grady barrett (ashadowgrows) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2018-01-27 08:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | #group scene, #september 2017, grady, grady x hunter, grady x jen, hunter, hunter x jen, jen |
Who: Grady, Hunter and Jen
When: Monday, September 25th, Evening
Where: Home
Status: Complete
For the most part, the day hadn’t been too terrible. The heavy ball of discomfort that had weighed Grady down the day before had diminished significantly - though the ominous feeling that had plagued him all day still lingered. The fog hadn’t let up, and the department had issued a warning for drivers to stay off the roads if at all possible. Not everyone was willing to heed the police department’s request, as Grady had seen plenty of people drive by with their headlights on, and he had responded to quite a few fender benders throughout the day, including a car driven by a teenage girl that had hit a tree. She was fine, thankfully… the car, not so much.
It was near impossible for Grady to clock out and go home for the night. He would eventually, but with all of the issues the town was having, he didn’t feel right leaving his deputies to deal with the messes. That didn’t mean he didn’t want to check on his kids. Texting or calling didn’t feel adequate enough. He wanted to see them both with his own two eyes to ensure they were safe and at home where he’d asked them to be. So around dinner time, Grady drove the station’s SUV to Dino’s Pizzeria and ordered a large pizza with breadsticks to take home to Hunter and Jen. He had no idea if they had eaten or not, but he would rather they have something of some substance than say, cereal or a cold sandwich. Pizza wasn’t the healthiest of meals, but Grady didn’t have a lot of time and it wasn’t like he could call their mother to help him out.
It was slow going, but the SUV’s headlights were bright and helped him get home faster, and safer, than if he’d taken his own car. Once he parked in the driveway, Grady managed to get inside without incident. The fog was unbelievably thick still, making it near impossible to see more than a foot or two in front of himself. It didn’t seem to be affecting any of the nearby towns if the news was to be believed. It wasn’t like Grady could safely drive out of Point Pleasant to check.
He forced the issues out of his mind as he walked down the hall toward the kitchen. “Hey, I’m home,” he called out so his kids could hear him. Grady set the pizza box and small box holding the breadsticks on the counter, wishing he could grab a beer from the fridge and just relax. “I brought dinner!”
Hunter and Jen were lounging on the couch when Grady came home. More accurately Jen was the one doing the lounging while Hunter was furiously typing on his phone getting more anxious by the second.
He went tense when he heard the front door open, certain it was whatever was out there in the fog coming in there to get him until he heard his father's voice. That made relief rush through him to the point where he almost felt like bawling and he lept off the couch to go meet him in the hall. Jen grunted as he left her there since he sort of kicked her when he got up but she didn't pull out her earbuds or otherwise acknowledge his crazy ass. He had that one coming since he wouldn't talk to her about what was happening. He wasn't even sure why he didn't want her to know he'd been seeing things. It was just embarrassing. Now that his dad was home he might calm down a little. His dad would know what to do if something came in there, he was the sheriff and he was dad.
"Hey!" he said, too eagerly as he rushed into the kitchen. "You're home! Are you staying?"
Grady blinked at the sight of Hunter appearing so quickly. He figured he'd have to yell a couple more times to get their attention, but then again, they were probably going a bit stir crazy being stuck inside. As usual, Grady felt a sliver of guilt when Hunter asked if he was staying. Being a cop in this town was a full time job and he was more aware of it now that Hunter and Jen had moved in with him. "Unfortunately I can't," he said with an apologetic look. "There's been issues all over town since the fog rolled in, but I wanted to come by and bring you dinner." He resisted adding on the urge to check up on them. "Everything okay here? Where's Jen?"
"I'm here," Jen said from behind them as she shuffled into the kitchen, her headphones around her neck now and her phone in her pocket. "Hunter's been freaking out all day about the fog," she muttered in reply to Grady's other question.
"No I haven't," Hunter snapped at her because it wasn't the fog that was the problem. It was whatever the hell was in it. "Did you see anything out there?" he asked anyway, turning his attention back to Grady. "Anything... weird?" He hated the idea that his dad kept going out there. It felt at least a little safer in here with walls and glass between him and those red eyes but he was almost certain that if he stepped outside that something would get him.
Jen swallowed down the 'see?' comment that was right there on her lips, going about getting them plates and glasses instead. "I bet he saw a lot of fog," she murmured. "Right dad?"
Grady turned toward Hunter, glancing at Jen curiously when she mentioned her brother freaking out. 'Weird' seemed to be the word people used most in this town. His brow arched at the questions, unsure as to how to answer. Was Hunter looking for something specific from him? "I did see a lot of fog," Grady said, shooting Jen a look to try and deter her from antagonizing her brother. "I've seen a lot of car accidents," he added, returning his attention to Hunter. "We've asked people to stay inside, but we can't force them to follow the warning. Can't see much beyond that thought, to be honest. Why?" It could have been an innocent question, one from a curious teenager in the midst of unusual weather, but if Hunter really was 'freaking out' as Jen put it, Grady wanted to know why.
Hunter waffled a bit, not wanting to tell Grady what had happened because in all honesty it sounded insane, but at the same time he wanted to tell him everything and have his dad fix it somehow. "I thought I saw someone outside the window... Like creepy close," he mumbled finally. "I mean. I did see someone. But he was gone when Jen came down to look." He? More like It. That had not been human, unless it was someone playing a really mean prank on him using some kind of gimmick to make it look like a red-eyed monster. That was something Hunter would have liked to believe but it didn't explain all the other weird stuff that had been happening to him. He watched as Jen plopped down and helped herself to a pizza, realizing his own stomach was kind of growling so he sat down too, pulling his plate closer.
Grady looked toward the window, frowning. It would be easy to let one's imagination run wild in this kind of weather, especially teenage kids. But he didn't exactly doubt that Hunter had seen someone close to the house. Grady was the Chief of Police, and he was sure there was more than a handful of people who didn't like him much. "I'll take a look around the perimeter before I head out," Grady said as he sat to eat with his kids. "But just make sure to keep the doors locked when I go, and call if you see them again. Could just be someone messing around. It would be easy to do in this weather. It's nothing to be concerned about," he assured Hunter, because he felt like his son needed it. "The fog should be easing up soon." He didn't know that for sure, but he was a parent, and parents were supposed to make their kids feel safe.
For a moment Hunter was tempted to tell Grady everything that had happened and how it probably wasn't a person out there messing with him. He didn't though because his dad would never believe him, he was the most down to earth man Hunter knew and Hunter knew he wouldn't believe it either if he hadn't seen it all himself. There was also a little shame in play, like he should have known better than to play with the supernatural, even if he didn't believe in it.
"I hope so," he mumbled instead, clinging to his father's reassurance. The fog had to clear up, that was what fog did - or was supposed to do. The mere thought of it lingering for days and days was terrifying and Hunter wondered if people would leave town if it did.
Grady studied Hunter as he took a bite of his pizza before his eyes ticked to Jen. She didn't seem as bothered by the weather as her brother but Grady had found very few things seemed to get under her skin. Hunter had always been pretty laid back about things too, so maybe there was more to the fog problem than Grady knew. He just wasn't sure how to go about asking without potentially alienating his son. He focused on Jen instead while he tried to work out how to talk to his kids in a way that didn't seem like an interrogation. "Hey, did you ever find out what that bag was?" he asked, thinking back to what they had found in the tunnel. He had almost forgotten about it after leaving it in Jen's hands.
Jen nodded. "It was a hex bag, like I thought," she said even if she knew he didn't believe in those things. That was okay, he could still be educated in them, it might help him out later. "There was no way to tell what it does though, only the witch who made it knows that so I made sure it was taken care of and neutralized." She gave him a little smile before continuing to chomp down on her pizza, certain that Hunter was looking at her with his usual exasperated befuddlement as he always did when she talked about things he neither believed in nor understood.
This time Hunter was not really staring at her, he was thinking about witches and how maybe a witch would know what to do even if it was oh my God so fucking stupid to even think about it.
Grady chewed his pizza slowly, watching Jen with what he hoped was a neutral expression rather than a slightly worried, slightly skeptical one. His gaze ticked back to Hunter, but his son seemed preoccupied rather than aware enough of the conversation to take the opportunity and mock his sister. "Hex bag," Grady repeated after wiping his mouth with a napkin. "And how did you... neutralize it, exactly?" No he didn't believe in witches or hex bags, but his daughter did and honestly, he was curious for her answer. Given everything that had happened with the Rogan’s and this fog, Grady found his patience wearing thin in terms of needing a valid explanation for everything.
Jen didn't really want to tell her dad about Rost because while she knew their friendship was perfectly fine, other people might just see a creepy old man and a teenage girl. It was the price she had to pay for still being young. So she lied, fibbed more like it. He didn't need to know the details of it all. "A friend of mine at school knows a witch," she said with a little shrug. "I'm not a witch so I can't do it myself." She gave Grady a knowing little smile. "It's okay dad, you don't have to believe in it but I do."
Hunter did give her that exasperated look now but there was less bite to it than usual and he sighed quietly before looking at Grady. "Will you be here tonight?" he asked. "I mean, you gotta sleep, right?"
His brows lifted a bit at that, imagining young kids dressed in emo clothes, pretending to be witches. Grady was going to guess that one of them took the 'hex bag' and smoked it. "I don't... not... believe it..." Grady quickly took another bite of pizza just to keep himself from putting his foot in his mouth. He didn't want to alienate his daughter when they were starting to talk a bit more, even if the conversational topics included ridiculous notions like hex bags. Thankful for Hunter's question, Grady nodded and waited until he'd swallowed his pizza before answering. "It'll be late, but yeah, I'll be home tonight." He would be on call, of course, but he was always on call. "If this fog doesn't let up, I'm guessing you won't have school tomorrow either, but I want you both here until it's safe to drive."
"I'm not going anywhere," Hunter told him firmly because outside was awful right now, with the fog and the thing. Of course it was Jen who needed telling and he shot her a pointed look which she didn't even noticed since she wasn't looking at him. Typical. "So is it totally crazy out there?" he asked between munches of his pizza as he attempted not to get whiny about how his dad was never at home. It was part of the deal and he'd sworn up and down that it would be okay, he still wanted to move to Point Pleasant. If he started waffling now Grady might send them back to Portland.
Grady knew how teenagers could be. Not truly understanding the danger they could find themselves in, placating their parents with lies while feeling invincible. But Hunter sounded sincere enough and being the kids of the chief of police probably meant they weren't able to get away with as much as some of the other kids were. "It's not crazy, necessarily," Grady said. "At times a bit chaotic, mostly people trying to drive in this and realizing they can't, or shouldn't be. We may have to enforce a level two emergency just to keep people inside until this clears up." That was usually saved for snow emergencies, but this fog seemed just as dangerous as the blizzards that came through Point Pleasant every winter. "Are you two doing okay here? Do you need anything before I head back in? Do you need me to bring anything home?"
"Can you pick up some milk on the way home? For breakfast tomorrow," Jen said while Hunter could only think of needy little things like 'you home safe' and 'please stay home because I'm freaking out'. He shrugged and shook his head, not really remembering anything they needed.
"Maybe more batteries...? In case the power goes out again?" he finally muttered and thought he could also use a gun, a crucifix and about ten hot bodyguards if he really wanted to feel safe tonight.
Grady nodded. "Milk and batteries," he said. "I can do that. I know it's tough being cooped up inside all day, but this weather will pass soon." He didn't want to tell them that once winter hit hard, it would be tough to do just about anything, especially with the snow fall that they tended to get. Not that Point Pleasant was any worse than Portland, but living right off of the ocean made things a bit more difficult in terms of the chill. "Once it does, I can take some time off of work and we can do something. Catch a movie, or... something." What would teenage kids want to do with their dad? Grady had no idea whatsoever, but he was still going to try and come up with something entertaining. He constantly reminded himself that he needed to make time for them, even if they were old enough to take care of themselves in his absence.
Hunter had a feeling that Grady would take the night off to do something right when Hunter wanted to be doing something else, wasn't that how it always went? He wanted his dad to stay home now because now was scary and uncomfortable. Not on a night when the dance was at school or there might be another party at Jules Cooper's house or something. He still smiled and nodded. "We could go see that bodyguard movie," he suggested with a shrug. "It looks funny." And there was no way he was going to go see anything scary in the theater ever again.
Bodyguard movie. Grady had no idea what that was. The only bodyguard movie he knew about had Whitney Houston in it, and he doubted that was the movie Hunter was talking about. It didn't matter. "Yeah, sure," he said with a small smile. "We'll do that." He took a bite of pizza before looking over at Jen. He was betting she had no real interest in a funny movie about bodyguards, but still... "What'd you say, Jen? Movie night soon?"
Hunter was about ready to say they could go even if she didn't want to because he was almost certain she wouldn't want to go with them. He was already on edge and just the thought that she might ruin this made him far more upset than it should but it was a tantrum that got suffocated at birth since Jen just nodded.
"Movie sounds good," she said and Hunter let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"Any special time you wanna go?" he asked and tried to swallow down that upset feeling but it all lingered from earlier that day with all the shit that was happening so it was hard.
Grady wasn't opposed to spending alone time with Hunter, but he certainly never wanted his daughter to feel left out. If he could include her, he absolutely would. It usually came down to whether or not she wanted to be included. Grady set the remaining crust down on his plate and felt his phone buzz. He pulled it out and glanced at Hunter. "I'd say whenever this fog clears up. That sound okay to you?" He gave a glance at the message waiting for him and sighed. "I've got to get back, though. Are you sure you two are going to be okay until I get home later?
Hunter almost protested that he'd just gotten home because damn, he hadn't even been there for twenty minutes. But he was the sheriff and things were crazy out there. They just happened to be crazy here too. He failed not to look exceptionally pouty for a couple of seconds before he caught himself and nodded. "We'll call you if anything happens," he mumbled sullenly.
Jen had finished eating and reached for a tissue across the table, glancing between Hunter and her dad. "It's okay," she said. "I'll protect him with my life while you're gone." It was a light hearted comment but the look she gave Hunter wasn't void of sympathy. Her brother was scared for some reason and she'd try to be a good sister when he needed her to be.
Grady knew he'd just gotten home, but it wasn't a normal day, unfortunately. He was actually a bit surprised at how sullen Hunter was about it, since his kids always seemed pretty self sufficient and more than okay when he wasn't at home. Sometimes Grady thought this was a teenager's dream, being left to their own devices for the majority of the day. Maybe without their dad being a cop, but still. Grady cocked a brow at Jen, but then nodded as he moved to stand. "Yeah, I know you will. You two will be fine. Just stay inside and call me if you need anything." He paused after lifting his plate to take to the sink and looked at Hunter. "You sure you're okay?"
For a second Hunter considered telling his dad everything but he decided against it for now so he nodded instead. "Cabin fever," he said quietly. "And that prank thing at the window... I don't know."
Jen looked between them and shrugged. "If you want dad to drive you you could always go to Mak's place, I don't mind being alone." Maybe he'd feel better being in a house with grownups or something but Jen actually liked being by herself. It meant she could do things she couldn't do when Hunter was around.
Grady could understand cabin fever. Especially in this weather, where it felt like a hazy, gray blanket was draped over the house and you couldn't even see outside. He very nearly protested Hunter going anywhere, but he knew where the Richberg's lived, and he didn't want to deny Hunter the opportunity to get out and see a friend if it would help him feel a bit better. "I can drive you if you want," Grady offered. "As long as they don't mind keeping you there until my shift ends." He probably should have told Jen he didn't want her to be home alone, but Jen was... more than self sufficient. He actually didn't worry about her as much as he probably should have.
"Really?" Hunter said and visibly perked up a little. He definitely would prefer staying with Mak because she knew what was going on and her parents were actually home but he still had to wonder about his sister. She hadn't been there during the ouija board nonsense and she hadn't been seeing anything weird lately so maybe she was okay. He quickly decided that yes, she was fine because he really, really wanted to go to Mak's "Let me just call her real quick and check? I could just spend the night, they never mind me doing that..." He was already getting his phone out, as if time was of the essence and if he didn't hurry, either Jen or Grady might change their minds.
"Sure," Grady said, taking his plate to put it in this sink while Hunter made his phone call. Generally he would have said no to Hunter spending the night at a girl's house, but, well, Hunter wasn't interested in girls, and from what he understood, Mak wasn't interested in boys, so he wasn't terribly worried about it. He rinsed off his plate and left it in the sink before returning to the table to look at Jen. "You okay with this? I don't want you to be uncomfortable here alone."
"I like being alone," Jen reassured him rather than remind him she wasn't alone since she had her snails and beetles. "I'll call if I need you guys and if something happens I can run over to the neighbors." They did have nice neighbors though she would rather not have to go over there for any reason. "He's the one who's freaking out so he should get to go," she added, gesturing at Hunter who was already chatting with Mak, looking a little more chipper than he had all day.
Grady didn't consider those bugs to be adequate company. At least not company that could help Jen if someone tried to break in. Not that Grady expected that to happen, but he tried to think of every scenario, especially when it came to his kids' safety. Grady glanced at Hunter and sighed before turning back to Jen. "Okay, but don't answer the door for anyone, and call me if anything strange happens or someone tries another prank at the window. I'll call you in a bit to check in, okay?"
"Okay, dad," Jen said sweetly and she had no intention of going against his words this time. She wasn't afraid but she knew people could be shitty, even more so since her dad actually dealt with shitty people for a living. "If you don't get home too late there's a show on I'd love to watch with you," she added. "Crime stuff, you can pick it apart and tell me how inaccurate it is." When it came to having fun with her dad that was pretty much the best thing she could think of and one day she hoped they could bond over stuff in an actual professional capacity when he'd stop trying to shelter her from everything.
Grady chuckled. He had a feeling a lot of their father/daughter bonding in the future would probably revolve around 'crime stuff'. It gave him pause, but not so much that he would try to steer her interests elsewhere. Jen was Jen, and he didn't want to stifle that. As long as she didn't put herself in harm's way, anyway. "That sounds good," Grady said with a nod. "I'll try not to get home too late." Not that he ever wanted to drag his feet when he was finishing up a shift, but he would try harder tonight to be able to leave the station for awhile so he could spend some time with Jen, especially if she was home alone. "You ready?" he asked Hunter.
"Yeah," Hunter said and then got up and moved around the table to actually give Jen a hug. It was a little awkward since she was still sitting down but that was okay. "Thanks," he whispered and he knew he'd invite her to come along if he thought there was a chance in hell she'd want to join him.
"You're welcome," Jen said with a little huff of a laugh since it wasn't really a chore to let him leave. She still gave his arm a little pat and then smiled at Grady when Hunter backed off. "See you tonight."