Morningstar Manor

Christ, her head hurt.

The tylenol wasn't where it was supposed to be either. And when did she ever let the apartment get this messy? She frowned slightly, feeling like she was forgetting something but not knowing where to start. The more she thought about it, the more her head hurt.

Better to just concentrate on something else, like fixing Trevor's dinner. He'd be home soon, after all. It was a thought that perked her up a little. She'd missed her husband.

Anastasia sat at a table by herself in the Mocha with a folder thick with student proposal papers shoved to one side of the table and one open in front of her. With her head tilted and wide, shocked eyes, she read Tyler Field's explanation as to why the human penis was the perfect centerpiece for his final project, roughly titled "Deez Nuts." It was funny in a horrifying way and she was definitely going to have to shut him down before he turned in a bunch of embellished paintings of his own genitalia, no matter her reputation for being one of the more liberal professors. That was just gross.
But for right now when she was by herself, she couldn't help but laugh at his gumption.

Tristan was finally able to kick back and relax tonight. So naturally, he went to his office to lounge. Upon opening his door he realized there was a small brown UPS box on top of it. A bit cautious, he read the return label then grinned. His shipment was early. Satisfied with the unexpected news he pulled out his phone and fired off a text to Anastasia.

Putting out an APB... Where's my bestie?

All day today and most of his working night last night he'd picked up his phone, dialed out six numbers then ended the call. He knew he needed to talk to her, but he hadn't wanted to infringe on her schedule either. So instead of calling her he sent her a text. Need to talk to you. Come see me at work? and waited...

Their number had finally come up at Morningstar with a little help from Miss Vale, and they had another apartment. It was as small as the last one easily, but it was clean and bright and there wasn't anything - wrong - that she could tell right away.   He was normal. She was normal. At least for the time being. It was their first night, so it was kinda hard to tell.

She curled up next to him on the gray Ikea sofa she'd bought on her credit card and plopped a box of rice crispy treats in between them. "Are you hungry?" she asked him. "Well, for something other than these. I bought groceries. I could cook."

Anastasia was the first one in the Mocha that morning. She hadn't slept well last night, and now she was slowly nursing her second cup of coffee, attempting to wake herself up. Fir the first time ever, she was strongly considering getting a hobby that didn't involve art in some way, shape or form.

Isabella was sitting in the lobby in a gray dress, reading over the newspaper as she waited for the car that her client was sending to pick her up to arrive. It wasn't anything new. In fact, it'd become sort of customary on these initial meetings that her client attempt to subconsciously show off the sort of money they had to throw around. Despite all that, she was starting to despise these initial meetings more and more, simply because she didn't really know the people she was going to meet. 

Olivia had been sitting in the Mocha, but when her cell phone rang and she saw her father's number, she'd decided to move herself out into the gardens where there was less opportunity for eavesdroppers. Billy had gotten in trouble in rehab again, because establishments like that tended to look down on their patients being in possession of a few eight balls of cocaine and a prescription bottle of Oxycontin that wasn't theirs. Her father seemed to bounce back and forth between being pig-headedly hard on Billy and giving him everything he wanted. Right then he was in a 'give him everything' mood and spent fifteen minutes rationalizing why Billy was stealing other people's pain pills. Olivia sat down on the bench after she hung up and ran a hand over her face and strongly considered taking up smoking.

Sterrin was laying on her stomach on a large beach towel in the garden a good ways away from the usual garden activities. She was wearing a blue and white bikini, and beside her on the ground was a bottle of water and a pair of big silver sunglasses. Life right now was extra boring since she'd gotten Micah as a babysitter any time she left the Manor and when she'd managed to elude him, Declan had been right there waiting. She got the worry, she really did. She' just didn't like feeling - caged.

Kate was in the library standing on a stool and fighting off the shivers that kept shooting up and down her spine. It was a wonderful library. So many interesting books! However it was mostly empty. When a second shiver shot up her spine and she turned around to see who was watching her and found no one there, she had to wonder if that feeling might be the reason why.

Anastasia had entirely taken over a little corner of the Mocha. Or at least two tables worth. In front of her were a series of 11 x 14 sketch pads that she was attempting to fit together like a puzzle. Or at least that'd been her original intent. Instead, she kept finding little things that needed tweaking and hadn't made it far at all.

Anastasia's hand shook a bit as she used her key to open the door to the apartment she shared with Gavin. It had been... Well, months. And she couldn't take it anymore.

She had to check on him. Had to see him. Had to make sure he was okay.

He had been perfectly right. There was a lot of paperwork but most of it seemed to have been started at least so Charlie was able to mop the remainder up in an hour and then address his most pressing other problem, which was to get in touch with those of his partners who were interested in helping with the summer classes.

Allan was no help. "Nobody under eighteen," he stated emphatically. "In fact nobody who isn't prepared to sculpt wearing a cheerleaders costume need apply. Tell 'em to bring their own pompoms."

"You're disgusting," Charlie shouted as Allan pompomed out of the room, heading for the desk and Leena. Then he settled down to email Seth and Anastasia with variations on the theme of "hey gorgeous, get your lovely body down here so we can talk about summer education *nudge nudge, wink wink*"

Actually there wasn't that much difference in the wording between them.

Trevor had taken the whole week off and Anastasia had to say that she was quite enjoying the time with her husband.
Classes were over, Trevor was home, and there was no one but them, no obligations, no problems at all, really.  It was perfect. 

She'd let Trevor sleep in for as long as she was able to stand it before she crawled back in bed and lay on his back, nuzzling the side of his neck.

"Wakey wakey," she whispered into his ear, stroking her finger over the lobe.

Anastasia had decided to splurge and pick up some Chinese for lunch. She remembered what Trevor liked and had snagged some for him too. He was at home today for some reason, and she figured if they were going to be around each other for a whole day they should have some Chinese too.

"Trevor," she called into the apartment. "I've got food."

Anastasia felt miserable. She was miserable. 
She wanted to go home, but sadly 'home' was wherever Gavin was and he didn't want her there anymore. Had she set herself up for this? Absolutely. It didn't make it any easier, though.

So now she sat in the conservatory, her knees pulled up to her chest and her camera flashing as she took pictures of her bare feet. How lovely.

Anastasia was feeling good today. Really good.

She'd had the day off of class and had decided to go out and run some errands. She'd gotten a bonus check from the college for supervising some open lab time, and she took the money to do some grocery shopping. She'd splurged on some steaks and a little table top grill, thinking they could go outside since it was so gorgeous and have a little makeshift picnic.
She was - happy. And she wanted to be with Gavin.

"Baby," she called when she walked into the apartment and shut the door behind her. "I've got some good stuff. C'mere!"

Anastasia stood in line in a white, paint-splattered tank dress and blue flip flops, staring at nothing in particular. She hadn't lost time in a few days and that was good. Stll, something wasn't setting right. Frowning, she studied the menu. Best not to think too hard without caffeine.

Bea was sitting alone at a table, flipping through a magazine and fighting the urge to stare at the guy a few tables down that was flipping through the issue of Smashing with her on the cover. She'd had a bad weekend and didn't think she was up to a bad review just yet.

Rhiannon sat at a table with Harvey and Lee, giggling at the two boys. Lee had let Harvey draw a mustache on him with his eyeliner and now Lee was swaggering in-chair and doing a John Wayne impression. Rhi was pretty sure John Wayne hadn't had a mustache, but Harvey was laughing his head off and so was she.

Drew stood in line in the Mocha, fresh from work but not in his operating scrubs. Instead he wore jeans and a comfortable white t-shirt, and he was fairly certain he looked as tired as he felt. His day off started right now, but he knew he wouldn't be able to get to sleep right away.

Anastasia moved through the lobby of the Manor fresh from her studio, her hands and dress covered in paint, her stride slower and just entirely different than usual. Later, she wouldn't remember this. She wouldn't remember the people that she talked to or the things she did, because in that moment, Anastasia was someone else entirely. She turned to smile at someone, all teeth, her eyes cold, and the man she smiled at looked away. She laughed and it wasn't her laugh at all. How lovely.

Declan sat just outside of the Mocha on a bench in the garden, smoking and looking up at the sky.  One hand rested in his lap and was clenched in anger, but he was attempting to work through it. One of his partners had quit today to go work for Playboy because "it was a good, honest magazine that didn't pander to queers." Good riddance if he felt like that. Declan was just pissed that he hadn't had the chance to fire him first.

Bea had decided to take Pippa for a walk in the park since it was such a lovely day, and right in that moment she was sitting on a bench watching as Pippa tried to coerce a gaggle of geese into playing with her. Ther was a series of loud squawks and Pippa came running back to Bea with her head down and her ears flat. "No such luck, huh girl?" Bea said with a laugh as she leaned down to pet her dog. She felt almost weird, like she was being watched, but that was likely just leftover nerves from the creep at the signing. Right?

Kate was walking home from the labs, enjoying the sunshine despite the fact that it was a long walk. Her car was in the shop and it was such a nice day that she hadn't bothered with a cab. Across the street there were a group of boys on skateboards and one shouted at her, then made an obscene gesture involving his crotch. Her brow furrowed. That didn't seem like the way to attract a woman to her, but men, especially young ones, were such curious creatures.

Rhiannon stood in the window of NOIR as she outfitted a mannequin in leopard-print lingerie that she'd just gotten in this morning. She was taking a stab at a line of lingerie, and she needed to pimp it out big time if she wanted it to do good. 
"I'm telling you, girl," Lee said from the cash register at the front. "Let me model that shit. I can stand in the window and look good all day."

"Hard to find a pair of panties that would do an ass like yours proper justice, Lee," she replied absently, but with an amused smile. Best way to get Lee off of a silly idea was to stroke his already pulsating ego.

Lee, quite predictably, preened. "You know, you might be right."

Declan sat in the Mocha still dressed in his suit from work except his collar was open and his tie was untied and draped around his neck. He was also contemplating hiring another assistant, if he could find someone qualified enough. That would mean less time at work, more time where he wanted to be, and less drama. Couldn't go wrong with that.

Bea sat outside the Manor in the gardens with Pippa on a leash reading through the mail she'd just picked up. She had on a rather awesome if not gaudy Super Mario Brothers corset that she'd ordered from this awesome little shop online, and to quantify awesomeness, she'd been invited to a HUGE convention. She decided right then and there to schedule herself heavily for the promotion of her second comic, due out at the first of May. It'd keep her busy.

Anastasia was in her studio behind the Gallery with the door propped open, letting the cheesey hip hop music she was listening to float out into the alley. She wasn't working really, but looking instead at the newest painting that she didn't remember doing. It was worse than the others, and just looking at it made her sick to her stomach with nervousness.

Sterrin walked through the Foundry market in a coral pink tank top dress that clung to her figure, completely and utterly bored as she had been all weekend. There had to be something interesting around here somewhere, but damned if she knew what.

Rhiannon was in her shop, laughing hysterically as Lee tried on a dress from her new summer line. Miri had given him the make-up treatment again, and the boy really was too pretty for his own good. He strutted through her store, making a few of the customers laugh too while Miri trotted along behind snapping pictures. 

Niles was out in the garage inspecting Piglet. He'd finally gotten her back after a complete body make over and more money than a sane person would spend on fixing a car. He could've bought another one just like her for cheaper, but it was the principal of the matter. This was Piglet, she was his, and he was going to keep her.

Even though he was going to Rhiannon's for dinner, Tristan had arranged a delivery for Anastasia. Nothing huge, just flowers and a box she could share, should she choose to. On the flowers was a note. Happy Easter. How about planning a bestie day soon?

~*~
There was a delivery going to another apartment as well, again because he couldn't organize it himself Eli had left the arrangements to his sister. Hopefully Bea didn't mind lots of candy and a lightly coloredbouquet. The note in her flowers said He'll be home soon, just remember he loves you and I'm here if you need anything else. ♥ Liz

One more scene. A few more words. Gavin was working, writing, working...sweating. It was finished it would be finished it might never be finished...soon.

He scribbled, hunched over his notebook, the desk under him like polished wood like silk like everything he'd ever wanted.

Anastasia sat at a table in the Mocha with one sleeve of her bright blue sweater rolled up to look at a nasty hand-shaped bruise on her forearm. She'd noticed it while getting dressed this morning, but couldn't remember where or how she'd gotten it.
Not Gavin, she knew. So where?

Out of curiousity she rested her left hand on the bruise and it matched exactly. One palm, four fingertips and one thumb. She'd done this to herself.
When? Why?
Shivering a little, she crossed her arms over her chest and took a sip of coffee.

Charlie bopped gently to the music from the CD player and almost splashed paint onto a board using a very broad hog hair brush. He was trying to get away from his usual slightly finicky approach to painting and use a much freer style, and so had his eyes and mind wide open. It was going quite well. The colours were zinging and arranging themselves in pleasant swirls that were beginning to look like - something. He wasn't sure what yet.

But absorbed though he was he had half an eye on Anastasia and part of the point of the way he was 'looking' was that he hoped to see if anything odd tried to interfere with her.

So far all he'd seen had been a couple of dozen of the little vagrant pale spots that often accompanied him around the Manor, and one rather worried gentleman in US Army uniform circa 1870 who had pushed back his hat and scowled at a list in his hand before fading into the wall.

So far so good.