(Before the AU plot)

She grabbed two crystal wine glasses out of the cupboard above the breakfast bar in her kitchen, and then placed them on the granite top of the bar. "It's very nice of you to bring a housewarming gift." She said to the brunette who was preparing to open the bottle of wine. "I'm glad you called earlier." Kathleen's face brighten with a smile. Her mood having greatly improved since the weeks after redecorating her apartment.

Gripping the cork screw, the witch tugged roughly and the cork was free with a pop, the fruity fragrance of the wine wafted up to meet her. "I have my good qualities." Lips curled, an almost wry grin worked its way over her features. Yes, she had her good qualities, buried under many of her bad ones. Moving forward, Purity poured liberal amounts of the red liquid into each glass before setting the bottle down. Her hand found its way onto the granite surface. Smooth and cool as her palm brushed over it. "I'm glad you picked up." The witch fired back, her words teasing as she lifted an eyebrow. "Should we toast to anything?"

Kathleen was glad as well that she answered the call. She held up her glass by the stem, "Mmm yes," she nodded. "To warm days and beautiful clear skies," she toasted. Some how the mention of her promotion to a major did not seem appropriate on that moment. She lean forward with her glass and clinked it against Purity's glass.

With her eyes focused on Purity dark green eyes as she brought her glass to her lips and slowly sipped her wine. She allowed herself to enjoy the taste of the fruity softness of the drink. It must have been more pricey than the average wine on the market, but Kathleen was not an expert on wines. "This is wonderful," she said after removing the glass from her lips.

( A glass of wine with a little magic )

Now that it was later at night, and some people had gone home, the doors were closed and the music was lowered. Everyone that was left was sitting around the living area. After flashing Rhiannon the baggy of weed, and getting the go ahead, Purity leaned across the table and pulled out some papers. While everyone talked the witch made two joints before sitting up again and tossing one towards the Slayer. "Rhi, catch." Purity settled back on the couch, lifting a box of matches, the witch sparked one to life. The flame flickered before being pulled towards the spliff. Quietly the paper crackled as it lit, the end glowing red as the witch breathed in. Slowly smoke curled up, like a haze before her eyes, until she let her head fall back and exhaled.

Rhiannon, who was off guard while she nursed a cup of vodka and tonic, attempted to catch the joint left-handed, but it bounced off her palm and landed in the neck of her tank top. "Shit... Purity!" she laughed and retrieved it. "Be glad that didn't land in my cup... Fucking reflexes." Having been drinking steadily for a few hours, her motor skills were beginning to notice the difference. She set down her cup and fished a lighter out of her jeans pocket. Once she ignited the paper, she puffed on it and passed it to the side.

( Fire It Up. )

( Place Your Bets. )

( Inhale. Exhale. )

( That's What You Call Paranoia. )

On Friday evening, the weather in Chicago was nice enough to open the windows. The third floor apartment where Rhiannon and Purity lived on Oakwood Avenue was spotless, for a change. They propped open the doors and music filtered down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk, which prompted the only other tenant -- Donald the awkward software guy -- to leave and visit a relative for the night.

Inside 3C, the furniture was old but comfortable, the floor carpeted, and the walls painted in a medley of colors. The air smelled richly of incense. The couch and armchair had been dragged closer to the television, where Purity hooked up a favorite gaming system. On the back half of the living room, there were a card table and chairs, and a few well-used sets of playing cards and poker chips waiting.

The kitchen counter was divided into sections for drinks and snacks. There were a couple of barstools bought from a garage sale.

Most of the evidence of their extracurriculars (like stakes and magical supplies) had been put in their bedrooms in the back of the apartment.

[Thread: Open to Purity, Avery, Sonya, Joseph, Kris, Connor, Juliet and Hayden]

It was about an hour before sunset, oftentimes Clemence's favorite time of day to take a stroll through the park. On this day, though, she only found herself filled with annoyance. Two children darted past her over the path, and she had to stop short to keep from colliding with them. She turned to her companion, her usually lively blue eyes slightly dulled with boredom and distance. "I find it supremely interesting that leash laws only apply to dogs," the blonde told her sardonically. Brushing her hair back over her shoulders, Clemence shrugged. "Whatever. I know I won't be contributing to the over-population problem."

The air smelled sweet, like cut grass, filled with promise of warmer days to come. It was the sound of hearty laughter that made Purity turn to watch the kids run past, too busy playing tag to watch out for the adults, unless they were hiding behind them. "You'd keep children on leashes?" The witch lifted a dark eyebrow as she regarded the blonde . Though it wasn't long before green eyes wandered, spotting a young woman pushing a pram a few yards away. "You never want to have one of your own?" Somewhere inside Purity a twinge of sadness was felt.

"Well, if they insist on acting like wild animals, then yes," Clemence replied archly, tucking her hair into her fur-lined hood. It wasn't frigid out, but it was brisk, strong winds coming along occasionally to wreck even the most carefully wrought hair-dos. She was quite tired of it, but then, spring and summer brought along their own unique problems. Rain and puddles in her shoes...yuck. The blonde wrinkled her nose in distaste at the idea. "I grew up in a big family," she told Purity. "I don't romanticize long waits for the bathroom in the mornings, or dirty clothes flung all over the place. Do you really think what the world needs is more kids?"

"We are animals." The witch frowned, her eyes lowered to gaze at her sneakers as she walked. Alright, families weren't the best things all the time, but surely if it was set up with love and trust it couldn't be as bad as her own. Slender shoulders were lifted in a shrug, crinkling the fabric of her jacket, "I wasn't considering how the rest of the world felt about it." Why should she, wasn't it personal enough not to be a statistic? Purity rubbed the side of her face, the wind chilling her skin, "Don't you ever just wonder what it would be like? To walk into your home where your partners waiting, and a kid in pajamas standing on the stairs waiting to say goodnight?"

( Exactly What You Want )

Outside the southeastern boundary of the Lincoln Park blockade, a jetty jutted out into Lake Michigan and formed a widened beach at the end of North Avenue. The location was beautiful. In addition to the water access, it had a spectacular view of the city, which was part of the reason that it was selected as the site of a New Year's Eve party. The lakefront made it an ideal setting for a bonfire and safer for fireworks, and the proximity to military and policing units might fend off the worst of the criminal element.

The party would feature hot food and drinks, alcohol served out of a land-based cruise ship called Castaways, live local music, a jumbotron screen of the celebration in Times Square, and a miniature ball drop at midnight. Vendors set up booths to sell colorful party hats, crazy glasses, and noisemakers.

[Thread: Open to All]

It had been a slow day at Thoth’s Library, and Logan found himself immeasurable bored. Portal research was getting him nowhere, despite the vast volume he had at his disposal – the same volume William nearly salivated over a few days prior. The former Watcher pushed the book to the side, rubbing his temples and leaving the back room to see how things were going on the main floor.

Grabbing a werewolf volume from the counter and sliding it in its proper place on the corresponding bookshelf, Logan realized this was the first time he and Purity had been in the store at the same time for quite a while. Considering he gave Avery a raise a few months prior, and the holiday season was fast approaching, Logan figured there was no time like the present.

Approaching the counter again, the owner straightened his black tie. “Purity,” he said. “While we’re both here … been meaning to talk to you.”

Purity had been sorting the stock behind the counter, on the wall where the customers could see them. Not touch. Some of them were not for the beginners. Turning slightly when she heard her name, the witch straightened when she saw it was Logan addressing her, not just a customer.

"Yeah?" Her hand ran through her hair as she walked towards her boss. "What's up?" There hadn't been any problems on the shop floor, and frankly, the witch had been really enjoying herself at Thoth's Library. She smiled a little and rocked back on her heels.

( A Raise and an Invite )

“Sure,” Logan agreed with a bit of a nod. “I don’t see where that would be a problem. I’ll let you know when we have a set time.”

The bookstore owner grabbed his coat and scarf, taking the time to make sure he was good and bundled up before leaving. Even with the time Logan spent in Colorado before coming to Chicago, he didn’t remember it ever being quite this cold. Even for a native of upstate New York, this was a little too cold.

“I’m gonna grab some lunch,” he added, putting on his gloves. “Make sure no one sets anything on fire, okay?”

Turning to leave, Logan paused, glancing over his shoulder. “And keep up the good work.”

Melinda was ready for the big time. Sure, the little stuff came in handy, like when she needed a pen from across the room and she was too lazy to get up. But the brunette wanted something bigger and better. Her parents had always tried to make her fit in, like a peg in some kind of...board where pegs went. Now, she wanted to stand out, because she, Melinda Berkeley, was special.

The brunette entered Thoth's Library with an air of confidence. She was looking for some kind of sequel to the book that Logan had sold her. Something more specific and helpful. A Helpful Guide to Telekinesis. Maybe she could float her roommate out into traffic and say the wind pushed her.

But upon surveying the store, she could see that Logan wasn't there. Manning the counter instead was..."Hey, didn't I meet you at a club?"

This was the quietest that Thoth's Library had been all day. Well, since her shift started. Purity had her head down, though she stood straight, a book under the counter was being flipped through. Logan had said she could read anything on the shop floor. It was always a good thing to brush up on what you loved. No matter what life threw at her, the witch knew without a doubt in her mind that what she felt for magic was love.

"Huh?" Purity lifted her head up, her hands finding the top of the counter and splaying out. Once her green eyes had found the face of the woman, and placed it, she laughed slightly. Right, the chick from the bar who'd been outside. "Patio girl." The witch pointed at the brunette, half grinning, a brief flash of white being shown. "How can I help this time?"

( Differently Gifted )

Kathleen lifted the handset from the desk phone and dialed the number she found online for Thoth’s Library. The day she spent in the shopping mall in a retro 80’s school daze had bothered her all the next day. It was the second time in a month that she had experienced a distorted reality, and none of it made sense to her. The news media and blogs all had conflicting information about exactly what had happened at the mall. The explanation for the museum was an awful attempt of a cover-up. She was there for both yet she had difficulty understanding.

Perhaps she could find some kind of information from the book store and the formal Council Watcher. There had to have been some reason, some kind explanation … The phone rang twice before someone picked up on the other side.


The shop was virtually quiet at the moment. Enough for Purity to be browsing a book she had tucked under the counter. Right elbow against the counter as she flipped over a page quietly.

The phone ring didn't even distract her, reaching out her left hand she picked it up, eyes still on her book. Automatically she said, "Thanks for calling Thoth's Library, Purity speaking, how can I help you?"

( What are the chances? )

If you wanted to cut a class at Water Park High, it was easy enough to do it. The high school was enormous, full of places where kids could get off to themselves and avoid History, Spanish, Geometry, or whatever else they didn't feel like sitting through.

Sometimes they went into the gym, because Mr. Maragos often got stuck pulling lunchroom duty, and chilled in the shadows underneath the bleachers. On days when the janitor left the roof hatch unlocked, sometimes kids went there to smoke up, which was later evidenced by blunts and a plethora of snack food wrappers blowing around. A few skipped class to hang out in the bathrooms, socializing with whoever came in and flushing their cigarettes. Once in a while, a student would get resourceful and steal library passes off a teacher's desk, then forge permission notes.

There were hall monitors who did rounds, so there was a risk of getting busted, but that usually didn't amount to much except a referral to the Vice-Principal or an afternoon of detention.

In class, sat Miss Foxworth, school nurse and the subject of many a teenage fantasy, thanks to her uniform. One of the first things the students noticed, as the first piled through the door, was the appearance of a projector in the middle of the room, which the brunette had dutifully prepared with the most relevant of slides for her presentation.

Those who had signed permission slips from parents, would be staying. Those who did not, would probably be getting sent to the library for study.

Victoria would wait to be introduced, however. She had manners, even working in a chaotic place like this. It would be up to Miss Forbes to settle everyone down.

Quite a task, no doubt, considering the propensity for teenager reactions to what all knew was to be spoken about.

[Open to all characters who might have a biology class:]

It wasn't terribly late, but late enough for the decent people of Chicago to be inside, warming up and settling down for the night. Purity wasn't one of them. At least, not tonight she wasn't. There had been a rush at work, and Purity had stayed on to see through it. Not that she minded of course, Thoth's Library was full of everything she could use. That was why her wallet was a bit lighter and her cargo pants jangled when she walked. An assortment of little things she had been running low on, and a couple to give Rhiannon when she got home.

The air was chilled, and the witch found herself pulling her jacket around herself tighter, and stuffing her hands in her pockets. She could hear the noise from the bowling alley as she made her way towards it. Not to go inside, but just on the passing as she made her way home. People inside were yelling and cheering, and someone was bent over someone else in the alley way as Purity walked past. It wasn't until she had actually walked past that she realised what she had saw. Pausing, only to take three large steps backwards to glance into the alley way again. "You've got to be shitting me..." It was breathed out as her hands were pulled out of her pockets.

Maybe it was because it was a new city, one she had yet to really put her bloody fingerprints on. Maybe it was because it was turning towards winter, which was always bleak and promised to be even bleaker in this environment. Maybe it was because she'd seen the kid that night and had let him walk off without putting so much as a mark on him. Or maybe it was just because she was violent and mean-spirited.

The thing that lay in a heap next to the dumpster had once been a human being, and Grace could smell the blood where it had puddled beneath the body as the barest of whimpers could be heard. She'd picked him at random, manufacturing some bullshit story about her sick kid and how she had to get home before her husband got back from work, and couldn't he give her a lift so the old man didn't take his fists to her? He'd fallen for it, because they all fell for it if you tried hard enough, and now she was watching the remains twitch mindlessly under the yellowish light of a streetlamp at the mouth of the alley.

Her hands were bloody up to the wrists, and she put the straight razor away with a contented sigh before licking the fingers of her left hand clean like a cat. Somebody was going to find this mess at dawn, and she almost felt sorry for whoever it was. Almost. Grace toed the body, crouched down and fished the wallet out of a pair of brown workpants. It would be wrong to leave perfectly good spending cash behind.

"Was it good for you?" Her voice was lazy, almost sleepy. "'Cause it was great for me."

( Long Time, No See )

Grace hunkered in on herself, pale hands slowly closing into fists as she looked down into her newly filled glass of bourbon, her own stubbornness the only thing keeping her in place. Show off. No wonder magic users had such a bad rep. Sometimes it was deserved. She picked up her drink, a muscle in her cheek twitching as if she was wrestling with herself.

"You used to be cool." Sounding like a very large eight-year-old. "I fuckin' get it, okay? Jesus fuck."

She took out some money, tossed it onto the bar to pay for Purity's drink. This was the last time she was hanging out with anybody from the old days. Unless it was Darian, who had never tried to mind-fuck her. There were some things she didn't do.

After what felt like enough time to save face, the vampire slid off of her stool and walked a semi-wide circle around the witch's seat. "I'm out," she said, her tone almost without rancor. "See ya around. Or not."

Melinda couldn't believe she had let herself be dragged to this...monstrosity. Her two roommates had insisted, even though Melinda would much rather have spent the evening finishing a paper and then reading through the book she had gotten from Thoth's Library. She hadn't had time to even crack open the cover since purchasing it, and she certainly hadn't had time to practice zooming things around her room.

Now, she held a Collins glass full of vodka and cranberry juice, the ice clinking around whenever another mass of writhing bodies jostled her. The brunette stepped through the crowd and made her way to the outdoor patio where a few people stood quietly in a corner, smoking. She set the glass down after taking a long sip, and folded her arms over her purple silk top.

She stood there, trying to decide between just staying in her current spot until her friends decided to leave, or grabbing her jacket from coat check and hailing a cab.

Purity had just finished work. As per usual, her white shirt was crisp and her tie was a little loose from where she had been tugging on it all day. Customers, she was starting to believe, were all quite undoubtably retarded.There were a few exceptions, people she could see that were honestly into it and wishing to learn. The majority of people who came into Thoth's Library were scene kids all wanting a kick. It... bugged her beyond words. Well, most words.

It was a fleeting thing, instinct maybe, that caused the witch to walk into the bar. Her hand slid into her back pocket and she pulled out a few bills. Ordering a beer at the bar. When she picked it up, she took a liberal sip before heading towards the outdoor patio. Inside was far too crowded, she'd dealt with people all day and just wanted to relax before potentially heading over to see Clemence.

Breathing in the chilled air, Purity leaned against the side of the building and raised her bottle to her lips, sipping at the brewed liquid again.

( Intervention )

A quiet morning before what would only be a crazy hectic evening, the club was silent aside from the pitter patter of Bethany's bare feet across smooth surface. She'd left her heels off, tucked beneath her desk and there for later.

The building was protected thanks to Oliver but the safe - the heart of the place - was not. Bethany knew this and it was one of the reasons why she'd called Purity's old number in the hopes the witch hadn't changed her number.

She hadn't.

Bethany's message was simple, it asked Purity to meet her at the location of her new club and told her brief details of what the Slayer needed. She didn't give away too much, never did over the phone, you never knew who might be listening.

Paranoid? Maybe.

She wandered into her office and turned over the papers on her desk, wondering how she had managed to accumulate so much of it so soon after opening her club.

There was nobody else outside or inside the club, just Bethany and the quiet.

The voicemail from Bethany had startled Purity, albeit ever so slightly. Enough though to make the witch listen to it twice to make sure it really was the Slayer. Of course it was, the dark witch would recognise that voice anywhere. Yet still... They hadn't seen each other in well over a year.

Not thinking too much on it, Purity decided to follow the directions the Slayer gave her once she had finished her shift at Thoth's Library. It didn't take long, of course, her long legs had a way of getting her from place to place rather quickly.

Pausing outside the building, the witch tested the door. It moved slightly, and she pushed through the opening quietly. "Anyone around?" It was called out easily as the witch walked into the building. Easily spotted in her black pants, white shirt and simple black tie.

( Familiar And Yet Not )

( Oh Honey )

The shop was buzzing tonight, and Avery was glad for the extra help. The customers -- and he used that term loosely -- were mostly kids from the area looking for something new and exciting. More than once, he had to grab an amulet or some other mystical trinket out of the hands of an over-excited teen. "Look with your eyes, not your hands. Or better yet, your wallets."

He was quickly losing patience, and only a small percentage of the people milling about Thoth's Library were actually purchasing anything. The vampire came up behind Purity. "How many times can I tell someone that newts eyes are not a substitute for a hacky-sack?"

Purity's hair was sticking up awkwardly from where her hands had been frequenting it for some sort of refugee before she punched one of the emo kids who kept coming up to her. "I'm two seconds away from cursing them so that they stick to their shoes." It was true, she really was, and she turned to look at Avery with a bitter grin. "I'm so glad I'm working with you and not someone I've never met before."

It was fleeting, but her hand touched his shoulder before she was pulled back to the girl standing chewing gum loudly. The amount of make-up on her eyes had Purity wondering if the girl could actually see her. "But like, it says on the back that I can use this to break people's hold on me. How can I not use it on my mom so she stops giving me curfew?" Purity's slender fingers worked under the knot of her tie and she tugged it a little to loosen it. "Listen, this works to stop people who have hexed you. Your mom isn't using magic, she's using authority. Go home and talk to her." The teen gave a derisive snort, popping her gum and tilting her head. She lifted a black nailed hand to her nose and scratched the stud there. "You don't know my mom, she's a total witch, I mean why would I come here otherwise, do I look stupid to you?"

Purity didn't even blink. "Yes."

( a Breakdown in Diplomacy )

( Karaoke Stars )