Partners In Crime △

[Karen Pryce]

Karen’s cheeks flushed with pink as she rushed through the crowd. It was Saturday and she had just gotten off her shift at the Cool Beans. She was tired, a little dirty, her hands smelled of detergent and her hair was a mess, but, she was still smiling a little as she rushed through the busy crowd. Her shift had ended early today and so she had made plans to meet Poppy after. She had been talking about some back-to-school-new-year party all week, and for once Karen felt compelled to join her friend. Life at Bellefonte was painfully uneventful now that Poppy had left for collage. Although she was not that terribly far away, she was still further away than Karen liked.

The young blonde girl pushed past people as she entered Kalispell Center Mall. She was dressed way too much for the inside temperature of the mall, and so she flung her gloves and hat into her bag before loosening the buttons of her coat and undoing her scarf. She looked quite dishevelled, with her wintery cold cheeks and messy hair up in a bun. Still, there was something cute about her, with her huge green eyes and her dimpled smile.

Karen’s eyes darted from face to face as she scanned the crowd for the brunette she knew so well. She popped her phone out and was just about to send her friend a text when she saw her, waiting for her by the juice bar in the mall. “Hi!” Karen said, slightly out of breath. She smiled, showing off the dimples in her cheeks.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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The girl glanced at her watch and her foot tapped impatiently as she waited for her friend. Poppy had arrived at the mall and had been waiting for only about five minutes. But she was ever the impatient one. So as she waited, she ordered a drink at the juice bar.

The plan was for the two girls to meet up and head to a party afterwards. It was one of the traditions among her peers to have a back to school new year party. But really it was just some excuse for alcohol and to get drunk and party. Poppy did not normally attend parties with the intention of getting drunk. Being an over power user, getting drunk would mean lack of control over her power and that just would not do for the brunette. She had other reasons for attending one.

Just as the juicer produced her drink, Karen arrived. "Hey, took you long enough," she joked as she gave the girl a side hug whilst the other hand reached out for her smoothie. "Want anything?" At that moment, Poppy got a whiff of her friend. "Eeek, you stink. What goes on in that place you work for?"

[Karen Pryce]

Karen smiled briskly at her friend’s playful banter. She rolled her eyes a little as she laughed. “I got here as fast as I could.” Although she loved Poppy to death, Poppy was one impatient girl. However, her impatience was one of the many things Karen liked about Poppy, except when used on her of course. But, Poppy was, in Karen’s mind, somewhat of a bulldog. She was stubborn, fierce, determined, impatient and brave, many and all things Karen was not and admired in Poppy.

Karen smiled sheepishly at Poppy’s comment about her smell. “Eehh, hehe, yeah, someone spilled milk all over my uniform, and I didn’t have a spare shirt,” she said, her uniform still underneath her coat, and the sour milk smell mixed with the detergent they used to clean the shop with. “And, I, eh, I had to wash the espresso machine,” she hesitated for a moment before adding, “twice.”

Anyone who didn’t know Karen wouldn’t really read into what she was saying, but to someone like Poppy, who knew Karen very well, might be able to tell that what had really happened was that Karen was, as usual, pushed into doing the boring stuff at work. There was particularly one guy, Max, who always gave Karen extra work, made her clean stuff twice or thrice, and often made Karen do things he was supposed to do. And because she was a pushover, because she was too shy to speak out, she did these things without complaint, and without saying anything. This was, perhaps, one of the many reasons why she and Poppy had become such great friends. Karen needed someone with a little fire in them to influence her. “Oh, and I’ll have a Berry Good smoothie,” she said as she ordered the juice.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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The two girls were far from similar. But hey, opposites attract right? Whilst the brunette had always been outspoken since a young age and had no problem expressing her thoughts into words, the other girl was the opposite. Despite her ever small social circle, Poppy had never really been on the look out for friends. But if she was, she would have hardly associated or even approach such a shy girl like the blonde. But despite the shell Karen had, the girl grew on her.

The younger girl had not been reluctant to the ideas she suggested. Their differences complemented each other. That was the beauty of their friendship. So of course Poppy could tell the hell her friend had endured that afternoon. Especially since Karen complained about the devil that was her coworker every so often.

The smile on Karen's face was not as infectious as it usually was. The older girl took a sip of her watermelon smoothie before letting out a sigh. If it was any other person, Poppy would have said something how said person should know and stand for their own god damn rights or suffer the next year cleaning more espresso machines than their fair share.

But it was Karen; the little sister she never had. So after the Berry Good smoothie was received, the girl slung an arm around her friend's shoulders. "Karen, why don't you inform your boss about Max? They are not paying you enough for working with that bastard," she pointed out. "Come on, lets head back to the dorms and clean you up."

[Karen Pryce]

Karen had a sister, a sister that she loved and cared for, an older sister that she looked up to. The two had always been close, always looked out for each other, and Karen knew she could always count on her sister. But, lately, Sam just didn’t have time for dear ol’ little sister Karen. Although Karen would never admit it to anyone, it hurt her. It really hurt her that her own sister did not have time for her. They needed to look out for each other and cherish their bond, especially after that horrible thing that had happened in the past.

So when Poppy walked into Karen’s life, with that fiery attitude and just enough level of compassion and tough love that an older sister should have, it was not hard to accept her presence. Poppy was perhaps Karen’s closest friend, one of the good ones, one of the true ones. It was sisterly affection and loyalty that Karen felt towards Poppy, feelings that exceeded the mere good-friends label. Karen could always count on Poppy to tell her the truth, even though it might hurt her a little. Sure, Poppy wasn’t as harsh against Karen as she was to some (Karen had witnessed one of Poppy’s outbursts), but regardless, in one way or the other, Poppy was always straight with Karen.

So when the brunette laid an arm over Karen’s shoulder, Karen knew what she was about to say, and she sighed a little in desperation. Poppy knew how much Karen avoided confrontation, and Karen knew that she needed someone to tell her that she had to do these things. “I know, I just,” she sighed again, “I just don’t wanna get in trouble for being a blabbermouth, or something,” she mumbled. However, she was starting to reach her limit with Max. He was getting on her nerves, which said something about the direness of the situation, as Karen never really got upset.

Karen smiled at Poppy’s last comment. She took a sip of her Berry Good smoothing and gave a small chuckle. “Yes, I know, I know,” she rolled her eyes playfully, “I stink and I need a shower,” she grinned, referring to Poppy’s earlier comment about her smell. Still, Karen had to admit that she had planned on showering regardless, but with this sour milk smell all over her she was itching to take a soothing shower. She looked at her friend again as they walked, arms linked. “Tell me again, what was this party again?”

Out of the two, Poppy was definitely the social one and the more up-to-date about things. If it weren’t for Poppy, Karen might not have a social life at all, as she would be perfectly content sitting in her room getting lost in some romance novel.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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You would think the fact that she treated the blonde like a little sister, she would have intervened at one point of the hell hole Karen was in at that shop where she worked. Okay maybe she had but it only went as far as between the two girls. Poppy was not one to fight other people's battle. Little sister or not, she knew this was one Karen had to do for herself. But that still did not stop the girl from expressing her thoughts.

"Kareeeennnn," she drawled the name out before heaving out an over exaggerated sigh. "That's not a blabbermouth pfftt. Come on, this is not kindergarten. There is perfectly nothing wrong with informing your boss that he or she had made a mistake by hiring a complete asshole whom, you may add, is neglecting his rightful duties as a barista," said Poppy and she gave her friend a pointed look as if daring her to challenge what she had said. "And you know, you can slot it in that it just so happen that you are the person who has been picking up his slack and making sure the place ran smoothly." Even when she tried to be serious, the brunette failed. As usual.

Any who, the conversation moved on to the stinky state the younger girl was in. So after both of the girls had their smoothies, they exited the mall in linked arms. Since the nineteen year old was one with a license but without a vehicle, the two walked over to the bus stop and waited for the bus leading back to the academy.

Even though with a small social circle, Poppy knew one of every kind of people. Whilst she would love the comfort of her bed, animal companion and a good book, she did not mind entertaining society's expectations once in a while. Plus, the one who had invited her said there was something in it for her at the end of the night. "Well, you know...It's a new year. I'm in college -- you will be. Most of the students are back and it's tradition to apparently throw a party and get drunk before classes start again." That was basically college life, based on what she had seen.

"I was invited and it seemed wrong not to drag you in and suffer with me as well."

[Karen Pryce]

Of course Karen knew she just had to bite the sour apple and get it over with. Max was being a rightful dick to her, despite what Karen tried to tell herself or anyone else. Max had had it in for her for weeks now, and it was exhausting to pick up his slacks and sloppy work. She had very strong worth morals, and she did not want the shop to suffer for his shortcomings. Still, she shouldn’t suffer either, so it was with a sight that Karen gave in to her friend’s lecture. Of course she knew that Poppy was right. Poppy was mostly always right. Annoying so.

“Fiiine,” Karen said with a drawl, with a slight roll of her eyes. “I’ll see if I can do anyting about it,” she said reluctantly. She smiled and looked at Poppy with a knowing grin. “Although I probably won’t word myself as bluntly as you” she smirked playfully, well aware of how harshly Poppy’s opinions could appear. However, Poppy’s blunt honesty was often just the right amount of tough love that Karen required.

The two girls made their way to the bus stop as they talked about the party. Karen really only did accept to attend because Poppy asked her. Karen knew she had to “put herself out there”, as Sam had put it. “Oh thank you,” Karen smirked as she two girls stood waiting for the bus. “And how we’ll suffer!” she said dramatically and with exaggerated feeling.

“Isn’t it like, cheating, if I have this college experience before I’m actually in college though?” Karen pondered out loud with a playful smile creeping on her lips. The party they were going to attend was indeed a college party, and neither Karen nor Poppy was actually old enough to drink… legally. Karen looked at Poppy with a quizzical look on her face, one of her eyebrows popping up just as the bus arrived.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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Blunt. Humph. That was accurate alright. For as long as she could remember, disregarding other people's feelings and speaking her mind came naturally for Poppy Lockwood. With little care as to how others thought of her, she had no qualms saying it as it was or as she thought. If they had a problem with, it was that. Their problem. Not hers. The girl did not give a damn.

That was a part of her personality. There were always the upsides and downsides. The girl could form her own opinion and she stuck to it. At times, stubborn -- and prideful -- to change it. On the other hand, it contributed to her ever slowly growing social circle. Apparently, not many people could handle the truth unless it was sugarcoated. Or not at all. But because Poppy was Poppy, that fact was insignificant especially since she had the few close ones, her cat and the land of fiction. It was all good.

At the bus stop, the older girl smiled as she watched the little performance displayed by her friend. "Yes, dear one. We would most definitely suffer as we are forced into a closed area and mingle with humans. Which I might add we may or may not have anything in common with. Though I bet it's very unlikely there would be any talking." The only reason she agreed to come was because Cash had said there would be this big hilarious prank at the end of it. He better be right.

The brunette returned look back at Karen as they stepped onto the bus. Paying their fare, the two sat in the two available seats near the front. "Don't think of it as cheating. More like a sneak peek." Drinking was not on the agenda that night for Poppy. But if it was for Karen, she was not one to reprimand her for doing so. Underage drinking was not unfamiliar to her.

Once back at the academy, the two went into Karen's dorm since she in desperate need of a shower. "You know, if you're planning on getting drunk," she said and paused as she snickered, "I suggest you don't wear your best shirt."

[Karen Pryce]

“Poppy!” Karen exclaimed bewildered at her sneaky comment about not wearing her best shirt. She laughed right after though and grinned at her friend. “I donno, I hadn’t planned on anything. I’m just gonna, you know, suffer through it,” she grinned sweetly before looking adoringly at Poppy and adding with a soft, high-pitched, cute voice “with youuuu!”

Fact of the matter was that Karen had not really planned anything in regards to this party. She was not exactly your average wild-chick. She did not go out on parties, she did not really drink and she did have hangovers. She was what many would call a good-girl. So no, Karen had no plans on getting drunk, but she wasn’t avid against it either. She smirked at Poppy as they closed in to their stop. “I donno though. I just wanna go and see what happens really,” she shrugged, a little bit unlike herself. Perhaps she was looking more forward to this party than what she was letting on. After all, she really did not go out much, and this social opportunity might be good for her.

The two girls got off at the next bus stop. Thankfully the academy wasn’t too far away from town, but then again, it wasn’t the biggest town in the US either. As they left the bus Karen turned to Poppy with a desperate look in her eyes. “But you will help me find something to wear, right?” she said, pleading with her big green eyes. She could really pull off the puppy-dog, doe eyed look. Karen adored Poppy’s wardrobe, and was always amazed by how good Poppy always looked. She always looked so presentable, unlike Karen who often felt like she was dressed like a slob and often sought Poppy’s fashion consul.

[Poppy Lockwood]

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Ah the puppy dog look. It always crept Poppy out how one can mimic the looks of another species. Whilst it was a useful tool at times to achieve certain things, it still was downright creepy. But that was just her unpopular opinion. Of course some's looks never turned out as great but some like Karen pulled it off just right. Is there a class for this or something?

"Honey, it's just a party. But yes my dear, I'm here." The brunette was not a fashion expert or a fashionista as her peers liked to call it. Poppy did however had her own style and could tell whether the dress was working for her or not. Besides that, the girl carried herself proudly so who was one to tell her that one piece of clothing was not making the cut if she had worn it with such confidence. But that was where the two friends differed.

Poppy laid on the bed after shooing the other girl into the bathroom. After a few minutes, her phone pinged with an incoming message. It was a text from Cash Hunter informing her the location of the party and requested confirmation if she indeed would be there tonight. Typing out a quick thank you and agreement reply, she sent the text and left her phone on the bed. Then as she waited for Karen to clean herself up, the nineteen year old raided her closet.

Since it was only a party, she took out a couple of jeans and some shirts. A skirt she thought looked cute and a dress. She laid the options out on the bed before proceeding to grab her phone and making a phone call to place a pizza order. Deciding on the traditional pick -- pepperoni pizza with double cheese -- she ordered a large one. The pizza then arrived and unsurprisingly Karen was still in the bathroom.

Poppy paid for it and set the box on the table. She took a slice before pounding on the bathroom door. "I don't know about you but this pizza is deliciouuusss," she said as she took a bite of it.

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| OOC Note: This thread has been discontinued. |