure she didn't try and kill her again.

Insisting was a bit of a stretch, but keeping Abigail around was probably for the best. She wasn't going to kill Sutton with Jason around. Sutton pondered, for a moment, if maybe she could just carry Jason around with her as a pretty, if a little boring, accessory, her hand around his wrist, using him as a reason for Abigail to not kill her. That wouldn't be fair, though, would it? She looked over at him, his perfectly clueless face, and she could practically see the gears turning in his head. He'd never reach the truth. That was probably a good thing.

She raised an eyebrow. Was Abigail being playful? That didn't seem like the right word. The no-nonsense woman that scared her nearly to death didn't seem like she knew how to play. But Sutton most certainly did, and the ball was in her court. "I mean, we've been really close, yeah." She was thinking about a fucking metal staff through the head kind of close. "I can safely say it was one of the... craziest nights of my life, wouldn't you agree, Abigail? I think we both learned a lot of new things about each other."

Jason leaned back in his seat, nodding like he'd uncovered the secrets of the universe. "Exes, gotcha."

[s-bradburiedalive]

.

"If you'd called, we probably could have worked through things easier!" Sutton gave Abigail a smile. "I know you have my number. I would've let you right on in if you'd asked." Probably not. Between the alley and the fucking fact that Abigail had contacted her through her own phone, Sutton probably would have slammed the door in Abigail's face as fast as she could to hopefully make sure she didn't try and kill her again.

Insisting was a bit of a stretch, but keeping Abigail around was probably for the best. She wasn't going to kill Sutton with Jason around. Sutton pondered, for a moment, if maybe she could just carry Jason around with her as a pretty, if a little boring, accessory, her hand around his wrist, using him as a reason for Abigail to not kill her. That wouldn't be fair, though, would it? She looked over at him, his perfectly clueless face, and she could practically see the gears turning in his head. He'd never reach the truth. That was probably a good thing.

She raised an eyebrow. Was Abigail being playful? That didn't seem like the right word. The no-nonsense woman that scared her nearly to death didn't seem like she knew how to play. But Sutton most certainly did, and the ball was in her court. "I mean, we've been really close, yeah." She was thinking about a fucking metal staff through the head kind of close. "I can safely say it was one of the... craziest nights of my life, wouldn't you agree, Abigail? I think we both learned a lot of new things about each other."

Jason leaned back in his seat, nodding like he'd uncovered the secrets of the universe. "Exes, gotcha."

.

Abigail settled down at the table, crossing her legs primly. She cast a sidelong glance at Sutton. Self-care. That's how it was choosing to describe what had happened, when it had sprouted horns and then fallen through the refrigerator. "I hadn't realized I would be interrupting anything when I stopped by. You know, what with your active social life and all." She replied evenly.

"Well, if you insist." Abigail said. She hadn't intended on being invited to breakfast at all. She had intended to remind Sutton that she was watching and that even if neither one of them knew what manner of creature Sutton was, that didn't mean she wasn't willing to act if she needed to. But, the last meal she'd had was an MRE at 11 pm last night in the bunker and she wasn't going to let the opportunity to grab a bite pass her. Plus, coffee. Coffee sounded excellent right about now. When the waitress stopped by with a pitcher of water and a menu, Abigail ordered an avocado toast and an Americano, no cream or sugar.

"In a manner of speaking, I suppose." Abigail replied to the man over the rim of her water glass. "Sutton, how would you describe how we met?"

[abigailxiang]

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Abigail settled down at the table, crossing her legs primly. She cast a sidelong glance at Sutton. Self-care. That's how it was choosing to describe what had happened, when it had sprouted horns and then fallen through the refrigerator. "I hadn't realized I would be interrupting anything when I stopped by. You know, what with your active social life and all." She replied evenly.

"Well, if you insist." Abigail said. She hadn't intended on being invited to breakfast at all. She had intended to remind Sutton that she was watching and that even if neither one of them knew what manner of creature Sutton was, that didn't mean she wasn't willing to act if she needed to. But, the last meal she'd had was an MRE at 11 pm last night in the bunker and she wasn't going to let the opportunity to grab a bite pass her. Plus, coffee. Coffee sounded excellent right about now. When the waitress stopped by with a pitcher of water and a menu, Abigail ordered an avocado toast and an Americano, no cream or sugar.

"In a manner of speaking, I suppose." Abigail replied to the man over the rim of her water glass. "Sutton, how would you describe how we met?"

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"Much appreciated," Sutton said drily, just barely managing to keep herself from rolling her eyes. Of course Abigail, who could break into someone's house and just be completely casual about it, could be so calm and collected even now.

Her smile became more of a baring of teeth at Abigail's next remark. She could feel one of the blood vessels in her right eye popping, and she needed to take a moment, just a moment, to collect herself, so she took a sip of her coffee, just a little too sweet for her but he'd paid and fixed it, so she wasn't going to turn it down, even though it'd gotten cool. "Everyone needs to have one night a week that they take for themselves," she said, her voice just as even and cool. "It's called self-care, even though you interrupted my last night in."

Eyes narrowing for a moment as Abigail stared at her, Sutton felt her back straighten as the other woman agreed to sit with them. God, she hated being wrong, but at least she knew Abigail wasn't going to hurt her in public. Small mercies. She "We've already eaten, but I'm sure we can get someone to bring you a menu, too, if you'd like. It's real nice to be able to sit down and have a chat. You didn't have time when you came over the other day."

"Oh, are you two close?" Jason (he was still there. How nice.) asked, his eyes still going back and forth between them before he looked to their waitress and asked her for a refill on coffee and a menu to be brought to the table.

[s-bradburiedalive]

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"Much appreciated," Sutton said drily, just barely managing to keep herself from rolling her eyes. Of course Abigail, who could break into someone's house and just be completely casual about it, could be so calm and collected even now.

Her smile became more of a baring of teeth at Abigail's next remark. She could feel one of the blood vessels in her right eye popping, and she needed to take a moment, just a moment, to collect herself, so she took a sip of her coffee, just a little too sweet for her but he'd paid and fixed it, so she wasn't going to turn it down, even though it'd gotten cool. "Everyone needs to have one night a week that they take for themselves," she said, her voice just as even and cool. "It's called self-care, even though you interrupted my last night in."

Eyes narrowing for a moment as Abigail stared at her, Sutton felt her back straighten as the other woman agreed to sit with them. God, she hated being wrong, but at least she knew Abigail wasn't going to hurt her in public. Small mercies. She "We've already eaten, but I'm sure we can get someone to bring you a menu, too, if you'd like. It's real nice to be able to sit down and have a chat. You didn't have time when you came over the other day."

"Oh, are you two close?" Jason (he was still there. How nice.) asked, his eyes still going back and forth between them before he looked to their waitress and asked her for a refill on coffee and a menu to be brought to the table.

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Abigail shrugged, "You're your own person, you can do as you please." She said, making a point of saying person. Because Sutton was not, in fact, a person. It was a monster masquerading in human skin and just because it didn't have a propensity for eating people or attacking them now that didn't mean it would stay that way. Plenty of spirits only manifested when something triggered the change. That could be what happened with Sutton.

"Is that what you're calling wine nights alone with your cat?" Abigail replied evenly. Oh, she had done a deep dive of Sutton's socials, she knew all about the sorority sisters Sutton posed with, the smiling spring break photos, and the tech galas where the creature was posed with the Bradbury's. And Abigail had noted the absence in the historic trend of consistent posts and uploads over the course of the past several months.

The man said something, she didn't really register what. She kept her eyes locked with Sutton's, daring the Yaoguai to do something. Abigial was watching it. She would continue to watch it until she could figure out just what it was. "That would be lovely." She said, pushing through the swinging entry gate to the restaurant's outdoor patio.

Sutton was all saccharine sweetness and Southern hospitality. But Abigail could play that game.

[abigailxiang]

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Abigail shrugged, "You're your own person, you can do as you please." She said, making a point of saying person. Because Sutton was not, in fact, a person. It was a monster masquerading in human skin and just because it didn't have a propensity for eating people or attacking them now that didn't mean it would stay that way. Plenty of spirits only manifested when something triggered the change. That could be what happened with Sutton.

"Is that what you're calling wine nights alone with your cat?" Abigail replied evenly. Oh, she had done a deep dive of Sutton's socials, she knew all about the sorority sisters Sutton posed with, the smiling spring break photos, and the tech galas where the creature was posed with the Bradbury's. And Abigail had noted the absence in the historic trend of consistent posts and uploads over the course of the past several months.

The man said something, she didn't really register what. She kept her eyes locked with Sutton's, daring the Yaoguai to do something. Abigial was watching it. She would continue to watch it until she could figure out just what it was. "That would be lovely." She said, pushing through the swinging entry gate to the restaurant's outdoor patio.

Sutton was all saccharine sweetness and Southern hospitality. But Abigail could play that game.

.

Sutton raised an eyebrow, feeling the muscles in her jaw twitch. Was that a threat? Was she being threatened? How was she supposed to react to a threat? She'd assumed that she and Abigail had parted on... if not great terms, then at least less murder-y ones. Her smiled stayed in place, though. "I didn't know I wasn't allowed to go out," she said, her voice soft and sweet.

She wasn't going to be putting her life on hold just because of a few minor, insignificant, and easily controllable side effects. So she walked through walls sometimes. So she had horns on occasion. So what? She was still a fully functioning member of society, and that meant that, Abigail, if she wanted to go out on a fucking date, then she could go out on a fucking date.

The laugh she let out next was much louder, sharper. "I have a very active social life. I figured you knew that." You know, since you went through my phone? "I'm not going to stop enjoying my life just because of one little hiccup."

"Uh," her date, and she remembered his name was Jason, of all things, pulled at the collar of his polo. "Would you... like a coffee?" he asked Abigail, looking like he wanted her to say no.

"Oh, please, Abigail, won't you join us?" Sutton said, fluttering her eyelashes. She didn't think the other woman had the stomach to join them, not if she thought that Sutton was such a monster.

[s-bradburiedalive]

.

Sutton raised an eyebrow, feeling the muscles in her jaw twitch. Was that a threat? Was she being threatened? How was she supposed to react to a threat? She'd assumed that she and Abigail had parted on... if not great terms, then at least less murder-y ones. Her smiled stayed in place, though. "I didn't know I wasn't allowed to go out," she said, her voice soft and sweet.

She wasn't going to be putting her life on hold just because of a few minor, insignificant, and easily controllable side effects. So she walked through walls sometimes. So she had horns on occasion. So what? She was still a fully functioning member of society, and that meant that, Abigail, if she wanted to go out on a fucking date, then she could go out on a fucking date.

The laugh she let out next was much louder, sharper. "I have a very active social life. I figured you knew that." You know, since you went through my phone? "I'm not going to stop enjoying my life just because of one little hiccup."

"Uh," her date, and she remembered his name was Jason, of all things, pulled at the collar of his polo. "Would you... like a coffee?" he asked Abigail, looking like he wanted her to say no.

"Oh, please, Abigail, won't you join us?" Sutton said, fluttering her eyelashes. She didn't think the other woman had the stomach to join them, not if she thought that Sutton was such a monster.

.

Abigail's eyes remained laser focused on Sutton, taking in the creature's form. No horns, perfectly solid, no black eyes. That much was good. But it was out, in public. During the day-- so vampire was straight out-- with a random man who seemed... Abigail sized him up with a cold, analytical gaze. He seemed entirely human. No strange mannerisms, just a penchant for a bit too much cologne than should be appropriate for a morning brunch get together.

She returned her focus back to Sutton, arms folding across each other. She didn't dare put her hands in her pockets, lest her training instincts kick in and she whip the staff out. Abigail didn't want to cause a scene. But she couldn't ignore a potential threat to humanity just... sitting there. Drinking coffee. Listening to a man in, in boat shoes talk about some innocuous drivel.

"I'm surprised that you're going out now. Last time we met, I didn't think you had it in you." She said coolly. Why are you out here and why aren't you the least bit concerned about being around actual people?

[abigailxiang]

.

Abigail's eyes remained laser focused on Sutton, taking in the creature's form. No horns, perfectly solid, no black eyes. That much was good. But it was out, in public. During the day-- so vampire was straight out-- with a random man who seemed... Abigail sized him up with a cold, analytical gaze. He seemed entirely human. No strange mannerisms, just a penchant for a bit too much cologne than should be appropriate for a morning brunch get together.

She returned her focus back to Sutton, arms folding across each other. She didn't dare put her hands in her pockets, lest her training instincts kick in and she whip the staff out. Abigail didn't want to cause a scene. But she couldn't ignore a potential threat to humanity just... sitting there. Drinking coffee. Listening to a man in, in boat shoes talk about some innocuous drivel.

"I'm surprised that you're going out now. Last time we met, I didn't think you had it in you." She said coolly. Why are you out here and why aren't you the least bit concerned about being around actual people?

.

Sutton didn't know if she should or shouldn't be surprised that Abigail had actually approached her in public. But, then again, this was the woman that attacked her in an alley and then broke into her apartment. Nothing should be surprising at this point.

It was important, in that moment, to not seem afraid. Sutton was afraid, of course. Her heart rate had increased, though it was still beating properly, and the world around her seemed to be more focused on her immediate vicinity. Things had been louder in the last few days, colors sharper, but everything was narrowed down to what was right in front of her. Which, as she looked up, was Abigail.

"Hello, Abigail," Sutton said, her face training itself into an easy, if practiced smile. If she could control her fear, it wouldn't overwhelm her. It wouldn't make her look like a monster. The last thing Sutton needed in her life was to sprout horns or black eyes or fall through a table at a popular restaurant. A crowded, popular restaurant. Sutton actually relaxed, realizing she had the upper hand: there was no way Abigail was going to kill her in front of all of these people, if she decided she didn't want to work with Sutton anymore on some sort of whim.

Sutton gave a small laugh. "Small world, huh? I mean, it's not that big of a town, you know. We were bound to run into each other eventually."

Her date, for his part, looked between them, his held tilted to the side a bit like a confused puppy. Sutton saw him out of the corner of her eye, but she couldn't quite bring herself to look away from Abigail, waiting to see what she'd do. She could decide what to explain to him once the danger was passed.

[s-bradburiedalive]

.

Sutton didn't know if she should or shouldn't be surprised that Abigail had actually approached her in public. But, then again, this was the woman that attacked her in an alley and then broke into her apartment. Nothing should be surprising at this point.

It was important, in that moment, to not seem afraid. Sutton was afraid, of course. Her heart rate had increased, though it was still beating properly, and the world around her seemed to be more focused on her immediate vicinity. Things had been louder in the last few days, colors sharper, but everything was narrowed down to what was right in front of her. Which, as she looked up, was Abigail.

"Hello, Abigail," Sutton said, her face training itself into an easy, if practiced smile. If she could control her fear, it wouldn't overwhelm her. It wouldn't make her look like a monster. The last thing Sutton needed in her life was to sprout horns or black eyes or fall through a table at a popular restaurant. A crowded, popular restaurant. Sutton actually relaxed, realizing she had the upper hand: there was no way Abigail was going to kill her in front of all of these people, if she decided she didn't want to work with Sutton anymore on some sort of whim.

Sutton gave a small laugh. "Small world, huh? I mean, it's not that big of a town, you know. We were bound to run into each other eventually."

Her date, for his part, looked between them, his held tilted to the side a bit like a confused puppy. Sutton saw him out of the corner of her eye, but she couldn't quite bring herself to look away from Abigail, waiting to see what she'd do. She could decide what to explain to him once the danger was passed.

.

A week. Seven nights spent poring over the records, sending gently probing messages to families the Xiangs could trust, compiling data from Western folklore in an attempt to cross categorize anything in her families own scrolls and ancient scripts. And what had it gotten Abigail? Sleep deprivation, a caffeine headache, and absolutely nothing in the way of substantive answers.

None of the other families had heard of anything even remotely resembling a human yaoguai, nothing sentient at least. Rotting corpses that could snap you like a twig and spirits that possessed an actual human, yes, those were all common enough. But Sutton hadn't been either of those-- the talisman would have proved that. No, the talisman had done nothing to reveal the precise nature of the strange creature.

Abigail's foray into western folklore hadn't yielded much either. Nothing she read about had been remotely close to covering what she had witnessed. Fauns, if they existed, were sentient and had horns, but they also had the lower half of a goat and Abigail's prior experience with what she now knew as an Empousa told her Sutton was definitely not one of those. They also couldn't slip through walls or go transparent either.

And vampire seemed mostly out, though Abigail hadn't seen Sutton in the day time. But that particular affliction would require Sutton to actively be hunting people and drinking their blood. Abigail seriously doubted a competent bloodsucker would have gotten stuck in a plastic crate on a bad encounter. And again. The intangibility didn't add up.

Abigail yawned, her glasses slipping down the bridge of her nose as she rubbed the creases of her eyes. She had spent the past two nights sleeping on the folding cot she kept in the family archives. The bunker wasn't intended as anything other than a repository of information, a safe place for the Xiang family legacy to be stored. Which meant she had woken up this morning in a chilly, climate controlled room surrounded by specimen jars and ancient texts. Her bed had never sounded so appealing.

As Abigail made her way towards her apartment, her gaze drifted to the shops and restaurants that flanked either side of the street. She briefly debated picking something up from one of the shops for a late breakfast-- when she became suddenly, sharply awake.

Because sitting outside one of the restaurants, across from a very generic looking man and laughing at something he had said, was Sutton.

Abigail reined in the urge to go for the staff in her pocket-- it was too public, too open. And the man was too close. And he was... talking animatedly to Sutton, leaning in and using his hands to embellish his words. Abigail's eyes widened. Was she-- It-- on a date? With a human? With a normal, if a bit boring looking, man?

Lips pressing together into a thin line, Abigail strode towards the restaurant and paused at the metal railing of the outdoor seating area. "Sutton. Imagine seeing you here." She said stiffly, ignoring the man. He was in danger-- how much, she didn't know. But, she had to step in.