[center][hr][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjEwNi5mZmI2YzEuVG1WcmJ5QkRZWEppWld4c1lRLjA/fairy-mother.regular.webp[/img][/center][b]Interactions[/b]:Erik[@EpicRoleplay] Ophrenia[@silvermist1116] [right][b][code]The Summit Motel Parking Lot.[/code][/b][/right][hr]

Jasmine was lucky that Ophrenia had so successfully distracted Neko. If Neko’s attention hadn’t been split between the two there wouldn’t have just been further questioning. Instead, Jasmine would’ve gotten the full-on ‘parent angrily sitting in the dark to scare the shit out of their child who just got home several hours after curfew’ interrogation. Although Neko detected no malice in the way Jasmine spoke, it was rare for someone to ever use the phrase “unfinished business” to refer to anything someone would want their child involved in. Neko glared after Jasmine with a befuddled look on her face, the confusion compounded by Ophrenia’s wild belief that a piece of paper would ease the itch of a triggerhappy local.

Her hand reached for another cigarette but froze with it in her mouth when she looked up and caught sight of Charlie talking to the other members of Group Doctor. Neko heard the gagging voice of her daughter go [i]”Ewwww, Mooooom!”[/i] as she always did whenever she caught Neko sneaking a smoke. Nora would often add something about Neko living long enough to meet her grandkids as if it were an incentive and not even more things to worry about. Technically Charlie counted, right? Neko smiled and waved at her granddaughter via absurdity and joined the group gathering around Jen’s map, the smoldering cigarette crushed on the pavement by her boot. 

Erik was questioning Jen for more information. Neko looked down, feeling a knot of guilt in her stomach and fearing that she was personally responsible for destroying their organizer’s credibility. As if it were a form of a more sincere apology, Neko took it upon herself to answer the question instead.

[color=FFB6C1]“Sorry, but shouldn’t crocodiles be reason enough to not take the swamp path? How about leeches? Snakes? Flooding? Getting lost? Look normally I’d agree with getting more information,”[/color] said Neko, trying to soften the harshness of her interruption. She wanted to verify a few things with Erik later and didn’t want to completely piss him off before getting that chance. [color=FFB6C1]“But if the choice is between that or risking a bit of traffic and a couple of potholes I feel like the road is the only option.”

“I have a car,”[/color] mentioned Neko, turning to Ophrenia. [color=FFB6C1]“Z has her bike, obviously. I’m sure we have plenty of other vehicles so we don’t have to hoof it or make two trips.”[/color] Neko smiled lightly and with a chuckle added, [color=FFB6C1]“Like, I’m sure you all didn’t do something as wildly dangerous as hitchhiking to get here.”[/color]