Arista

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

Bryce helped as best as he could as Ellie helped him up the front stairs, body heavy in a way she knew meant exhaustion. The drive to his modest home hadn't taken too long, Bryce had drifted off and hadn't woken until she'd shaken him awake.

The door opens with a jingle of keys, Ellie shuffles inside with Bryce propped on her shoulder. Delta shuts the door behind them as she moves forward, letting Bryce go when they're near the couch. "Do I need to call Lydia?" She asks with an arched brow, hands settling on her hips as she peers down at her best friend.

"Smoke inhalation." He answers with a wrinkle of his nose, hand lifting to rub his right eye. "Captian Morgan said I'm off until I feel better, Lydia was with a paitent so I was seen by Nurse Salvatore which means she should be calling-" He's interrupted by a phone going off, nose scrunching up as a sigh leaves his lips.

"Hey, Lyds." Ellie replies once she's answered the call, Bryce is sitting up and unlacing his boots. She's met with muffled voices and what sounds like the beeping of a heart monitor, head tilting she waits for her friend to answer.

"Where the hell is he?" Her tone is sharp and angry, Ellie winces and exhales a breath. "If he went back to work after Nurse Salvatore checked him over-" Ellie clicks her tongue once, Lydia falls silent and for a moment no one speaks.

Until Bryce begins to cough, body hunching over his knees with a hand covering his mouth. "I brought him home, he was out looking for medicine for Cammie." There's a hiss down the line, Ellie rubs her hand along Bryce's back sympathetically. "Focus on your shift, Delta and I have these two taken care of." There's movement and a loud sigh, and then Lydia's voice is filling her ear once more.

"I'll text you the treatment for smoke inhalation, you're the best." The words bring a smile to her lips, Bryce slowly quieting as his coughing fit ends. "Don't be afraid to bully them into listening either, I gotta go." There's frustration in her tone, no doubt from experience dealing with two stubborn people.

"Bye bye." Ellie chirps before ending the call, stepping away and surveying the living room with narrowed eyes. Her phone buzzes in her hand, a detailed message of what Bryce can and can't do for the next few days. Humming softly she moves towards the thermostat and changes it, glancing at her friend who's tilting to one side where he's sitting. "Right, you should shower. I'll set it for you and you won't change it. And Cammie?" The front door opens just as she speaks, a familiar figure holding another smaller body in her arms meets her.

"Oh, Ellie thank god." Mckenzie sighs out as she steps inside, strawberry-blonde hair tied messily atop her head. A little head lifts up and she's met with blue eyes and small hands reaching towards her. "I hate to do this but Lindsay called and said we're so packed that she's about ready to start tossing pastries over the display to settle the crowd." Ellie takes Cammie and Mckenzie glances at her then Bryce and a worried frown settles on her lips. "I can help if you need an extra set of hands-" She beings while her eyes glance over her brother with concern, Ellie hoists Cammie higher on her hip and offers a shake of her head.

"You're fine, not the first time. If I need help I'll call." She says and she's met with hazel eyes focusing on her, Mckenzie glances at them all and pets Delta atop her head once before turning to the door.

"You better! Cammie has a cough and fever, an upset stomach and I was told she's already vomited. Behave you two! I'm sorry, Ellie!" And she's off with a wince and dip of her head, cheek dusted in flour Ellie doubts she's even noticed.

"Alright, Bryce shower. Cammie to bed and Delta...can you find Poppy, I'd rather not get bitten today." Delta takes off with a yip, Bryce stands shakily to his feet and Cammie sniffles and clings tighter to her.

Not what she expected her Saturday to turn into, but she doesn't mind so much.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

His response to her question had a brow arching up, though she didn't immediately reply. Ellie wasn't one to play easy for anyone, much less for someone who oozed a playboy persona like Calvin didn't. He didn't take it back though like one would think, which had her stomach squirming just slightly.

The mention of desserts had her expression smoothing out, back straightening in silent anticipation. She had a sweet tooth a mile wide, her eyes already scanning for the smaller menu the waiter had left behind earlier.

Her phone ringing has her blinking in surprise, because she has it set to vibrate for everyone except for a select few people.

Pulling it from her bag she's met with Bryce flashing across her screen, glancing up at Calvin she offers a sharp shrug and swipes the green button.

"Either I've been awake too long and I'm imaging things." His voice sounds like gravel, exhaustion clear as day even down the line. Brows furrowing she glances up and peers out the window, head tilting when she spots him not too far away.

"Hello to you to." She replies with confusion coloring her tone, she remembers him texting that he'd be on shift for the next twenty-four hours. His laugh sounds rough as it comes through the tiny speakers, the cough that follows has her brows pulling down further and a frown tugging her lips down.

"I was sent home early, large apartment fire that ended up with me going to the ER. Cammie needs meds, she's come down with-" Ellie inhales sharply and clicks her tongue, her free hand setting her spoon down.

"You should have started with that." She murmurs with a shake of her head, eyes lifting to Calvin and her lips lifting into a small sympathetic smile. She doesn't reply but ends the call, standing with an apologetic grimace settling on her face. Bryce was a friend of Sofia's who worked as a firefighter, a man she'd met more times then not on scenes or rarely when they made plans to go drink.

His wife Lydia worked as nurse with Sofia, she'd been the one to introduce them when they'd so happened to be in the ER waiting for a suspect to be treated after fleeing a scene. Cameron is a bundle of joy and a joy to have stay with her when her parents are both at work and she's off, its made her question if she really wants kids or not in her future.

"I'll have to ask for a rain check, my best friends daughter has come down with something and he needs to grab medicine for her." She's quietly explaining as she stands, Delta raises and shakes herself with a soft sigh. Finishing the last of her drink, she slings her bag over her shoulder and pauses for half a second.

She's pressing a kiss to his cheek within the next second, aware that a pair of hazel eyes are watching from not too far away. "Dasvidania." Ellie whispers against his skin, pulling away and turning to move towards the door. She pauses and bites her lip, half turning to glance at him and Stella who Delta had said goodbye to as well. "Thanks for lunch, we should do this again." Is out of her mouth before she can reel the words in, manners ingrained in her taking over for this moment.

Then she's pausing to leave some cash for her meal, then exiting out into the rain with Delta right beside her. Bryce hasn't moved from his spot, umbrella keeping him dry in the rain. He's wearing a beanie which hides his strawberry-blonde hair, cheeks dusted black with soot and eyes red at the edges. He's as tall as ever and his pale skin looks red, the hug she's folded into isn't unexpected at all. What is however is how she can feel heat radiating from him, squeezing carefully she holds him for a few seconds before pulling away. holding out a hand she's met with a blink of hazel eyes. "Keys." She demands with a wiggle of her fingers, Delta's rail wags happily as she leans into the large hand patting her head.

"I can drive." Bryce sasses back with a knuckle rubbing his nose, Ellie huffs out a sigh and shakes her head in fond exasperation at him.

"Keys." She repeats with a glare up at him, he holds her eyes for a second before sighing almost too carefully and shifting the umbrella so she's covered as well. He turns and gestures to his parked gray Honda Pilot, which is when she notices the bags in one hand.

"I wasn't walking around in scrubs, Jones was with me until I dropped him off at a Thai place and I quickly ducked into this store to change. And buy a toy for Cammie." His voice has dropped to a low whisper, broad shoulders hunching as if speaking causes him pain.

"Which is how you spotted me. Right, keys." Delta doesn't jump up immediately when the back door opens, Ellie dries her paws and body with a small towel she finds and Bryce confirms is clean, and then she's settling into the driver's seat once the door is closed. She can smell smoke from him as she turns to engine on, eyes glancing out to the restaurant where she can just make out Calvin's back and Stella's head.

She's not sure if she's just run away, or gracefully left with a legitimate excuse. She's not sure how to feel, glancing at Bryce who looks like he's dozing and then to the sky and its thick clouds. Sighing she shifts into Drive and shakes her head, silently debating on which pharmacy they should stop by.

If she sees him again she'll apologize.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

She almost snorted at his assumption of her being a chef, but instead thought of what dishes she favored. Russian cuisine was of course a given with French and even Spanish foods. "Asian." She replied with a tilt of her head, fingers tapping along the table before falling still. Though they hadn't been poor they'd picked up skills from watching their family members, in her case it had been her Grandfather Nikolai and Uncle Andrei who had taught her. Shaking her head slightly to rid the memories of standing beside her burly-muscled Grandfather and lanky Uncle, Ellie offers a shrug of her shoulders. "One would think I'd say Russian, but honestly with Asian cuisine it makes one want to invite their family and share it with them." Which usually ends up happening she doesn't add out loud, her apartment filled with the rich aroma of food and laughter.

She silently curses herself at her own words, teeth biting at the edge of her cheek. Telling anyone even a small cornel of truth can lead to any number of situations, and here she does just that as if she owes him anything. She adores what she does at the hospital there's no qualms there, it's that she's letting herself speak any of it outloud. She can't be vulnerable around just anyone, she can't let anyone in, she can't let herself show any weakness. His soft smile drew her attention, mental cursing stilling at his words.

The waiters arrival offered a distraction, though his eyes never do leave her even as he speaks to the young man. Like she was someone he didn't want to look away from, like she mattered when she was sure he had women lined up and ready to accompany him to wherever he went.

Movement beneath the table has her blinking, before shifting slightly to see what it could be. Seeing Stella sniffing Delta had her lips lifting into a small smile, heart warming when a lick was placed on her nose. Delta for her part stretches out her limbs, pressing in close to her feet before falling still again.

The clearing of his throat has her eyes lifting up from her plate, steam rising from the soup before her. His question had her pausing for a moment, because she didn't exactly have plans. She was on call if anything major happened but she didn't have a shift until Monday, Ellie hummed and lifted up her phone with a finger held up in a silent wait a moment gesture. "You've been nice company so far, you and Stella both." Ellie replied absently, focus split between the man before her and her screen. "As for further plans, no I don't have any until later in the day." She adds while her fingers fly across her screen, the message before her has her fighting a delighted grin from spreading across her lips.

Sofia(Sonya)
Stopping by later. I have a surprise for you. ♡

Me: I hate surprises.

Sofia(Sonya)
I know. But you'll love this one.

Her sister works crazy hours and shifts like her own, enough so that Ellie rarely gets to see her despite the fact that they live not to far from one another. She's not one for surprises but with how today is going so far, she's going to let the world do as it wants.

Slipping her phone away, she glances up at Calvin she offers an apologetic shrug as she lifts her spoon once more. "How would you make it worth my time? The rain doesn't look like it has plans on stopping soon." She remarks with a pointed look outside, voice teasing as she takes a sip of her soup.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

His response when it came, sounded genuine and held emotions that Ellie could almost feel. It helped assuage and disband the rant she had unconsciously been forming in her mind, enough so that she felt her shoulders relax and her expression soften. "It does." She replied with a half-smile lifting a corner of her mouth, fingers tapping along the cloth-covered table before falling still.

When Calvin replied to her question, his answer wasn't what she was expecting at all. He looked like someone who spent time outdoors, with people or attending lavish parties dressed in dazzling suits. As he continued to speak her mind brought the image to mind, though blurry at the edges with no real scene aside from him with a book and a glass of cabernet.

Eyes blinking at him when he asked her in then what she did, Ellie turned her gaze away from his for a second before returning them to him. "I love trying out new recipes to make." She replies with a hand lifting so that a knuckle can rub along the edge of her nose, shoulders rolling once before falling still. "If I'm not doing that it's a tie between watching trashy reality TV or reading a book." She bit the inside of her cheek with enough force for it to hurt, willing herself into silence before she really begins to babble.

It's far too close to the truth, to what she does when she's not at work or visiting her family.

"I..." Ellie began quietly, gaze focused on to the darkened street instead of Calvin's eyes. "I play piano at the hospital when I have time, nothing fancy or anything like that but it does seem to help." Her words are softly spoken, chest tighting with emotion at her own admittance. It had started as something to do when waiting to meet her sister for lunch or dinner, then she'd seen the expressions of a group seated in cushioned chairs once and it reminded in her mind for days. How tired they'd looked until the music reached them, how they'd relaxed and closed their eyes if only for a moment.

She was well known around the hospital now, with paitents even requesting video calls to hear her play when they couldn't get out of bed.

Coughing once and ignoring what felt like fire on her cheeks, Ellie lifts her glass and takes another sip of her drink.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

The rumble of thunder had Stella tucking herself closer to Calvin in search of comfort, a glance down at Delta showed her relaxed and slowly blinking as if falling asleep. Her nose wrinkled slightly at the rain pouring outside, not because she disliked it but because LA residents seem to become stupider when any change in climate happened.

The question had her blinking in genuine surprise, eyelashes fluttering unconsciously before she exhaled softly. "Fashion and Retail." She replied with a slight wave of her hand, gesturing down to her attire before lifting her glass up to her lips. Here at least she wasn't fully lying, her father wanted to help expand her mother's fashion store, small in Russia but growing in popularity. He himself doesn't mind handling the business aspect so she can focus on a dream she's had since childhood, his own dream of owning a clinic as a Pediatrician on hold due to a recent rather large surgery.

His almost nonchalance about what he does, has her frowning with a tilt of her head. Her parents loved their jobs, even her siblings despite their complaints and grumbling wouldn't change their careers unless they absolutely had to. She herself had clawed her way up a ladder filled with egotistical men who didn't believe a woman could be an investigator, she didn't quite understand. "How can you not be?" She asked with a brow arching up, mouth smoothing out as she watched the man before her. "How can you not be impassioned by the things you do?" Her glass is set down, head still tilted at him. Maybe it was an American thing? To choose so many different jobs and not care for them? Odd.

The arrival of their waiter had her glancing down at the menu she'd forgotten about, eyes flicking over each item until she settled on something somewhat familiar. Ordering a Cassoulet with a smile she focused on her companion once more, rain continuing to pour restlessnessly outside.

It felt odd to sit here with someone, with a stranger who didn't know what her actual job was of who she really was. Not that anyone here in LA really did, except her siblings and Director D'Angelo. And here she was building another lie that she had to keep closely guarded, much like her heart and wayward mind that liked to fixate on things until it consumed her completely.

She needed a drink. Maybe two.

"Tell me, what does someone with so much on his plate do to unwind?" She asks after taking a sip of her tea, legs crossing under the table as she settled in more comfortably. Though she was nonchalant towards him and wasn't too fond of his aggressive flirting, she had time to kill and with the rain outside continuing she didn't quite want to walk home just yet.

A series of quick vibrations came from inside her bag, muffled but easy to feel where it sat against her knees.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

The restaurant wasn't far, and yet the clouds above only seemed to darken further and take over more of the sky. The staff Calvin greeted by name grinned wide, she found it slightly odd but then again she'd somehow made friends with the head Librarian within the FBI's archives and books so she remained silent.

Delta settled on her side with her belly directly onto of her feet, folded hands resting atop the table once she'd set her bag agaisnt her stomach. Though no stranger to being flirted with, she rarely actually accepted any offers to meet for any sort of meal. The restaurant wasn't full but the air smelled of devious scents, the basket of bread before them lay untouched except for the piece that Calvin had taken.

His first question had her mentally flailing just a bit, though her expression remained pleasant. The compliment afterwards had her expression smoothing out, though a half smile remained on her lips. She had a story to follow and even though this hadn't been expected at all, Ellie knew she keep herself and her words in check. "I work for my father for the time being, his company while very popular in Russia is in need of an expansion." Her gaze left his rather intense eyes, a flash of lightning signaled the beginning of what looked like a very large storm. At the end of the day, this man who oozed the aura of someone who was rich and got what he wanted, would never really care for someone with nothing to offer.

"So I came here in search of some support." She finished just as then waiter arrived, she asked for sweet tea and was met with a grin. Taking a sip when the cup was set before her, she tried not to squirm at the feeling of his eyes on her.

Like he was trying to see through her, to see how she ticked.

"And yourself? What do you do?" She asks with a slight tilt of her head, a hand lifting to push her braid behind her shoulder with an absent flick. While she doesn't much care for the man before her, she's a trained investigator with a wandering mind that sometimes leads her into trouble. She's curious.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

Stella looked a bit older then Delta, though no white fur decorated shining silver yet. His words had her crouching down to be eye level, hand offered but not immediately reaching for her. Calvin's words echoed in her ears and she couldn't help but agree with them, even now three years later Delta was her world still.

The hand being offered to Delta had Ellie internally grimacing, though she trusted her partner wouldn't lash out unnecessarily. Instead Ellie had to bite back a laugh when Delta turned her head away, nose held high in a way Ellie had rarely seen before. "Her name is Mishka." Ellie replied with a small pet to Stella's head when she pressed into her hand, a smile on her lips.

The comment had her shaking her head, a finger lifting and wagging in a reproachful manner. "You mean three." She chided before standing, Delta moving forward as Stella mirrored her until they were nose to nose.

She could admit he was gorgeous, if a little forward and too flirtatious for her liking. Hands curling together behind her back, she glanced up at the sky only to blink in confusion at the looming dark clouds above.

"I was promised food." Ellie chirped out with a practiced grin on her lips, facial muscles beginning to strain at the edges. The dog's were circling each other with their ears perked and tails wagging, friends already in such a short time.

Delta barked once and spun in a circle, gently nudging Stella's muzzle before she was focused on them again.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

A frustrated groan left her lips as soon as Calvin was out of the room, hands reaching up to press into her cheeks. Mentally berating herself for agreeing to even meet the man for lunch of all things, she exhales a huff of breath and glances up. Julie is working on Delta again but this time to wash away the soap, no doubt ready to move on to the next task at hand. "All I can say isn, work." She says with a wrinkle of her nose, tone irritated and brows furrowing, lifting her phone into her hands she unlocks the screen with a tap.

"I'll let the Manager know. Some warning would've been nice though." Julie adds with a huff, glancing up Ellie witnesses the girls hips wiggle as she stores the hose attachment away. Clicking her tongue once she stands and moves towards the window that overlooks a little garden, leaning against the wall with her ankles crossed. Sending bother photos to the group chat labeled K-9Fam, she locks the screen and returns to collect her bag.

"I'll be out front." Ellie murmurs with a grimace on her face, Julie snorts at her before waving her away. Delta comes running ten minutes later with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth, fur shiny and smelling of kiwi. Opening the bag she pulls out a collar that her brother, Dimitri had brought a week ago from a trip overseas. Dark green with gold on the inside, it was decorated with flowers that she didn't know the name of. Slipping it on now with Delta waiting patiently, Ellie released another exhale through her lips in the silence of the room.

Rising to her feet she pats the knees of her pants twice, then shakes her head and turns to the front door. She'd be taken by surprise by his sudden appearance, but now she'd had time to collect herself and with it came her usual calm demeanor.

Peeking outside to make sure the vans had gone, she stepped out into the sunlight with a wave towards the Manager. She needed to act perfectly, to see if she could get any information from Calvin that could help the case move forward despite her accomplishment from last night.

Spotting a figure not too far ahead, she lifted a hand and let a practiced grin lift her lips up. "And who's this gorgeous one?" She asks as they draw closer, Delta's tail thumping against her leg at the sight of the other dog.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

Julie had asked for a story, while her hands worked through Delta's fur until she was completely coveted in suds. So Ellie settled in to tell her about the time she and her siblings decided they wanted to skate on a frozen pond not too far from hone. And how they'd left the house without a word, wore non-appropriate clothes for an outing in Russia and made the trek down a rather large hill.

To say they'd all gotten terribly sick despite having grown up in Russian before moving to LA, was an understatement. The lecture they'd received by both their parents had been overshadowed by the one their grandparents had given them once they'd recovered.

Julie was doubled over in laughter, hands and face covered in suds until it had Ellie's lips lifting into a smile. Discreetly taking a picture and then another of Delta who looked unimpressed, she was just debating on if she should post them on her Instagram or to the group chat she shared with Delta's siblings owners when a new face appeared.

A voice almost cooed at Delta, her ears dropping and face the epitone of a dog not at all enjoying the groomer. Half-focused on her phone she didn't pay much attention, legs stretched out before her as she waited for Julie to finish.

The name being blurted out into the air had her head snapping up, muscles coiling tight as she came face to face with someone who she never thought she'd see again. Before she could think of a reply, not that she was sure what exactly that would be Calvin Crawford was speaking once more. "Italian? Not on your life." She replied with a twist of her mouth, hand discreetly slipping her phone between her thighs to keep it hidden. His next words mentioned lunch and it being dog-friendly which had Delta barking in agreement.

"You had me at bistro and dog." She replied with a smile lifting her lips that felt half strained, a hand lifting to point at the overhead clock just above the bathing station. "Julie will be in done in about...twenty minutes? If you'd like to go ahead I can meet you there when she's finished." Julie was giving her a very confused look, Delta remained quiet but her ears were pricked in attention.

She needed time to collect herself, to get her bearings and tell these two as much as she could without spilling it all so that Director D'Angelo didn't rip her a new one. She had to tred carefully, act just right until this encounter was over.

God she needed a drink.

"I-I know the place you're talking about! You also just adopted a dog, right? Let me get this beauty finished and then your new friend and then you can get some delicious food." Julie was wide-eyed as she spoke, emotions so clearly written across her face it was almost painful to see.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

The moment they stepped through the door, Ellie felt her shoulders relax. She hadn't expected camera crews to be crowding the front, Delta hadn't been too pleased either but had kept quiet. Now her tail was wagging with so much force it made a breeze, lips pulling up into a smile at the sight.

"Well! Aren't you two a sight for sore eyes!" A voice chirped seconds before she was tackled into a hug, a grunt leaving her at the added weight. Her nose was filled with floral perfume before she was let go, and Delta became the subject of her attention. Julie's hair was violet and tied high in a bun, last time it had been pink if she remembered correctly.

"I wasn't expecting the cameras." Ellie muttered dryly, Russian accent peeking through and coloring her words a bit more weary. Julie waved a hand while her free hand pet through Delta's thick coat, loose hair lifting into the air.

"Some big shot businessman came by to drop off a donation or something. Right, Mrs. Roberson?" The name had Ellie glancing up to meet the managers gaze, Delta wiggled happily on the floor with her paws batting at the air. Offering her a wave a grin, she was offered a smile in return and a nod.

"Hmmm, interesting." Ellie replied disinterestedly, not one to really mingle with those if money unless it was family or close friends. Julie jumped up and led them down the hall and to the empty grooming room, chattering happily as she gathered what she'd need. "I forgot to ask, have you seen any of Delta's siblings?" She's seated on a couch Julie has set up so new adopters can watch how to properly groom their pet, a throw pillow held in her lap. Though they have bi-weekly playmates when their schedules line up, she doesn't keep track of the others with how busy she is.

"I have! The other day Magness stopped by and my goodness has he grown! And then I saw Jax and Iris at once and they were so big they nearly drowned me with affection. Now here comes Delta while Alphonse and Luca are scheduled in the next two days." A tab of her fingers agaisnt the metallic tub has Delta obediently jumping in, Julie pets her head before sliding the door closed.

"We'll be meeting them all next week, let them all tire each other out." Her accent curls around the words, a habit she's never been able to break when she's with people she knows. She's trained herself out of her accent not because she hates it, but it pops up easily when she's in a familiar atmosphere.