Who: JC and Gabriel When: Monday, Nov 6, late afternoon Where: JC’s apartment Status: Complete
It had been a long-ass drive. Gabriel had broken it up into three days, something he had to do when he was traveling with three animals, and for his own sanity. He’d started the drive out tired, having hurriedly packed up as much stuff as he could fit into his SUV, and the rest of it had been a mix of a test of endurance and cheap-ass motels. He wasn’t leaving New Orleans with a lot of money, and what little he had, he wanted to preserve as much as possible. His auntie JC was being a saint already for taking him in, and Gabriel wanted to be on his feet as quick as he could up in Point Pleasant.
Finally, finally, he was pulling up to Haven Park Apartments. Anubis was in the front seat, already whining low in his throat, eager to get out and stretch those long legs. Bast was in her carrier in the back, probably just as eager but more quiet about it. Gabriel parked his vehicle and gave a little groan as he climbed out. Anubis was right behind him, and Gabriel let him out without bothering to attach his leash. The dog never strayed far from him, and he obviously needed to pee. Once that business was done, Gabriel headed up to his aunt’s apartment door, the big dog trotting along at his heel. He knocked on the door to let her know he was there before he tried the doorknob.
The past week had been pretty crazy in Point Pleasant, first there was the ‘incidents’ on Halloween which they put down to drugged candy (which JC didn't believe for a minute as it had only happened to select people and not everyone) and that night had ended with at least two deaths as well as several serious injuries. And then just a few nights ago -- on the night of the full moon -- Jared's ex wife was killed in an ‘animal attack’ though again JC knew better, it sounded like a were beast attack more than some random bear or normal wolf.
A few hours beforehand she had received a message from Gabriel, giving her an update on his location on his trip up from New Orleans. She didn't ask why or for details as to why her nephew had suddenly wanted to leave the city he loved so much, she'd help him as much as she could. Hearing the knock on the door JC knew who it was, with a smile she walked from the kitchen to the front door. “You made it!” She gave him a hug. “My, Anubis has grown up so much! Only seemed like yesterday that he was a puppy. Need me to help you with anything from your car?” She knew that Gabriel would have brought more than Anubis with him and after hours in the car neither man nor beast should be left in the car.
“Hey auntie,” Gabriel greeted her with a bright smile. He had a lot of relatives, but JC had always been one of his favorites. He’d always loved her visits and her stories. And her cooking, but that was true of all his aunties and several uncles too. He stepped inside, gave her a warm hug and a smooch on the cheek. “Yeah, he’s a big ‘ole boy,” he agreed fondly about his dog, reaching down to scratch Anubis’s head. The Doberman was sniffing at JC politely. Gabriel had reassured him many times that they were going somewhere friendly, so he wasn’t too on guard, and he obediently trotted deeper into the apartment to sit and wait at Gabriel’s silent command. “Yeah, uh ... I’ve got a cat and a snake, and prob’ly too many bags, but I wanted to come up and say hi first,” he said. Gabriel turned and stepped back outside. He could fetch the rest of his familiars and the bag that had his important stuff in it, the rest could wait.
JC had been warned about Gabriel's ‘entourage’ and she didn't mind at all, she knew that her nephew’s magic had manifested itself in such a way that he was able to communicate with animals and had become quite powerful. “As long as they don't mess in my apartment they're all welcome, don't want to lose my deposit.” She smiled at Gabriel and followed him out to the car, with Anubis guarding JC didn't feel worried that she had left the door open. At the car she picked up the carrier, murmuring soft reassurances to the cat inside as she carried it back to her apartment. “I've set you up in my workroom, hope you don't mind sharin’ it.” She said once they were both back inside, it was either the twin bed in the spare room or the couch and unsure how long Gabriel needed to get on his feet she decided the spare room was better and a bit more private.
“They’ll be good, promise,” Gabriel told her with a smile as they headed back to the car. He would make sure of it -- his familiars were no ordinary pets. He let JC take Bast while he slung his duffel bag over one shoulder and picked up Lucy in her plastic box. He had her glass terrarium packed in the back of the SUV, but plastic would work until he could get it all set up. There were a couple of small heating pads inside underneath layers of towels and bedding. “Nah, I don’t mind at all,” he said, flashing her another bright smile back inside the apartment. “And hopefully I’ll be outta your way before too long. I really appreciate you takin’ me in for now.” Gabriel toted his things and his babies to the spare room, glancing around curiously. JC had moved around quite a bit of his life, so he hadn’t spent a lot of time in her space, and it was interesting to see.
“You're welcome to stay as long as you need to, just don't make too much of a mess and don't bring anyone home.” She said with a smile, her rules were pretty simple and she was sure that Gabriel would abide by them. Her work room was pretty sparse, just the old desk she had brought with her from Mississippi and a dozen or so small wooden boxes which held the essentials, she didn't want it looking too obvious if anyone else entered the room. “You're welcome to use anything.” JC nodded at the desk. “Just let me know what you use so I can replace it. I'll leave you to get settled in, if you need me I'll be in the kitchen.” She had made a start on the evening meal but it was interrupted by Gabriel's arrival, turning she left the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
“Aight, be down in a bit,” Gabriel told her. Anubis had followed them into the room, and Gabriel took a bit of time with the door shut to let Bastet and Lucy out of their cages. He stretched out on the floor to reassure them, watching them explore the room Gabriel made sure they understood that they didn’t have free reign of the entire apartment -- Anubis got more territory, naturally, being the biggest -- and that they shouldn’t try to mark any corners or anything. This was a temporary home for all of them, and everybody needed to behave. He put food down for Bast and water for everyone, changed into some more comfortable clothes, washed his face, and then wandered downstairs. He heaved a tired sigh to announce himself, and leaned in the doorway to the kitchen, watching JC do her thing. “That was a long-ass drive,” Gabriel said. “Makes whatever you’re makin’ smell even better.”
JC had set up a litter tray for Bast in the upstairs bathroom next to the toilet, she had cats in the past and had said to Gabriel before he had arrived that she didn't mind if she had a visitor on her bed sometimes, just as long as there wasn't hair everywhere. She had a private chuckle at the idea of taking Anubis for a walk -- just to see the looks on those people's faces who still looked at her like she didn't belong, because a black woman walking down the street with a Doberman that almost came up to her hip was not something that would be a common sight in the town. But she'd ask Gabriel before she even thought of taking Anubis outside, she would also warn him about the looks and things he might get, remembering what Ty had told her when he first came around for coffee. “Mmhmm, now you know why I prefer to fly when I come down to visit. But you're here now safe and sound.” She stepped away from the stove where she had a jambalaya cooking with some fresh local seafood and got a beer from the fridge that she had got for when she had company before handing it to Gabriel. “Go sit down and relax, it'll be a little while longer. Everyone settling in?”
If it had just been a visit, Gabriel definitely would have flown. But he was uprooting his life, at least for a while, and that required bringing more stuff than he wanted to pay to ship. Plus, if he was going to be independent here, he needed a vehicle. So a long road trip it was. He was just extremely glad he could communicate with his babies more than most people could. They hadn’t been happy about all the cramped driving, but they’d understood. He accepted the beer with a grateful murmur and went to claim a chair at JC’s kitchen table. Gabriel felt like he could flop onto the couch and sleep for a few hours, but it would be rude not to visit for a while, especially since she was cooking for him. “Yeah, they’re just happy to be stretchin’ their legs, I think,” he said, then gave a little chuckle and cracked his beer open. “Metaphorically, for Lucy. Good to be home finally. So how you been, auntie? You said somethin’ crazy happened Halloween?”
Having made it this far north in stages, moving from one job to another, JC could only imagine the long trip that Gabriel and his ‘passengers’ had made, especially in only a few days. She was just glad that everyone arrived safely and they could spend the next day or two recovering. “Well it would be hard for a python to stretch their legs, you can set up the terrarium down here if you wish, the rooms here aren’t exactly the largest I’ve lived in but they’re not the smallest either.” She stirred the jambalaya a bit more and using a spoon got some of the rice to test if it was cooked enough.
“The official story put out there was someone laced candy with PCP that made people think they were whatever their costumes were, unfortunately someone decided to dress up as Leatherface and that didn’t end well, he killed someone and then went for the officers who were called to investigate, they ended up having to shoot him.” JC shook her head remembering. “But it seemed that the costumes came from the one place and I think they were enchanted somehow, the owners up and left when I went to investigate the next day.” Despite everything that was said ‘officially’ she knew magic was involved somehow. “And then there was an animal attack on Saturday night.” She gave Gabriel a look, he knew a full moon had just passed. “I work with the victim’s ex husband and I think everyone’s still in shock.” So, I might not be here that much over the next few days.”
Gabriel listened while he nursed his beer, brows lifting and then scrunching up at the ‘official’ explanation. He was glad that a lot of New Orleans wasn’t so blind as to try to explain or believe that kind of bullshit. People there Knew a lot more than people here, it seemed like. But from what JC had told him, Point Pleasant was a special kind of fucked up. “Man,” he drawled when she was done, letting out a low whistle and shaking his head a bit. “Sounds like a mess. Sorry for your co-worker ... you know how many weres there are in the area?” He definitely knew what attacks on the full moon meant, and it wasn’t from no rabid bear or something. “Lucky the costumes were just a one-holiday thing.” At least Gabriel hoped they were. It sounded like very specific Halloween magic to him. Somebody out to sow chaos as much as they could.
JC had learned in the short time that she had lived in Point Pleasant that most of the population liked to live with their heads in the sand and remain clueless as to what was going on around them. Helping Madison with the missing person cases over a week ago had cemented that fact, how anyone could just ignore the amount of disappearances and kids returned months or years later with amnesia that had occured in this town was beyond her. “I think there’s one or two apex predators, there was more a few months ago but people move on.” The jambalaya was ready so she got out two bowls and spooned a healthy serving into one of the bowls and put it and a spoon in front of Gabriel. “There’s also an anaconda, I had a run in with him soon after I arrived. Had to tranquilize him after he tried to attack me.” Getting her own bowl she sat down at the table opposite her nephew. “Did you ever come across any were-snakes in New Orleans? That’s where the man said he was turned.” If anyone would know about weres in their city, it would be Gabriel.
Gabriel murmured his thanks as JC set the food in front of him, sitting up straighter and picking up the spoon to start to dig in. He was listening as he ate, of course, making note that she thought there had been more were-monsters than there currently were. Gabriel was pretty sure he could find out, with a bit of research into the eyes and ears that nobody paid attention to in the world. Animals and birds knew more about what went on in the dark than humans ever would, you just had to know how to listen to them. His brow quirked at the question and he looked thoughtful for a moment. “I heard rumors,” he said. “Never seen any myself. But I think there was at least one around. Couple’a wolves, definitely some were-crocs. They mostly stick to the waterways though. He’s from New Orleans too? Huh. Big change, comin’ up here.”
Any information would be appreciated, if there was one thing JC was proud of it was Gabriel and the kind of witch that he had grown up to become. The abilities had skipped a couple of generations but she was glad that they were still alive and strong. “He said he grew up here and moved down there for a while before it happened, afterwards he moved back home. I’m a bit worried about how he’ll go over winter, even though he’s a were a snake is a snake and cold blooded and snow don’t really mix.” While most people thought of were-creatures as just the animal, many forgot that underneath lay a human just like them. She made a ‘mmm’ sound of satisfaction at how the jambalaya had turned out, while it wasn’t truly authentic it was delicious and filling and probably what Gabriel needed after his time on the road. “Want me to give you a quick tour of the town tomorrow or you happy to explore for yourself?”
Gabriel nodded his understanding -- from Maine to New Orleans and back was still a lot of culture shock. This whole place looked different than home, and while he was trying to maintain optimism that he would settle nicely into a new life up here, it was still disconcerting. He grunted around his food and looked thoughtful for a moment. “Sounds like he needs a place to stay during the moons,” he said once he’d swallowed. “Somewhere with heat. Think he’s made plans for the next one?” Were-creatures were people too, but they needed to be contained during the full, for their safety and everyone else’s. He flashed his aunt a grin across the table. “I don’t mind doin’ some exploring myself. I know you’re a busy lady, and I’m good at sniffin’ out fun corners to poke around in.” He wasn’t scared of this town, either, in spite of all the stories. Gabriel could fend for himself. He stuffed some more jambalaya into his mouth and hummed appreciatively.
Despite the almost constant workload since her arrival and barely having a day off to just relax JC was starting to enjoy the small town, even with the ghosts, enchanted costumes and full moon incidents. She hoped that Gabriel would find that too, she wouldn’t admit it but she did miss having family close by, especially with the holiday season fast approaching. “There’s a lot of woodlands around this town, that’s where I came across him. If it wasn’t for the teenagers who decided to go drinking there and play loud bass music I doubt I would’ve even known he existed. I know where he works so might call in and see how he’s going, see if he needs any help.” That was one of the perks about working for the police, with someone’s name she could look up their details and any records the might have, the were-snake -- Zeke -- had nothing. “I’d also like your opinions on tweaking my were mojo bags, they were useless and I heard someone say that in Maine they’re more mindless beast than down south.” Though a lot of them were pretty mindless beasts there too. “You’ve got my number if you get lost. There’s a new place opening tomorrow afternoon, if going and playing old arcade and pinball games would be something that interests you. There’s also a park across the way if Anubis feels like stretching his legs.”
Gabriel nodded his agreement, it was a good idea to check up on the weresnake. They’d just had a full moon, after all. He felt bad for those with the curse. He knew there was magic out there that allowed someone to shift into an animal, and achieving that was one of his ultimate goals as a witch. It was just terribly complex and esoteric magic that very few living people knew how to do. On one level he kind of envied the weres’ opportunity to experience the world in such a different way, but that did not make up for the curse that came with it. “Sure auntie, I’ll look at whatever you want. Been lookin’ forward to this, actually, we never really sat down and compared magic, you know?” He took a swig from his beer and just enjoyed where he was for a second -- good spices warming his belly, something cool to wash it down, real leg room. It was nice to finally be there. “I’ll check those out, though,” he added before another bite of jambalaya. “Ain’t played an arcade game in a minute.”
“Our old Hoodoo is nothin’ compared to what flows through your veins, but I am glad that you were taught both forms, knowledge is power.” It would be interesting to get Gabriel’s advice on how to improve on the old family recipes and those that she had picked up along the way, maybe a bit of real magic would help. “Well if you’re not home for supper tomorrow I’ll know where to find you.” JC said, half joking, she would cook him meals if he wanted them but didn’t expect him to be there every evening, she’d just put his in the fridge for when he did get home and felt hungry. “There’s also a little tea shop downtown that I’m told sells everything you might need for spells, I don’t think they’d serve me ‘cause I ain’t a ‘real’ witch.” It was somewhere that came highly recommended but as yet a place she hadn’t got around to inspecting. “The spare key’s up on my old desk, come and go as you please.”
Gabriel gave a derisive little snort. “If they don’t serve you, they ain’t gonna get my business either,” he said firmly, shaking his head a bit. He would always have family solidarity. And any place that was too snobby to recognize that there was more than one way to do magic wasn’t worth his time. Gabriel had grown up in such a magically diverse environment, he barely saw the division between the people who made things happen like his auntie and people like him. It was all part of the same rich and beautiful tapestry, some colors just got used more than others. He was powerful, but his family had kept his ego in check about it. For the most part, anyway. “Thanks for the tip though,” he said as he finished up what was in his bowl. “How’s the barber shop in town? I was thinkin’ about rentin’ out a space to do some hair in, but ... I dunno, this town’s pretty white.” He flashed her a little smile.
As nice as it was to support local businesses if this ‘tea’ shop wouldn’t sell to her because she practiced a different kind of magic then there were plenty of places that would sell to them, it might just have to be via mail order instead of in person. Reaching over the table she gave Gabriel’s arm a pat. “You’re such a gentleman, Gramma would be so proud of you.” Gramma was what they had called her maternal grandmother -- the matriarch -- and thankfully she had lived to see that one of her great grandchildren had magic flowing through their veins. She was stubborn as all hell and many times JC thought that her spirit was still around them, especially when a spell wasn’t going quite right and she could imagine Gramma saying that she was doing it all wrong. “I’m not sure about the barber but I will say that the ladies hairdresser in town has no idea, I’ve had to go across the border into Canada in order to get someone who knows what do with my hair.” JC said with a chuckle, thankfully the border wasn’t that far away and it was only about half an hour’s drive to go and see someone who had any kind of idea of what to do with a black woman’s hair.
Gabriel beamed at the compliment -- any approval from Gramma was high praise. Would’ve been. He’d often thought he was lucky to grow up surrounded by so many strong and fabulous women. They’d definitely given him an incredible foundation. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly at the rest of what she said. “Well that’s gonna stop, auntie JC,” he said. “Shop or no shop, I’mma take care of you from here on.” Even if he just started working out of an apartment, maybe there would be enough people of color to get the word around that he knew what he was doing with hair. He could do white hair too, of course, but in Gabriel’s experience not many white folks trusted him with their heads. Maybe it would be different up here in the ‘progressive’ north, but only time would tell. He stood up and gathered their empty bowls and glasses up to take them to the sink to do the dishes.
Though the males were taught if they showed interest, Hoodoo in their family seemed to be more of a matriarchal thing, passed from one generation of women to the next, sadly JC didn't have children of her own so was glad when Gabriel showed interest in learning all those years ago. “My own personal hairdresser… and one who knows how to do my braids just right! You keep my hair lookin’ good and I won't charge you rent.” She joked, she wouldn't charge him rent anyway, she was just glad to have a familiar face around. “Maybe I can convince Ty to stop shaving his head, I'm sure he's got a cute afro hiding there somewhere.” JC had told Gabriel about her coworkers and their preference for shaved heads. She was going to get up and protest as he gathered the dirty dishes but her nephew was just as stubborn as she was. “I'll come over and put the leftovers away in a bit.”
Once Gabriel was actually making some money, he fully intended on chipping in financially. At least until he could get out on his own. If he stayed here that long. All of it was still up in the air, and while that was kind of worrisome, he had the confidence to just go with the flow and see how it turned out. He had a lot of faith in himself to make his way. He glanced over his shoulder at her and laughed a bit. “I ain’t gonna argue with you drummin’ up as much business for me as possible,” he said. He kind of looked forward to meeting the officers he’d already heard about, curious about the people his aunt worked with. Gabriel just knew they’d better be good to her, she had backup around now, and he would always have her back. “It’s the least I can do. I’mma try not to put you out for too long.” He knew she would insist that he wasn’t, but having another person plus three pets in an apartment was still a bit change.
Until that time JC was happy to let Gabriel (and his pets) live there rent free, it was hard to get familiarized with a new place and look for work while worrying about where to live and how to afford food. JC was lucky that she had a bit saved away and had a job to go to when she had moved to Point Pleasant, hopefully her good fortune would rub off onto her nephew. “I’ll be tellin’ anyone I see.” Well, maybe not everyone. But she’d pass on his name to her co-workers and the few other people she had come to know in town. Getting up from her seat at the dining table she walked into the kitchen and close to Gabriel who was at the sink while she put the leftover jambalaya into some tupperware containers and then into the fridge.You’re all welcome to stay as long as you need, I hope that you like it here. Just take Anubis around with you a few times and those rednecks will be keepin’ their distance.” Anubis wasn’t really the big and vicious guard dog that he looked, though she wouldn’t want to get between the Doberman and his master or threaten either of them. “There’s a towel in the upstairs bathroom and the old relaxing blend if you can’t settle.” It was amazing what a mixture of herbs and other plants could do, she often ran herself a bath and used it when she was stressed out and unable to sleep, better than drugs anyday. “I’ll be upstairs if you need me.”