Morningstar Manor

Erin had forgotten about checking her mail when she got home. Instead she was down in the mail room before bed. She was dressed comfortable enough to go home and climb in bed, her hair still wet from her shower. She found a small slip of paper with a name on it for the Manor's secret Santa, her cell phone bill and her car insurance bill. Sighing deeply she closed the box and turned around. It shouldn't have bothered her to have nothing from Loki, but it did. There had to be something wrong with her.

Erin had written Loki this letter a while ago. Before the attack and recovery had happened. She hadn't seen him around recently, but she hadn't gone to find him either. She slipped it in his mailbox and walked back out, hoping he hadn't taken off again.

Smith was alone in the gym, currently bench pressing three fifty without a spotter. It was dangerous and he shouldn't have started it, but he would've felt very much like a Nancy had he been standing outside the door and beckoning big, tough guys to come in and spot him or pretty women to come in so he could show off.
So, beads of sweat covering his skin, he brought the weights down to his chest and pushed them back up again, loving the burn.

Bea was sitting in the Mocha with her sketch pad in front of her wearing a black and gray top, a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, and a pair of werewolf heels to add to her monster collection. She'd also had her extensions taken out and the side of her head freshly shaven, so she didn't feel like so much of a Barbie doll anymore. To celebrate, she was currently drawing such a graphic sex scene that she kept checking over her shoulder to make sure that there weren't any children, priests, or grandmothers standing there.

Niles was walking through the lobby in his black winter coat, his head down, and thinking about heading to the library. He needed to think, to bounce his ideas around and since he currently had no one to bounce them off off, the silence in the library would be good. He wanted to do something for the people still struggling with Katrina damage in New Orleans for Christmas, but what?

Elspeth was reading a magazine and nursing a pot of hot peppermint tea. She was also writing a list -- mostly of last-minute gift ideas -- Mr. Vision was so terribly difficult to buy for. He really was a man who had everything.

Sarah, feet up on an empty chair, had a thick paperback in one hand and a doughnut in the other. Both were gooey and decadent, and she was thoroughly enjoying each.

Gavin, on the other hand, was sitting by himself at a corner table, drinking black coffee and contemplating taking up smoking.

Erin had gotten home later than she wanted today. Knocking on Niles's door hadn't gotten any answer, so she'd gone back home, scribbled out a note and slid it under his door.
( note )

Even though she'd gone home for this holiday, she wasn't about to forget him. Especially not when she got this awesome Thanksgiving greeting in a text at four this morning. Thumbs working quickly she punched in the numbers to send it to him and wrote along Hope the Indians get you, big bad wolf...

Travis was in the lobby, notebook open and scribbling notes as he sipped on his tea. This was the last bit of major homework before the Thanksgiving break and he had to get a good grade on it. Writing papers on cultural observation hadn't seemed this difficult last week...

Erin had gone down to check her mail. With the exception of a couple cuts and a slower paced stride, she didn't look much different than she had before her attack. She still had he ribs taped up though her limitations were starting to fade out into dull ache and not sharp pains.

Memphis and Demon were outside in the gardens. It was chilly enough to make Memphis want to be back home again. Pretty soon the snow was going to start swirling around and then he'd be outside even less. Demon brought him back the tennis ball and Memphis squatted down to retrieve it.

Chad was sitting downstairs, in the laundry room, his notebook of cases in his lap. Icene had forwarded evidence results to him and he was trying to figure out where these two serial muggers were staying. If he could catch them in another act then he'd have a solid case. Right now the case was only pieced together. It would be hit or miss to present it to a judge right now.

Roxy had her laptop open at a corner table in the Mocha. She knew that it wasn't Thanksgiving yet ad she shouldn't be looking at Christmas decorations yet, but she had offered to help Spencer out with the Michaels' Bro's Christmas party. She was looking forward to helping out with fun because he worked too hard and a helping hand could be a good relief.

Logan was avoiding the laundry by playing arcade games in the games room. He had to go back in an hour or so to help out with folding, but in the meantime he'd let his Dad grumble at a notebook and put in some pinball time in the process.

Eli was wandering around, dressed in jeans, a button down shirt and a sweater over top of that. For once he felt comfortable not in his uniform and he contemplated how things could go with taking Bea home. Nearly to the elevator in the lobby, he saw a door that wasn't marked. He didn't remember seeing it there before. Should he poke his head through to see what was on the other side?

He'd gone with her to the hospital, and hadn't seen her after she'd returned home. The immediate days were meant for family and friends, he thought, and he knew better than to try and shoehorn himself into either of those categories.

Tonight though, he thought maybe it'd be okay and after work he made his way to her apartment with a bouquet of ivory tulips in one hand and small package in the other.

He'd overheard someone talking about it in the Mocha. He tried not to eavesdrop, but when it was about someone he knew, someone he cared about, he couldn't help but listen.
He went to the store and bought her things, flowers and chocolates and ice cream and anything else he could think of the girls liked when they were sick, and brought it all back to the Manor.
With both hands full of grocery bags, he knocked on her door.

There was a large bouquet  and this note:

Dear Erin,

I and everyone here at Smashing was so sorry to hear about what happened. If there is anything I can do to help you along, please do not hesitate to call. You know how to reach me.
Perhaps when you are better, you'll grant me the pleasure of taking you out for dinner to celebrate your issue hitting the stands?

All my best and wishing you a speedy recovery,

(Illegible scrawl)

Declan McNamara

Chad was down in the laundry room, waiting on a load of jeans to hit the spin cycle. He had a couple manila folders with hi and a notebook. He probably should call Icene to find out if there were any new leads, but they'd picked up a good deal of evidence this time around. There had been a blood trail at the scene and fingerprints in the charred up car.

~*~
Eli was grumpy, still confused about why he'd gone against his own rules to date Bea. Sure he liked her, but why had he broken the rule? Now there would surely be hurt the next time he got called up to go. And then inviting her home for Thanksgiving? Oh what a tizzy that would be with the family. He hadn't taken anybody home for a holiday... Ever.

In an effort to think more, he'd gone up to the pool for some quiet time where he could participate in some sort of activity as well.

*~*
Erin had bandages that spanned around her sides, covered her stomach and back, to prevent unnecessary jarring on her ribs. Three were cracked and one was broken. She had been treated, observed, then discharged earlier this afternoon. Her objective was to stay holed away in her apartment, but she'd wanted something and in the process of trying to figure out just what, she'd gone to the Mocha. If anybody asked what had happened, she'd tell them, but she wasn't going to go seeking out any sympathies. Just something comforting and most likely chocolate...

Erin was relieved to be heading home tonight. They'd had a busy day of grease fires, chimney fires, and a prank alarm at the school. She'd grabbed her jacket and headed out, zipping up only after she was on the sidewalk and thinking about picking up Chinese. The number was in her phone, and she reached into her pocket to call. But her phone wasn't in her pocket. She stopped, patting at all of her pockets, and pulled out a wallet and a set of keys. It wasn't her wallet, nor were they her keys. "Fuck me running." She said as she opened up the leather and found Jake's license. "Musta grabbed his jacket by mistake." She mumbled to herself. "Just one more wonderful thing to add to the beautiful day today..." She grumbled as she turned to walk back to the station. "All I wanted to do was order Chinese and go home, but no, can't do that. Don't have my jacket. Have to go hope Jake left mine and my stuff's in it too."

Doug knew he had to get the fuck outta Dodge and if Bob wanted to bring his gimp ass he'd better start keeping up. They had to lift a car, it was as simple as that. Maybe one that wasn't too new with all the fancy alarms and shit. It'd be nice, but something old enough to break into and hotwire and new enough to get them the fuck outta town would work just fine for him.
( Friday the 13th is not Erin's lucky day... )
Minisummary: Erin gets attacked and Joe rescues her. Thanks to Jen for playing the badguys ;)

There wasn't any mail today... It was a national holiday, veteran's day, and Erin had already left messages for her brother and father. They were at work. Just like she figured Adam was stuck working today as well. How ironic was it that the holiday honoring the service members, past and present, was the one holiday they didn't get out of working?

She slipped into the mail room, found his box and slipped a pale blue envelope inside of it. The card had a simplistic image on the outside and the words Thank you for doing what you do. I don't think I could and just wanted to say I appreciate it. Every day not just today... ~Erin on the inside.

Sterrin stood in line in the Mocha still half asleep  wearing a tank top, a black cardigan, and a pair of dark skinny jeans, after a night spent out all night. She'd gotten a rather interesting guy last night that thought he was being romantic by showing her the sunrise. She got paid to be interested and happy to indulge his every whim, so she'd done it. 
Now, she was wishing her brother wasn't such a prick, or knew how to be quiet in the mornings when he knew she'd come in at eight in the morning.
Sighing, she looked forward to some coffee.

Erin couldn't sleep. Her mind was going in all sorts of random places and she needed to get some things out of it. Reaching under her bed she pulled out two leather bound books. The bigger of the two was black and had a shiny lock on it, the other was non locking and red in color, plus a bit smaller.

In the black one she outlined then wrote a rather detailed and graphic scenario involving what she'd been thinking about to include a multiplicity of avenues to explore in achieving the goal. She wanted to try it, yes, but it scared her at the same time that it intrigued her. Maybe that was why it was intriguing...

The smaller book had several pages already ripped from it. In this she wrote a letter explaining the previously written scenario and the words You might be the only one I can think of to do this, is it something you'd consider? Then she signed it simply Erin in her general signature script and closed the books back up. Maybe some sleep would find her now that her mind was partially settled down.

OOC: warning - link may be triggering?

Erin was bored with things this week. Work had been slowing down and she'd become quite restless on her own. She dressed in a short black dress, put a jacket that barely covered it over top, and thought about going out to Babylon.

Until she pushed open the lobby door, that was. There she was greeted by a chilling, blowing wind. Wrapping her coat around her she shivered, felt her legs prickle up, and headed across the lobby for the Mocha.

Erin was bored and procrastinating. It didn't go well together, but she wanted to do something fun, not something she should be doing. Like laundry or tidying up around her apartment. She was wandering around instead.

~*~
Logan was out in the garden, pulling up all the plants that had died off because of the cold.

Chad sat on a bench in the sunlight, glasses over his eyes as he watched people pass by.

*~*
Travis was in the library, hunched over a table and doing some online shopping. Memphis's birthday was coming up and he needed to find something good after what he'd done.

~*~
In the garage, Memphis was cleaning out Lucy's interior. He hadn't noticed the scratch across the back bumper, but since it was getting cooler out he wasn't washing her as much.

*~*
Tristan was, as per usual on Thursday, dressed in his suit and winding his way through the lobby to head out to work. He hadn't buttoned his shirt fully, nor had he shaven since last Friday. It felt good to look a little less kept. Smiling to himself he decided a treat wouldn't be a bad idea and detoured into the Mocha.

*~*
Roxy had turned the treadmill on and set a distance for ten miles. Maybe by the time she was done with that some of her thoughts would be clearer.

~*~
Eli was sitting in the Mocha, pile of mail on the table in front of him. He sipped at his coffee as he read a rather long letter that contained a couple different style of handwriting on it. Family letters were always unpredictable and his brother had atrocious hand writing. He smiled still at the news of hometown football games and the fights that broke out as a result, then flipped the page over.

Mondays in the Mocha. Always a place to see lots of the Manor tenants.

Demitri sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, sipping his coffee and reading a book on the Irish Gaelic language. Okay so he wasn't having to learn things for a certain job anymore but that didn't mean he didn't like to learn. And he wanted to keep that little talent of picking up languages fresh. Never know when you might need it.

****

Jason was sitting near the door to the Mocha, sipping his coffee and having a bagel and keeping his eye on both the lobby and the Mocha itself.

****

Zack was curled up by the fireplace in the Mocha, legs crossed tailor style in the big chair and flipping through a graphic novel. He was deciding whether to brave the chilly weather outside or work from home today. So far home was looking most likely.

****

Loki usually wasn't one that could be missed but today he was dressed smartly for the gallery, bright hair tied back at the nape of his neck as he stood in line for a coffee. It was amusing to see the surprised looks.

Roxy was sitting in the Mocha, playing with her new phone and loving the fact that it was a worldwide capable phone. That meant that the next time she and Spencer went on an extended trip... Well she wouldn't really be wanting to take her phone then either.

~_~
Travis was sporting a Save second base tee shirt he'd picked up from the mail room, and had another with him as he walked down the hall to apartment L-E. He hadn't seen Amarie in a few days, so he was taking a guess that she'd be home.

_~_
Eli was downstairs, in the gym. He had on a pair of Army sweat pants and a black tank top. Lifting weights helped him think about things that were going on and he was thinking about Bea a lot.

~*~
Memphis was in the lobby, juggling around the couple bags of groceries with Demon's leash. "Hold on dog, we'll get there and then I'll feed you." He grumbled lightly.

*~*
Chad was trying to take his Sunday easily, having been swamped at work with the recent activities at Rutherford. His phone buzzed and he opened it up, opening up the video message that'd been sent. Listening to it he wondered just what was going on with cops now.

^-^
Logan was outside in the garden, tossing a ball around with Lily and waiting for her to bring it back.

-^-
Erin was in the laundry room with a load of coloreds in one machine and a load of whites in another. Now the only thing to do was find something to occupy her time until they needed to be swapped to the dryer.

--
Tristan had moseyed his way upstairs, to the pool, and currently sat in the hot tub. It was a nice warm welcome to the contrasting temperatures soon to come, and he didn't really want to get out any time soon.

The wind outside was chilly but it was lovely and warm in the Lamb tonight, its lights shining invitingly out onto the sidewalk, lively Irish pub music, laughter and the clinking of glasses drifting out each time the door opened.

It was a good night and Kara was smiling as she went about her duties. She helped with both the tables and the bar and if she looked up a tad hopefully each time the door opened... well who could blame her?

***

Though he was promised a night off when he wanted it Jack had decided to come in tonight. Phil was on call at the Manor, Nick was likely spending time with Seth and Jack didn't much feel like getting shit faced at a club tonight. And bartending here was a pretty easy job. He was happy to lend an ear or flirt unashamedly with the customers and was making some great tips.

***

Jason - wonder of wonders - was taking a night off himself and had a booth to himself near the back where he was sipping a pint and nibbling on a plate of cheese fries.

***

Demitri had taken over a pool table and for the moment was playing a solitary game.

***

Hugh had heard about the pub and decided to check it out and now sat in a booth going on his second pint and feeling much more relaxed. It reminded him of a pub he'd spent a good deal of time in during his youth.