D A Y 10

[founds]

CHAPTER 2

NOV 9TH | 38℉☀

▸ Stampede down in Blackwell's Piggly Wiggly last night resulting in 3 injuries and at least 7 lawsuits! Witnesses claim that people were fighting over supplies for the evening's storm, namely canned goods and water.

▸ Blackwell Fire Department is astonished as one man tried to light a fire this seasons tepid windiest weather! The BFD would like to remind citizens that starting fires is illegal throughout the entire region and should only be done in designated camping fire pits.

▸ The search continues for the missing children. Officials have confirmed that the body is not associated with any high profile missing persons.

▸ Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Comments

Blackwell early morning

[secretagents]

[ jesus christ. ]

[ Jacob switched off the radio he had on for his breakfast and threw the unfinished toast in the trash before grabbing the cigarette pack. he was rarely hungry these days, but laying out the breakfast was a habit he couldn't break. usually he just nibbled at the bread before throwing it away. the eggs and the yoghurt he didn't even touch. he just set them on the table and then back to the fridge. maybe Petre would eat them later. ]

[ dressed in a bathrobe and an unlit cigarette between his lips he walked out of the door to go check the mail even though it was way too early for it to have arrived. he glanced around before opening the mailbox. ]

[embroil]

[ he's coming home from a late shift at bwi in his car and stops in front of jacob's house just as he comes out to check his mailbox. he doesn't know him that well other than the occasional drink here and there. he rolls down the window and leans his head and arm out, showing a hand in hello ]

Hey, Jacob. What's up?

[secretagents]

[ shoves the mailbox door shut immediately when he hears the approaching car. he turns around somewhat alarmed and looks at the vehicle he doesn't even recognize before a light bulb appears over his head. ah. ]

Dialing 911 for a heart attack at this rate.

[embroil]

[ ah, yeah. he's such a weirdo, he almost forgot how jumpy he was since he hasn't been out with him. because he's a weirdo. trent stares at him for a moment and drums his finger on his car door ]

Waiting for the IRS or some shit?

[secretagents]

[ he's usually calmer when he's suffering from a hangover. he sets his hand on the mailbox as if he's going to lean on it but then lets his hand drop. it happens too soon for it to appear casual. there's clearly something about the mailbox that has set him on the edge. ]

They came last week. Did you stop to ask for directions?

Blackwell early morning

[shinshia]

[ she locked the front door behind herself and tested if it was really properly shut twice before heading down the street to the bus stop. ]

[ at some point she stopped and turned to look back at her apartment as if to make sure if it was really still there and then hurried on. as she passed by some kids playing on the street the look on her face became so sour it seemed like she had just smelled vomit. ]

blackwell local library, between the hours of 2 and 5

[weiners]

[ the blackwell library was small, but it was a place to start before she attempted the elkins-randolph county library (and the university's library-- both of which she wanted to avoid for as long as she could). darla claimed a small table at the corner of the building, a stack of books placed neatly beside her open laptop. a cheap notebook sat in front of her, a few drawings and words circled on the first page.

for now, darla was skimming one of the large books she had taken from the shelves, leaning back in her wooden chair. there wasn't much for the blackwell library to offer, honestly, but she had found a few books dealing with semiotics (and others that she hoped could offer some insight but mostly ended up duds). her pen was stuck between her teeth, chewing on the cap as she aimlessly flipped through pages.

and this is where she'll stay--unless someone screws it up--until the library closes its doors at 5 pm. ]

jones garage

[overworn]

[ this was ridiculous. ]

[ adrian only went to garages if she really had to, knowing her own way around a car well enough to negate the need or a mechanic to tell her 10 more things wrong with her car that wasn't actually wrong. but when she got a flat tire, she had little choice but to pull her car in and get a new one put on. she could have argued that she could do it herself and taken the tire, but instead she opted not to. sitting boredly in the desk shop watching paint peel. she hears someone come in from the back, but doesn't look to see who it was

How much longer is this going to take? [ she could have changed all her tires by now ]

[uhmurkin]

[ you can't hurry art lady. ]

[ or someone who wasn't even there. his little brother Bubba took the job but since he wasn't capable of doing it himself, they don't actually trust him to do other than accept orders, she had to wait for him to get Earl there. now he slides into the shop unnoticed through the backdoor, acting like he was there the whole time working on the car. he rolls up his sleeves when he hears the customer raise her voice. ]

Tammy Ward's husband has a car for hire if you're real busy.

[overworn]

I might be, but I'd rather stay here and make sure you don't take the liberties to doing something with my car I never asked for. [ she knew the game, her father was a pro at racking up charges back in the day. it put food on their table, but it doesn't make it right. ]

[uhmurkin]

I ain't gonna mess with the police, lady. The FBI even less.

[ holds up his hands so that she can probably see them from the other end of the shop. he might have tried to pull something but clearly it's not worth the try. he can tell she'd give their shop a hell. ]

Any sign from those kids yet? My brother Moses knew them. Said they were alright. Can't imagine they would have done something to deserve this.

[ chooses the right kind of tire and rolls it to the side of the car. yes he's going to bring up his family all the time no matter what the subject. ]

[overworn]

They're children, they never deserved this. [ she doesn't like that choice of words. ]

Seems like we've checked all places but one. [ but she's about to drag them there by the ears if it means anything ]

coffee shop in blackwell, mid-morning

[ex_typea255]

[making a day trip out to the bwi offices, but stops to get herself coffee on the way. as promised she's kept her hands and feet to herself regarding the ex who shall not be named, which has made for a less than optimal amount of drama in her life the last few days. well, business first, then she'll do something about her drama-less existence.]

[leans against the bar and snaps her fingers at the baristas to get their attention when enough time has passed that she can deem it late and demand to get a free drink for their ineptitude. man you don't stay rich shelling out $5 for a coffee every day.]

[avers]

[ he's sitting at the counter when she walks in and recognizes from harry's bar. for a moment, he doesn't entertain the thought of giving a shit, but eventually he does lean his elbows on the counter and turns his head to her so she doesn't mistake him talking to someone else ]

Coffee's better on Elkins. [ he says matter-of-factly as he takes a sip of his own drink, while breaking a piece of his donut with his fingers. ] It ain't even worth free.

[ex_typea255]

Of course it is. Everything is better in the city.

[that's using the definition of city loosely but her point stands. she shuffles an innocent bystander out of her way by scooting them aside with her purse. fuck off, thanks.]

Business or play? [smiles shittily as she receives her coffee over the counter. her begrugdingly free coffee. it's a trick question because there's no reason to play out here in the Boonies unless it's in harry's basement and neither of them happen to be there so that's out.]

[avers]

[ it's a city. it's a city in west virginia, at least. which all things considered, it probably isn't by noah's standards but he's not going to be the one to amuse that thought. oliver grabs a napkin and wipes his fingers and mouth before turning to her ]

It ain't pleasure for sure, ma'am. [ the title is more out of habit than any remote sign of politeness. he takes another sip of his coffee and tilts his chin to her ]

I reckon you ain't here for play either. Got a meetin'?

outside her house, 2 pm

[prizewinner]

[ with the storm, came damage to her fence. with the damage, came her horses escaping.

they didn't go far--thanksfully, but it was enough of a problem that she couldn't get to her fence until now. which is what she's doing around the perimeter of her large back yard, fixing the fence. isn't that exciting? her hair is pulled back into a bun and she's wearing her torn jeans she doesn't care about as she hammers about.

ah, sundays. ]

[bluecode]

[he comes bearing a case of beer and lunch, texted beforehand but didn't wait for a reply to drop in. although he's born and raised around here he's never been within spitting distance of a horse except for when she has him out, so he's not much use to her in that regard, but figured he could check in after the storm. it's the neighborly thing to do. he parks the car by her porch and walks around back where the echoes of hammering are sounding from, leans against a post and dangles a beer near her]

Need a hand? [you look like you could use a break. from all that hammering.]

[prizewinner]

Oh hell yeah.

[ and down goes the hammer. the horses aren't going anywhere, the rest of the fence can wait. clearly. she's looking at the beer like it's the cure for cancer, reaching forward to relieve adam of it. and it's open. and some of the sweet, sweet liquid is now sliding down her throat as she rises from her awkward crouching position. ]

You know exactly what a girl wants.

[ the irony of this statement is not lost on her. ]

[bluecode]

[gives her a you're so hilarious look before popping the top of another bottle on the edge of the fence and joining her in this useless boozing]

Peace offering. I know I haven't been easy to deal with lately. [what with the last time they spoke involving a lot of don't tell me what to doooooooo-ing]

Blackwell afternoon

[eternalboy]

[ turns out he pulled an allnighter. at first he stayed late to work, then Izzy came over and then the storm got so bad he didn't leave the office. ]

[ it's not until the afternoon that he's making his way back to Blackwell and home. his mood has been greatly improved by what happened last night so he appears to be whistling as he parks his bike and looks around his pockets for his key. ]

[brabble]

[ on the opposite end you have sophie that hasn't been sleeping much lately, so she used this day off to sleep in until very late, have an unhealthy dose of sugary cereal for breakfast and only had gotten dressed moments earlier to go around blackwell and photograph for leisure pleasure, which is when she spots ben parking his bike. he looks good and so does the motorcycle, so she snaps a couple of pictures shamelessly and takes a look at them before walking up to him ]

How's work going, detective? [ she asks, casually walking up to him with a beanie deep down her blonde head ]

[eternalboy]

[ if he had noticed her earlier he would have posed for her. ]

Fine. We might find them any day now.

[ as if. he has confidence in himself though. ]

And you? Need a hand with something?

[brabble]

[ she knows, but posing pictures seldom look as good as the natural, caught off-guard ones. they're much better and more authentic and aesthetically pleasant. not that ben isn't a pretty face - at least izzy's taste is consistent.

she arches her eyebrows, showing her scepticism ] I'm sure you will. [ to be fair, elkins police work has never impressed anyone ]

No. Day off. Just doing it for the thrill. [ she holds up her camera and then stands there in awkward silence before she squints. ] So... [ ssssooooo. ] Late night?

[ izzy. izzy pls. ]

black lodge, evening some time idk

[singlestrand]

[ ah, sundays at bars were always her favorite. they were pretty dead-- which meant the likelihood of someone bothering her was slim. she smelled a bit like fries and burgers (the sunday special at chew) but was slowly finding her happy place in her lime daiquiris. heaven.

isabella had a book pulled out at her table she claimed, occasionally taking another sip of alcohol. it wasn't anything she intended to remember later, so don't ask her about the content. ]