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Emerald eyes looked Kassy up and down while she talked.

"It looks like you're pretty far along...." With some effort she produced a fake smile. There was something off putting about her. Even when she was nice, there was a snootiness to her tone and facial expressions. The white dress, dainty jewelry. It was a ruse. A snake hiding in a bed of flowers. The girl softly patted Kassy's stomach.

"Good luck getting the weight off." This time she did sound genuine. It was as if she was wishing Kassy strength to recover from some terrible illness.

She arched a brow at Zach's obvious attempt to mark his territory, practically pissing on Mateo. Her nose twitched like she smelled something disgusting. As much as she wanted to one up this puppy dog she really couldn't be bothered. Mateo was a clingy bore, he could have him for all she cared.

"He's my swimming teacher." She looked right into Zach's eyes, barely selling the lie. The girl glanced over at the table where Aleen'a and Alisa were sitting. She noted one of them was missing, the super serum enhanced baby sitter. She turned her attention back to Zach.
"Mateo's got some swimming tips he's dying to share with you. I'll join your friends over there while you.....chat"

On her way over to Aleen'a and Alisa she slithered back into her nice girl persona.
"Hi there, I figured I'd give those two some privacy." She said nodding to Zach and Mateo. The girl put down her purse and smiled at Aleen'a and Alisa.

"Hope you guys don't mind me joining you for a bit." She pretended to look at the menu she'd already memorized by now.
"Can I get you anything?"

The waitress passed by their table and she ordered a plate of local sweets for the three of them to enjoy.

C H A P T E R T W O : MISTLE MISTERY
ON THE ROAD

ON ROUTE TO THE WAYFARERS

February 25rd, 2057 | 09:05am

For the past several minutes the only sounds inside the van were coming from the van itself. Engines buzzed, the occasional road bump jostled the people inside. It didn’t seem to stir up any conversation. Renee had hitched a ride with the bunch, wanting to discover what happened to They were passing by some unassuming ruins. Suddenly the sound of multiple successive explosions burst through the silence.

Erik hit the brakes hard, rewarding him with a string of curses from his passengers.
“Don’t tell me I’m the only one who heard that?”




Location: Medical area
Interactions: Vincent, Indigo

Clink…..clink….clink….

Multi-colored shards of glass were discarded into a copper bowl filled with a shallow layer of now crimson water. The sterile medical environment along with Poppy’s stern expression wasn’t exactly encouraging of conversation. Vincent who was told to sit and be still and the new arrival Indigo were seated at one of the beds. Poppy carefully removed the smaller shards with a tweezer. As much as she was tempted to just leave them in, it would eventually get infected and Vincent wouldn’t be able to heal himself. Maybe that would finally teach him not to be as reckless.

A few minutes went by. She did not hear the splashing of water coming from behind the curtains of Indigo's bed like she expected. The red haired Sidhe put down the tweezers and looked Vincent in the eye.
"Stay here and don't touch anything."

Poppy went over to Indigo's bed. She could vaguely see their shadow. It wasn't moving.
"Do you need help?" She tried to keep the impatience out of her voice. While she was used to caring for multiple patients, both Vincent and Indigo did not take priority. If it wasn't for the fact that she didn't trust Vincent to be able to get out the glass himself, she would have one less thing to worry about. Indigo however. If the memory loss was so bad they didn't remember how to wash themselves she had to adjust her care. Poppy needed to determine exactly who she was dealing with.

For the ones remaining at the Crow's nest there were plenty of chores left to do. It would be wise to pick something to do, unless you wanted to get caught idling by Poppy. The job she'd ask you to do was usually ten times worse.



She sipped her milkshake, trying extremely hard not to appear bored out of her mind. Riley was an extremely nice guy. The influence of her powers only made that worse. At this point she was pretty sure nothing she would say or do could chase him off. It was exactly where she wanted him to be.

"And there's the hiking trail up the mountains, we could have like a fun picnic there. Or or we can go to the pool. Not the pool at the Youth Center obviously but..."

"Actually Riley you know what would be really fun?"

Riley's heart raced at the opportunity to please the dream date in front of him. He hung onto her words and gestures like a bee on a flower. Riley leaned in closer, eager to please. The girl smirked and intertwined her fingers with his. A hit of pheromones rippled into his senses. He shuddered and his pupils dilated for a few seconds.

“I’d love for you to pick me up some sunscreen. It’s a particular brand, I’ll text you the specifics”

Riley immediately rushed to stand up, knocking his chair back. He apologized to the waitress and turned back to his date.
“Totally I can get you anything you want, I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Oh but before you go, let’s take a selfie together.”

She didn’t have to say that twice. He put his face next to hers and smiled like a goof. The girl waved him goodbye. Once he was out the door of the Hotspot she immediately dropped her facade. She waved the waitress over to clear the table while she was busy on her phone.

“New victim coming in hot. He’ll be there in about an hour, or actually make that two”
xxx


She texted the picture to her client. Riley was the last in the string of guys. Once she delivered him to Kobra about 80% of this job was done.

“Excuse me Miss…”

The girl blatantly ignored the waitress, already browsing through multiple of her favorite shops on her phone.

“Miss I wanted to ask if you could swap tables….”

She sighed and put down her phone.

“Excuse me? Why would I do that?”

The waitress stayed friendly with a smile plastered onto her annoying face.
“We have a pregnant customer and she’s sitting close to the kitchen. The smells might be making her nauseous. Your table is the farthest from the kitchen.”

The girl looked anything but pleased. Her left eyebrow was arched lightly and her lips were pursed into a dissatisfied pout.

“I can throw in a free milkshake for the trouble.”

“No, milkshakes make me fat. Just get me some lemon water.” She huffed and grabbed her purse.

When she sat down at Ja and Kassy’s old table she got right back onto her phone…..until Mateo walked in. He walked at a relaxed pace and scooted onto the seat across from her. He leaned in attempting to kiss her cheek but she pushed his face away with an open palm, not even looking up from her phone.

“Djeez, what’s that for..?” Mateo asked, feeling the slight sting of rejection.

“For not doing your job like I asked.” As if to prove her point he caught sight of Zach over at the Team’s table, he leaned back in his seat and winked.

“I texted you everything he told me.”

“Exactly, you didn’t find me anything useful. Do I have to do everything myself?”
When she finally looked up she shot a poisonous look at Ja and Kassy. Mateo followed her gaze and raised his brows in confusion.
“What’s up with them?”

“Apparently you get special service around here when you’re pregnant.”

Mateo chuckled.
“Maybe you should try then, I volunteer”

"Ha...ha.."
She laughed sarcastically and leaned in closer.
“You’re almost funny…” She said while trying to decide if she would kiss him or empty the glass of lemon water over his head.
"I'm not going to disfigure myself and be stuck with some annoying kid the rest of my life. No thanks. I hate kids."
She glanced at Kassy, a smug smile on her face.
"Though I'm pretty with her you won't even be able to tell that she's pregnant."

At Ja’s and Kassy’s able the waitress offered them cold ginger tea and a plate of various dry crackers.

Location: Garden
Interactions: Dallas


Poppy looked up from her work and put down her tools. Small piles of the roots were starting to form on the workbench. They were all cut or processed differently. Some sliced extremely thin, others roughly chopped. It all seemed to serve some kind of purpose. Something Poppy usually kept to herself.

"They're edible roots, very high in iron. I add them to most of the food I prepare."

She searched for her notebook, her eyes passing over something familiar. A cheerfully decorated journal dotted with painted flowers, hearts and ladybugs. She opened the journal on the first page and started to read through the notes. The first few entries were clearly of an inexperienced gardener. Poppy turned the page to the next one, and the next. The writing was loving, at times it felt like the writer was describing the care of humans. There was only one of them who was capable of showing love of that kind. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

Poppy traced over the final entry, absorbing the words. It was a worried paragraph. The condition of the plant in question was fragile. It had trouble flowering. The Sidhe held the notebook and fluttered over into a different corner of the garden. Mellow green eyes searched for something particular. Poppy spotted it, hanging slightly limp with a single struggling bud. She knelt down next to it and touched it gently.
You probably miss her too....

Poppy lowered her face to the ground. Her hair fell onto the dirt, surrounding the small plant in a sea of red. She breathed carefully, focussed and with intent. Slowly the plant started to regain strength. It straightened itself out and the small bud unfolded its petals until a flower bloomed. It was a bright cherry red. Poppy plucked one of the inner petals, one you wouldn't notice was missing.

Minutes after she reappeared at the workbench. The petal was pressed into the journal. A new entry was written with the current date, in Poppy's sharp handwriting.
"Don't worry, it's in bloom
With love Poppy."


Poppy hid the journal in a drawer and continued with her tasks. She retrieved a cooled pitcher of blood laced lemonade, pouring a tall glass. She was on her way over to Dallas when the alarms sounded. Poppy drew in a sharp breath at the harsh sound, disturbing her short lived sense of peace. Vincent rushed through the halls followed by a loud thud and a yelp of pain. Shortly after she heard the sound of shattering glass.

Unbelievable...

She forcefully put down the pitcher, spilling the liquid everywhere. Poppy then grabbed the knife, sheathing it behind her back. With a buzz of her wings she was gone.

Location: Garden
Interactions: Dallas


Poppy nodded in agreement.
"Good, I can use your help."The medic didn't wait around for everyone else to decide whether they were staying or going. There was a long list of tasks waiting for her back at the medical area. She looked up at Dallas.
"Follow me..."

They walked into the direction of the garden. Poppy's walking pace was characteristically brisk, but easy to keep up with for someone of Dallas's stature. On the outer edges of the garden there was a rough looking patch. The bottom half of some kind of bulbous plant was partially sticking out of the soil. It was difficult to tell exactly how much of the roots were still stuck in the ground. It looked like someone had tried to uproot it. A shovel was set up against one of the stalks.

Poppy grabbed a large round basket and set it down next to it.
"The roots of these plants are ready to be harvested. I started myself, but I couldn't manage it. I need the entire patch."
She grabbed a large knife from a rack of gardening tools nearby and hacked off the exposed part of the roots. Poppy moved towards her working station, giving Dallas space to start digging.


Location: Strategy room
Interactions: Dallas


Poppy stood to the side, quietly reading the room. Cerise's unexpected and seemingly permanent departure from the Commune affected everyone. Cerise was facing her past. A past she tried to ignore at every twist and turn. It finally caught up to her. Was it brave or stupid to face it alone?

There wasn't a tonic, pill or ointment she could create to relieve heartache. If something like that existed she would be the first to take it. There was no other way to deal with the loss of a long standing member of the Commune other than to face it head on. Poppy felt what she expected to feel. Her sense of loss was numbed.

Despite knowing she wasn't going on this mission herself she studied the maps closely. Dallas was also looking at the maps. Poppy studied the winding trade route.
"Are you staying or going?" She simply asked, keeping her eyes on the map.



A couple walked into The Hotpot. The guy was positively beaming, smiling from ear to ear. Latched onto his arm was a girl. He pulled out a chair for his date and waited until she sat down. He was being a real motormouth again. It was a combination of nerves and excitement.
“You’ll see they have the best milkshakes here. My fav is the bubblegum flavor. I know I know, weird choice, with the blue and all. Trust me though it tastes amazing!”

The gills on his neck were opening and closing the more excited he got. He didn’t even notice. Right now, he couldn’t get over the fact that he was such a lucky bastard. This girl was something else! He noticed her looking at him from behind her menu.

“I’ll have the pomegranate flavored one.”

“Yeah awesome, that’s a great choice, perfect pick. That’s so tasty too!”
He didn’t have a clue what it tasted like, but he could bet on her having good taste. Everything about her was perfect already. His eyes followed her every move. When their eyes met again his breath caught in his throat.

“Uh…so yeah…” He stammered. God he was being such an idiot. The girl reached for his hand, brushing her fingers on top of his. It sent shivers down his entire body.

“Relax Riley, you’re being so tense.”

Riley felt obliged to listen to her, making an effort to calm down.

Their milkshakes arrived in record time and the couple enjoyed their chosen drinks. It was mainly Riley who did the talking and the girl who listened, or at least that’s what it looked like.
C H A P T E R T W O : MISTLE MISTERY
THE CROW'S NEST


MISSION ROAD

February 25rd, 2057 | 07:13am

Poppy had a bird's eye view of the road leading up to the Crow's nest, perched on top of the dome of the armory. It was early, most of the Commune aside from maybe Erik were still asleep. There was something troubling the Sidhe, other than her usual turmoil. One of their regular trading groups was supposed to have delivered supplies to a safehouse three days ago, but they never arrived. These farmers operated from an off route pit stop, miles upon miles into the wilderness, far from any town or city centers. They kept a supply of livestock on the surrounding land, trading in animal products.

A motorcycle was approaching from the distance, leaving a trail of dust behind them. They came to a stop right in front of the entrance of the Crow's nest. Poppy narrowed her eyes. She recognized the woman's face, she was the contact of the trading group. She jumped down from the roof. Poppy broke her free fall by spreading her wings just before hitting the ground, fluttering the remaining distance towards the other woman.

"I received your message to meet here." The woman held up the handwritten note Poppy had left in the communications box a day ago. They started to exchange notes after the traders and supplies disappeared. Three members along with a van full of meat and cheese vanished without a trace. The farming community kept records on every transaction, who what when and where. These three members were pillars of the community, they wouldn't just go awol.

"No one knows what happened to them Renée, I have a feeling it's not good."
Poppy's face was serious. Reneé mirrored the Sidhe with a solemn expression of her own.
"I know, that's why we turned to the Commune."

Poppy gestured for the woman to follow her towards the entrance. They entered the Crow's nest. She asked Reneé to wait in the hallway. Poppy searched for Ajax and Erik, explaining the situation in hushed whispers. There wasn't an official meeting in the strategy room. Instead Ajax and Erik were left to figure out a division within the Commune. For some reason Poppy didn't meddle or contribute to the discussion. She'd already decided to stay behind with Amelia.

In the next two hours Ajax and Erik went around the Commune to rally up volunteers to accompany Reneé. With the many unknowns of the assignment it was difficult to decide who should stay or go. Each member of the Commune possessed a unique set of skills. The seniors ultimately left the decision to the individual.


C H A P T E R O N E
A NEW DAY

The Commune gets offered a job by the Provisional Government. They are asked to investigate a dying mistle somewhere in the Ruined City. They prepare and then travel to the city, deciding to leave Ionna behind, due to potential danger of having a 13 year old tag along. About an hour or so into the expedition they come across their first group of Lost. Poppy decides to incapacitate them using opium bombs. Her plan backfires when she’s pulled from the sky by an Infernal type Lost. The Commune ends up in a small-scale battle, ultimately defeating the Lost. Poppy, Dallas and Vincent all sustain injuries. Poppy’s injury to her head causes her to be unable to move safely. They find a safe spot to recover.

After having rested the Commune splits up in search for the Mistle. Akaia locates the Mistle in an abandoned house. Meanwhile the other members are confronted by a Tsar Bomba. With their combined efforts they manage to subdue the gigantic Lost. Akaia manages to uproot the entire Mistle and the Commune successfully escapes the Ruined City.


C H A P T E R T W O
MISTLE MYSTERY

TBA

Location: Desmond's room
Interactions:Desmond, Erik, Lysandra


Poppy rolled her eyes at Erik's well meant advice. He was knelt down at Amelia's bedside and she did have the decency to not let him see her disbelief. Usually Poppy wouldn't be bothered to explain her methods to anyone. In this case she saw the importance of it. She wanted to reassure Desmond. The red haired Sidhe lowered her hand to rest on Erik's shoulder.

"I have her on a very specific feeding schedule. She gets a blood transfusion every two days. It is enough to keep her from frenzying. I also fortified each dose to strengthen her more quickly."

She wasn’t planning on breaking up Amelia’s feeding schedule. At the same time she didn’t know what was going on yet, so it was best to have the blood beads on standby. The medic was faced with Desmond’s extreme worry about the well being of his sister and it made her uncomfortable. It was the response of someone who allowed himself to deeply care about someone. He was demonstrating the behavior she forced herself to unlearn years ago.

Desmond kneeled beside Amelia’s bedside and Poppy averted her eyes towards the door. She stepped away from the bed and began to clear out a workspace, effectively removing herself from the emotionally charged scene.

She focused on the tasks at hand and drowned out everything else around her. She took the testing equipment from Lysandra without a word. Her hands set up the equipment methodically and meticulously. Poppy prepared the blood collection tubes, arranging them in a neat row. While handling the last one she caught the last sentence of Erik’s incessant positivity.

“Oh, you know I would never get in the way of greatness. We have two of the peachiest docs working side by side.”

The tube shattered. Poppy winched feeling the glass dig into her palms. She immediately turned her hands away from the sterile surface she’d just created. The Sidhe walked towards the basin and let out a frustrated breath. Once her hands were washed and wrapped she turned to face the others in the room.

“We’ll do the blood tests first like Lysandra said. Erik, you should get back to the party. Desmond, you can stay here.”

Poppy proceeded to draw blood from the PIC line in Amelia’s left upper arm. She handed Lysandra the first tube without looking back, immediately locking on the next one. The sooner they got this done the better.
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