as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[braveandstupid]

I don't know. Something about this just feels off.

[But she won't say that they don't have bigger priorities at the moment.]

But I have no idea where to go next, so if you want to stay on the road, we should go.

[shreds]

No, you've hooked me. If anything, getting on the good side of another hunter won't be a waste.

( If she's not after them. )

It sounds like we don't actually know anything, so I think we should go back to the source.

[braveandstupid]

I also want to figure out if Natalie's actually still here.

[She taps a finger against her arm.]

Do you think one of us could get her room number out of the guy at the front desk?

[shreds]

I think one us could do it.

( One is more suited, the one in the heels. )

How about I see if I can wake up our receptionist and you pay Natalie or Nadia ( whatever her name is. ) a morning visit. Maybe she has more information she doesn't know she has. Having the same mother stay here at different times is a big coincidence. Maybe there are others. Like, where are her parents?

[braveandstupid]

[She nods in agreement.]

Sounds good. Text me if you manage to find anything.

[And she will venture out the vending machine, trying to see if Nadia happens to be out and about (18).]

[tramplemain]

( Intrigued enough, Katherine is on bored, heading down the stairs. There is no recreation of vending machine desperation, but with an 18 she at least remembers which door is Natalie's. )

[braveandstupid]

[She nods briefly, trying to figure out if she wants to be that direct, before making her way over and knocking on the door.]

jesus, katherine is on BOARD. sigh

[tramplemain]

( A brief second passes before a newly washed up, and much more put together Nadia answers the door. )

Elena, right? Good morning.

( "Who's that," the man behind her asks, pulling a sweatshirt over his head. )

It's a woman I met outside last night. I told you about her. She fixed the coffee machine.

( "Oh, right," he says, coming forward as she opens the door wider. "Phil." he introduces himself. "Do you want anything else?"

"No, just the hash browns. I'm not too hungry this morning, thanks," she replies. He kisses her cheek and moves by the two young women, bounding down the stairs.

"Sorry, come in," she says, opening the door wider." )

[braveandstupid]

[Elena nods as she makes her way inside, glancing over at Phil as he makes his way out, before turning back to Nadia.]

I won't bother you much but I just wanted to check in. See if you heard from your sister?

[tramplemain]

Not one word. Weeks of back and forth and now nothing. Maybe she just chickened out.

( Maybe she just doesn't want to meet her. )

[braveandstupid]

Maybe. I'm sorry if she did. The least she could have done is let you know.

[It's just rude, honestly. At least if something went wrong, it means Natalie would have still intended to meet her.]

Are you two heading out after breakfast?

[tramplemain]

Believe it or not, he convinced me to stay one more day. Hope she gets over whatever it is she's -- under.

( It probably doesn't feel like this is emotionally the best decision for her, especially with how she conveys it, but, maybe it's hope that can't be broken. )

[braveandstupid]

Really?

[Yeah, she's picking up on that, and while she didn't get a good read on the boyfriend, she's starting to wonder about his role in things. But instead, she'll stay focused on Nadia's feelings.]

Is that what you want?

[tramplemain]

I want my sister. I felt untethered so long. Like - really adrift, and then I met Phil and Natalie found me... It felt like it was all meant to be. Letting her go, giving up, it feels like defeat. And I felt defeated. I don't want to feel defeated again.

( She wants progress. )

[braveandstupid]

[She nods because she can understand that feeling too. She did her fair share of drifting, trying to figure out how to put meaning back in a life that had been filled of so much trauma. She found her way and she's sure that Nadia will too.]

Okay. But ... if there's anything I've learned, it's that no matter how hard you try to hold on to someone, you can't keep them with you if they don't want to be there. Eventually, at some point, you're going to have to find your own anchors.

[But she won't try to push. She just reaches for her arm and gives it a soft squeeze.]

For what it's worth, though, I hope she shows.

[tramplemain]

( What's an anchor when you've felt like you lost yours after your mother died. )

Thanks, Elena. Are you and your sister heading out?

[braveandstupid]

We haven't decided yet. Our destination is a little up in the air, so we're going to talk about it over breakfast.

[No decisions should be made before coffee, clearly. This is also kind of a lie, but it'll give them some wiggle room.]

[tramplemain]

Then I guess we'll be seeing each other if you're going across the street.

( And just like that, a smile returns, too. Friendly. Delicate. Only slightly tear stained cheeks puff out. )

Well, I should...

[braveandstupid]

Yeah, no problem.

[She points down the hall.]

If we don't leave, we're not too far. Knock on my door if you need anything, okay?

[shreds]

( She nods, letting Elena and then herself out of her room, pocket book in hand. She heads the opposite way down the far stairs, probably toward Phil, as Elena can see Katherine leaving the front lobby, the door slamming behind her with the ring of a bell. )

[braveandstupid]

[Elena hangs back and then makes her way down to meet Katherine half-way, hanging back towards the stairs.]

Anything?

[shreds]

He recognized her picture, but not her name. He doesn't remember the name she gave, but it didn't start with the letter 'N.' There is an old photo behind the desk from years ago, staff and family of staff. Nadia's last name matches the last name of one of the women. ( It's not hard to charm a seventeen year old. ) She looked like she was a maid. Obviously, 4/20 in there doesn't remember staff from thirty years ago.

( She rests a hand on the railing, propping one foot up. )

Nadia isn't lying about her mother being here, but we don't have a connection between them past that. Or, a trail.

( She holds up a key dangling from her finger. )

But Not-Natalie hasn't checked out.

[braveandstupid]

[She takes in that information, nodding as the pieces of Nadia's story fall into place. At least they seem to be on the right track. In fact, her eyebrows go up a bit, pleased that they have a step in the right direction.]

Maybe we should go check on her.

[shreds]

That front desk jockey did give us the wrong key the first time.

( Who's to say he hasn't this time?

The assigned room is down below, underneath them, down one of the halls and located in the middle courtyard area. Until now, she and Elena have only been around the front. It's a nice place if it didn't wreak of foreboding danger.

Katherine holds the key out to Elena. )

Between the two of us, you'll garner more sympathy for our "mix-up."

[braveandstupid]

[Elena nods as she takes it, before following the number down to the door in question. Glancing around to make sure they're alone, she presses her ear to the door briefly to listen in (6). Not very well, with her lame human hearing, but assuming she doesn't hear anything, she'll try her key in the door.]