Palindrome

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

Penny tried to watch the movie after Charles left, but she couldn't focus. Her cuticles hurt from her picking and biting and she kept looking back to the exit. The girl nor Charles have returned and Penny thought it was suspicious. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the girls friend that she saw earlier get up and leave. What if she was a demon too? Could Charles take on two demons? He said you couldn't kill them and that you basically needed to exorcise them with Latin. Penny didn't know that stuff, but... should couldn't leave Charles to fend for himself, could she?

Penny got up shortly after the other girl left and she peeked out of the theater room. The girl was standing outside the girls bathroom on her phone, but if Penny listened hard enough, she could hear bangs and grunts come from the room. Penny ducked back into the theater, her breathing heavy. What did she do? Did she call Christian? Dylan? Annie? Penny glanced at the snack counter and saw nobody behind it. Penny had a friend that worked in a movie theater once. She said most theaters keep scissors in the bottom cabinets in case they needed them to open something. Penny couldn't kill a demon, but maybe she could distract it long enough for Charles to get the upper hand. Penny took a deep breath with the intention of going to the snack counter, but something stopped her. Her feet felt frozen to the ground. The grunts and echoes from the bathroom rang in her ears, just under the screams from the horror film in the background.

Charles told her to stay put because he was trying to protect her. Penny didn't know how to fight a demon. She didn't know how to fight at all. Penny sat back down in her chair and placed her hands under her thighs. She would make things harder for him. She watched the movie and tried to focus on it, but found that nothing she could do would make it better. She wanted Christian. She wanted to go home, though it's not like she had one right now.

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

„I thought I saw that woman with black eyes before we came in here, but I didn’t smell sulfur and after I blinked, her eyes were normal. I might just be crazy or paranoid.“ Penny tore her gaze away and looked at Charles to gauge his reaction. He seemed concerned and Penny felt bad for making him worry. „Sorry. Ignore me. I’m sure it’s nothing. I didn’t mean to worry you.“

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

Penny accepted Charles‘ licorice offering, grabbing one from the bag. A man on the screen turned into a werewolf, howling at the full moon. Penny smiled at how cheesy it actually was, thinking she was worried for nothing.

About halfway through the movie, there had been two jumpcares and Penny was sad to admit that half her popcorn was on the floor or on herself. Penny wondered how Christian would handle the jump scares. Did he scare easily? Charles ended up putting his arm around Penny. It was warm and made her feel secure- like Christian‘s touch. She closed her eyes, almost leaning into his touch before she refrained. This was not Christian. She frowned and felt frustrated that she couldn’t stop thinking about him. It wasn’t fair to Charles, but could she really have a relationship with him when she almost wished someone else was here instead?

Penny watched as the girl who she thought had black eyes, got up and walk out of the theater. Penny couldn’t see her due color in the dark, but they almost gleamed anyways. Penny felt unsettled. „Charles? Weird question, but what creature looks like a human, but has black eyes?“

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

"So, how do you kill a werewolf? Are they like vampires where most of their lore is made up or does silver actually work?" Penny continued to whisper as the previews played. Werewolves always fascinated her as a kid. She didn't know why, but the idea of a person turning into a monster during a full moon and losing all memory of it always settled ill in her stomach.

Penny wondered if Charles was going to try to pull any moves during the movie and she didn't know how to feel about it. He was touchy in the diner and though it wasn't anything disrespectful, it was very forward. Penny was happy to see he kept to himself tonight besides escorting her, but couples on dates tended to get touchy during the movies. Penny preferred sitting and enjoying the movie, though, unlike her ex boyfriend. He always wanted to make out in the back of the theater and she was never in a position to tell him no. At least- that's what he made her believe.

The movie started and Penny threw an M&M into her mouth.

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

"I'm okay... I just thought I saw something." Penny put on a smile and quickly changed the topic conversation, "There's no way you eat popcorn dry. Butter makes it taste so much better!" Penny grabbed her popcorn bag and pretended to pout. "Well I'm drowning my popcorn in butter and if you don't want to eat butter popcorn, then you'll have to get your own." Penny was at a loss. She didn't know if she told Charles about her weird sight problems or if there was a thing with black eyes. She didn't want to ruin the date or make him paranoid. She most definitely didn't want him to think she was paranoid.

Penny stepped away, but waited for Charles at the doors. They walked in and found a seat kind of in the back left. Penny looked around and was surprised at how many people were here. It wasn't full, but it was more than half full. "I don't do well with horror movies, by the way. Especially with how productive the last month was. I'm still a little jumpy," She whispered to him as the lights dimmed. Her heart picked up a bit once being engulfed in the dark. She closed her eyes, afraid she'd see something staring back at her, but opened them once again when the light from the big screen lit up the room.

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

"Popcorn for sure, but I like it drowning in butter. Then I put M&M's in it. What about you?" She eyeballed the candies and popcorn that sat in and behind the counter. It had been a while since she's seen a movie, so she was excited. Even if it was a cheesy horror film. She glanced towards the movie theater doors and stiffened. A woman was standing in the doorway staring at her, but her eyes were black. Penny felt the blood drain from her face and she felt cold all of a sudden. She blinked and the lady's eyes were normal again as she waved to a friend. They both walked into the theater to look for their seats.

A person with black eyes... what kind of monster was that? She almost called Christian to ask, but remembered she was here with Charles. She clamped her mouth shut and was second guessing watching this movie. What other things were gonna be lurking in the dark? She glanced at Charles and quietly exhaled to calm her nerves. She'd be fine. She had a hunter with her and she's killed vampires before. She'll be fine. She still couldn't help but wish that Christian was with her anyways. He made her feel safe. Sure, Charles made her feel safe, but she found that it wasn't the same.

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

The next evening had Penny nervously nervously smoothing her blouse before grabbing her bag and making her way out of the room. "I'll be going now. I'm not sure what time I'll be back, but I can let you know when I am," she told Christian before leaving.

Charles sat in his car outside the main lobby of the hotel. As soon as he saw Penny walk out, he got out and walked over to the passenger side to open the door for her. "Penny! Hi! You look beautiful!"

Penny blushed and tucked a stand of hair behind her ear. "Hi Charles. Thank you. You look very nice yourself." Penny wore a light pink blouse with some black bootcut slacks and some flats. She didn't usually dress this nice, but she wanted to look nice for her date. Her blonde hair fell in ringlets around her shoulders and she had light mascara.

They arrived at the movie theater and Penny blinked in surprise when Charles offered his arm to escort her in. She smiled and looped her arm through his. "First plain mashed potatoes and now an escort? You keep surprising me." Penny realized that her statement couldn't come off wrong and she stammered to fix it. "I- I mean, not that I didn't think you would escort anyone. Just that- most men don't." Penny felt her face heat up in embarassment. Most men with the exception of Charles and Christian, apparently.

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

"Yeah. And a date," She echoed. "Thanks again for coming tonight. It was kind of fun, wasn't it? Pretending to be someone else. What did you think of the brisket? I know you said you don't eat... was it yummy?"

Penny sunk further into the couch and he eyelids felt heavy. She knew she needed to get up and brush her teeth and get into pajamas, but she couldn't bring herself to move. Today was long and she was tired, but she didn't want to say bye to Christian just yet. "You can stay the night again. Maybe try out sleeping? If you want," she rambled. Now come to think of it, Christian has been with her for two days. Didn't he need to go reap some souls or something? "I hope I'm not keeping you from work."

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

“I understand. I’m not super big into eating food for comfort, but I do like tea.” Penny took a bite out of her burger and sighed in delight. It definitely was yummy.

By the time Penny finished her burger, everyone had already finished their food. Penny felt kind of bad for being a slow eater, but she wanted to enjoy it, not scarf it down. “This was a lot of fun! I’m glad we could meet up like this!I’ll see you tomorrow, Charles.”

Penny waved to the trio outside the diner with Christian as they went their separate ways. It wasn’t till they got into their cars when she finally addressed him. “I’ll meet you back at the hotel, yeah?” She walked to her car and drove off once she was settled.

When Penny arrived back to the hotel, Christian was already waiting for her outside her room. Penny unlocked the door and held it open for him, closing it behind and locking it. She threw her small bag onto the floor and plopped down onto the couch. “Today has been a long day. It’s crazy to think that just this morning, I killed vampires. Then I went to dinner with friends. It just souds bizarre to me.” She confessed.

Hidden Among the Shadows - A Supernatural Inspired RP

Penny felt her attention drawn from the playful banter by Christian's attempts to get her attention. She turned her head to look at him. His eyes shot to Charles' arm that sat behind her and she smiled in understanding, but shook her head. It was slightly annoying, but it wasn't something Christian needed to get involved in. She wanted to keep the peace. She'd go out with Charles tomorrow and set whatever boundaries needed to be set and see if she even wanted to have a relationship with him in the first place.

Penny wasn't going to deny that Christian looking out for her didn't make her heart skip a beat though. Christian was observant, this was true, but the fact that he picked up on her discomfort and wanted to help her made her feel respected. For a second, she almost wished Christian's arm was the one on the back of her chair, his fingers gently brushing against her back. Penny felt her face heat up at the thought.

"Penny, you good? You look a little red."

Penny's head snapped to Charles and her face grew even more red, if that was possible. She cleared her throat, "I'm good! I just- I have to use the bathroom. I'll be right back." Penny stood up and made her way to the bathroom as fast as she could without seeming suspicious. Penny splashed some cold water on her face and waited till it looked less pink. She felt sweaty and embarassed. She was supposed to see Christian as a friend, but the more time she spent with Charles, the more she realized she wanted Christian's company more. Friends were allowed to feel like that without labeling those feelings as romantic, right? Charles didn't make her uncomfortable, necessarily, and he was really nice and genuine. He just seemed eager to get to know Penny, which wasn't a bad thing. Penny took a deep breath and nodded at herself in the mirror. "Right. You will go on that date tomorrow and then you will see how you feel." She gave herself a little pep-talk before leaving and making her way back to the table. When she got back, their food had been served and she was excited to finally eat something. Penny saw Charles' ordered regular mashed potatoes as a side and she nudged him with her elbow to get his attention. "I wouldn't have guessed you were a plain mashed potatoes kinda guy."