[OPEN]China Plates

[Serena Robertson]

Serena stepped back into the shop after hanging a few new bottles in the tree in front of the store. A recent storm blew a few down so she was replacing them. The shiny blue and green bottles looked new and clean compared to the older ones still hanging on the tree, ties on by little red ribbons. People who shopped at the shop often complimented her on the bottles, telling her they were pretty. They were native to their actual use, but she was always pleased to tell them despite all the odd looks she got. Most people didn't believe in what her and her grandmother did, but in her mind there was no doubt. She had seen it in action before, she knew it was real. Most people would call it a consequence. Even her best friend, Abby, didn't believe in it. She didn't mind though, she figured maybe it was better that way. When people wanted to believe, they would. 

Back in the shop Serena was cleaning off a few new objects her grandmother had brought it, nothing too special. An old pocket watch, an almost complete China set, and a few pearl necklaces. Serena liked to make sure everything was clean and polished when it came into the shop so nothing looked dirty. Placing the watch and pearls into the lock case, she moved onto cleaning the plates, occasionally glancing up to see if any customers or Abby had come in.

[Abby Hurston]

The nerve! The freaking nerve of that man! How dare we swoop in like that and just plan her whole summer for her! When did she not have a say in her own life. She was 17 years old, going to graduate next year top of her class no doubt. Going to leave this place and go to an amazing college and and... Uggghhh... she stormed in the front door, the jingle of the tiny bells rang out in a clash of her annoyance. "Can you even believe it Ser, can you even believe it!" she bellowed out, her hands waved up into the air before slamming down at her sides. "It's just so.. I can't beli.. he's just so.." Nothing could come out. There was an impractical amount of thoughts swarming around in her head and none of them wanted to go single file to finally escape.

Taking a forceful step back she bumped into the display table behind her, assuming she had a ways more to go. The force had caused a vase to shake, spinning slightly before finding it's own balance again. Once it settled, the shock slid off her face revealing an apologetic bite of her lip. "I'm sorry." Abby took a glance back, she always found it so strange. "I'm so clumsy, yet I haven't yet broke something in here." She laughed softly before shaking her head.

[Serena Robertson]

Serena glanced up when Abby came raging into the shop, rambling off a lot of everything and nothing. "I can't believe it! It's an outrage! How could he have possibly done that?!" She ranted on with Abby. "Wait what don't I believe?" She knew Abby was upset when she texted her but she hadn't told her what about, it was obviously something big since she couldn't even mange to get her words out.

Serena cringed watching Abby almost knock over an whole display case, yet surprisingly enough didn't. She was used to her best friend's clumsiness, she way anything but graceful that was for sure. "It's alright. Are you okay?" She glanced up at the case that she had almost knocked over and giggled slightly. "I don't know how this stuff keeps surviving your clumsiness. I think one day you're going to come in here, and not touch anything, but everything will break anyways. Remember that time you knocked the vase off the top of the shelf and it still didn't break?" She smiled at her, hoping it would make her feel a bit better. "Now tell me what's going on."

[Abby Hurston]

Abby remembered that day! It was one pretty hard to forget, actually. A burst of laughter escaped her lips, slowly trickling out until she could hold them back. "Your grandma's face! My god. I thought she was going to kill me." she shook her head with a big stupid grin on her face. "Just about to run me out of the shop with her dang broom, like I was some rodent." Not that Abby could blame her, practically gave that poor women heart attacks just being in a 50 yards radius. "To be completely honest with you, I'm rather impressed that I'm still allowed inside! Thought I'd have a big ol 'Banned' poster with my face on it by now!"

Abby barely heard her friend rant along side her until it all settled. She laughed at how humorous it all was. She never knew how Serena could keep her cool and calm composer all the time. It was undeniable rage and heat that pumped through her body. Complete frustration when she felt striped of her rights and freedom. Perhaps that was because her grandmother had more respect and trust in her. She groaned out loud running her hand along her face. "He's making me in charge of that stupid youth group again, " she mumbled into her hand. "For the whooole summer no doubt." she added as she threw her hands in the air again. "Right up until the very day I go back to track."

[Serena Robertson]

Serena laughed along with Abby, happy she could get her to temporarily forget about whatever was making her upset. "I don't think I'd ever seen her that mad before! I have to be honest, I was a little afraid for your safety. You're just glad the vase didn't break otherwise..who know what would have happened!" Serena's grandmother was a little hard on Abby about her clumsiness, but she still loved her. Although it was times like that you would think otherwise. "Just wait until you actually do break something, I'm sure she'll ban you from the whole block! Worried you might burn the whole shop down or something." She had told Serena that Abby wasn't allowed in the backroom, worried she would break important stuff. But Serena didn't really listen, she would take Abby back there still if she wanted to, not like she did very often though since Abby thought it was all just crazy.

Serena frowned when she found out why Abby was so upset, and she could understand. This summer was going to be the only break she was going to have and now she wouldn't. "I'm sorry you got stuck with that again." Between church, school, and track, Abby never really got a break and now she wouldn't. "Hey look on the bright side! I can come and hang out with you while you do it, and I can bring cupcakes or something, and we can still hang out afterwards and do stuff. It's still going to be a great summer!" She tried to cheer Abby up but she knew there was no real fix for that.

[Abby Hurston]

"It's like he doesn't even know me anymore Ser. As if the more I grow as a person, the less he sees the real me." Abby let out a long, dragged out sigh. Sure she was right there could always be something to do around it, but at the same time it was such an interference. And really what was stopping him from taking even more time away . "I know, I know. But it's just... not the same.He even went on about how I could possibly go visit my.. uhh what did he even call them.. some friends of the church for a week or two. A whole freaking week or two." There was something going on with him, there had to have been, but what was bothering him so much at this moment was a clear mystery. Nothing happened in this town, nothing.

Abby let out a small smile and laughed. "You know, I'm actually a little worried for him." She hesitated, tying to figure out the right way to word it. She knew her friend would understand it the more than she did, or at least see something more from her fathers side.. if there was anything odd going on. But that was highly doubtful. "He seems odd, y'anno? Like.." she waved her hand in front of her face. "There's worry in his eyes, almost fear, but less... upsetting. More..knowing." She shrugged. "I don't know."

[Serena Robertson]

"Maybe he just sees you as the same little girl you used to be? And he just can't see you're growing up?" Serena knew Abby was definitely not the same little girl anymore, and she also knew he father was very protective of her. "Maybe you just need to talk to him? I mean you probably won't get out of summer church duty, but maybe he will back off a little?" Serena wasn't really the best person to give father advice since she never had one, but she knew Abby's pretty well. "I know it sounds stupid..But he's only doing it because he loves you." She knew that wouldn't make it suck any less, but maybe it would make her feel a little better.

Serena listened carefully as Abby expressed her worries about her father. If Abby thought something might be up, then she didn't doubt it. "So you think maybe there's a reason he wants you out of the house, and at church?" She glanced up thoughtfully. "Maybe...He's sick. And he doesn't want you to know about it? Or he's got a secret girlfriend and he's worried what you'll think?" She shrugged, she was just throwing ideas out there. If something was up though, Serena was very curious what it could be. Nothing happened in this tiny little town, and certainly nothing that was concern the Reverend. "I'm sure everything's going to be fine. Maybe he will tell you when he's ready?" Serena reached out and rubbed her shoulder reassuringly. "I could make a protection charm for him or your house or something if you would like?" Abby might not believe in all that but it didn't hurt for Serena to offer.

[Abby Hurston]

As much as Abby wanted to believe her friend, especially since that sounded like the most normal response to this, it never felt that way when you were the one in it. It honestly felt like there was this separation, like she wasn't a person anymore, but an idea. He had painted a role for her and now it was the time to fill it. Sorry for him, but that just wasn't going to happen. "You're right Serena," she responded with a quick smile. She wasn't exactly sure if she believed it, but there was no more point dreading on it. Everything would work out in the end, it was just more on how she was going to get there.

A burst of laughter erupted from her mouth, and it took her a good long while before she could calm herself. After wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, she chuckled. "There's no way that man has a girlfriend. Or he should be in a better mood for that." Abigail realize that, that was a very accurate guess and she assumed in other circumstances she would say the very thing.


"There's something more going on then he's letting on that's for sure." she agreed. "I over heard him in the den the other day. I'm not sure what he meant. Something about dark forces." Abby couldn't help but laugh again. What the hell that was suppose to mean, was beyond her. She smiled at her friends offer, but there wasn't anything special about her charms. Not that she would constantly tell her of her disbelief's, she was sure she got that enough. "You know what.. maybe. Yeah if you wouldn't mind." That would sure piss him off.

[Serena Robertson]

Serena joined in with her friend laughing, the idea of Abby's father having some sort of secret girlfriend was very amusing. "You're right I don't know what I was thinking. Could you imagine if he did though? A secret girlfriend, and he just wanted you at church so he could have her over." She continued to chuckle at the thought. It was an amusing thought, but by the way Abby was describing it, it sounded a lot more serious then just some secret girlfriend. Which did make her a bit worried, what else could possibly be happening?

"Dark forces?" She repeated slowly. "What kind of dark forces do you think could be in town?" The idea actually scared her a bit. It might not if it was somebody else, but if the Reverend thought something was up then that was a bad sign. "Has he said anything else that might give us a clue? What's been different lately that would have something to do with dark forces?" It all seemed a bit troubling. As much as she wanted to brush away the thought, she couldn't help but share her friend's concern. "I wouldn't usually suggest this but...Maybe you could go through his stuff. Do you think he could be hiding something?"

"Of course not." She smiled, pleased that her friend actually agreed to her idea. She glanced over at the door as to make sure nobody was going to come in. "Here come with me." She lead her friend to the backroom, pushing open the door and leaving it open a crack so that she would know if someone came into the shop. "You wouldn't happen to have any of your father's hair or anything on you by chance?"

[Abby Hurston]

Her nose scrunched up at the thought. "Eww, gross Ser! Who would want to think of that!" she exclaimed, sticking her finger in her open mouth as she pretended to gag. The motion only making her chuckle again and cover her face with an open palm. She was sure that there wasn't any child that wanted that thought lodged into their brain. Even shaking her head didn't seem to erase it quick enough. Blah.

Abigail's eyebrow slowly raised when her friend started asking questions. Of course she didn't realize at the time, but if there was anything to do with energy or whatever she believed in, she was going to be far more concerned than needed. If anything, Abby was more concerned if she was going to have to check her dad into the mental hospital. Though, luckily for him, he was the Reverend. Meaning he could literally go on about whatever he wanted to, and look like Gods messenger. She inwardly eye rolled at the notion. Such bullshit. "Uhh. No clue. Not going to lie, after I heard 'dark forces' I stopped listening." She smirked. "Hmm, he usually locks that desk of his in the den. I just assumed it was churchy stuff and left it be."

Abby cocked her head to the side when she noticed the direction in which Serena was walking in. "Ha, you're gonna need one hell of a protection spell on mine, if you want me back there." The image of 'the broom' ran clear across her mind. She hesitantly looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see Serena's grandmother giving her the eye. Seeing as she was free to wander without the watchful eye, she carefully followed her friend. Her eyebrow rose once again. "Ohh yeah, I like to keep a lock of my fathers hair with me at all time." Shaking her head she decided for the hell of it to rummage through her bag. Pushing aside various objects that she didn't need to carry but for some reason found it less effort to lug them around than take them out. Barking a laugh she pulled out a gold chain, a simple gold cross dangling at the bottom of it. Irony at it's best. "Would this work? It was his 'first' ." she replied with a condescending tone.

[Serena Robertson]

Serena busted out laughing even more at Abby's reaction. "Well I didn't say what they would be doing! That, you came up with yourself." She giggled even more and stuck her tongue out at her. "I don't have to worry about that because I don't think my grandma has dated once since I've been alive. I think she scares men away." Serena tried to imagine her grandma trying to even flirt with a man, but it somehow ended up with her chasing him away with a broom. She giggled at the thought.

She wasn't surprised to hear her friend had stopped listening, Abby didn't believe in any sort of supernatural. Serena had given up trying to convince her, she had simply accepted she wouldn't believe. And she was fine with that. Although in a situation like this, it might have been helpful. "Of course you did. That's when you should have listened even more!" Serena simply shook her head and smiled. "Maybe you could check in there? See if there's anything. I mean it's a start." She shrugged. "Not much else to do really, I mean if you ask people if he's been acting strange, they'll probably all just take his side." She paused for a moment to think. Just from hearing Abby's side of the story, it was really hard to tell what might be up. Whether her father was simply going insane, or if there was actually dark forces. Either option was bad though so it made Serena concerned.

Serena whipped around, walking backwards for a moment to look at Abby. "Just don't touch anything! Nana will kill both of us if you break something!" She wagged her finger at her before turning around again to walk into the back room. "Hey I figured I'd ask. I never know what you've got I'm that purse." Serena shrugged, she didn't really expect she would. In fact she might have been a bit disturbed if she did. "Yes I can make that work! See you look at me like I'm crazy but you did have something!" She took the cross, examining it for a moment before setting it down on the table. "I have to ask...did he give this to you or did you steal it from him." She gave Abby a side glance and raised her eyebrows. Neither option would surprise her. "Okay let's see here..." She pulled out a small piece of red flannel from a box and placed it on the table, putting th cross on top of it then turning around to glance at other various bottles while she thought for a moment.

[Abby Hurston]

"Maybe if I was interested in a spooky story to relay at a campfire, but that's not going to happen any time soon with this schedule of mine. " Abby knew that if her father ever caught her snooping around in the den there would be hell to pay. She couldn't grasp what could be so secretive that it had to be locked away. Like honestly, it was the church. Though she had to admit they were pretty secretive in general, which probably didn't help bring many believers in. Seriously, you try to sell people that garbage and expect people to believe, when probably the juiciest bits are left behind closed doors. "Mm, I'll have to see what I can do. You wouldn't happen to have a invisibility cloak back there by any chance? Now that would be some really helpful magic."

Serena was right, if her father was acting weird, people would start to ask question. Which would probably end up making this whole thing much worse. Not to mention, her hide being at the cost of curiosity. Though the full saying is 'curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back', Abby wasn't so sure she would make it out of that one.

She shot her friend a playful glare. "I'm not thaat clumsy!" she exclaimed. Just as the words tumbled out of her mouth, she immediately regretted it. With a thud of her hip hitting the table, a tiny glass crystal rolled off of it's display pillow. Her hand reached out just in time to snatch it before it shattered across the floor. "Didn't break it?" she responded in a timid, barley audible voice. After placing it back delicately onto the pillow, she patted it, as if telling it to stay. It was humorous to wonder how such a tiny body could take over so much needed space. Once in the back she carefully looked all around her before stationing herself against a wall. With nothing on or near it of course. "I'ma just gonna chill here." she added, raising her hand in gesture of being fine.

"Yeah, I had something. Not something creepy like a lock of hair!" she exclaimed with a shake of her head, "if that's the people you deal with on a daily basis, I suggest finding a new career." Abby shivered at the thought. Could you imagine waking up and have someone hovering over you with a pair of scissors? Blah. "Steal it?" she laughed. "Of all the things I would steal, a cross would not be one of them. He gave it to me, in hopes to preserve my faith'."

[Serena Robertson]

Serena frowned slightly. It really did suck she would be so busy this summer now. They had been talking about how great this summer was going to be practically since last summer, and now they wouldn't be able to do everything they wanted to do. "Maybe you can...Become nocturnal and do all the fun summer stuff at night and sleep during at church?" She shrugged and laughed slightly. She was trying to make Abby feel a little better about the whole thing, but in reality it really sucked. "No, no I don't. This isn't Harry Potter, sorry." She shook her head and laughed. "Wouldn't that be nice to have though?"

Serena was just about to argue how clumsy Abby was, but before she could Abby bumped into the table. Serena froze for a moment, terrified as she watched the crystal tumble from it's resting place. Thankfully, Abby caught it just in time. Serena let out a relieved sigh and then started the chuckle. "Yeaah, not thaat clumsy for sure." She simply smiled and shook her head. "You must be really lucky, for how many things you've almost-but-haven't-actually-broken. I think I'll be impressed the day you actually break something." Horrified, but impressed. "Good idea. I don't need to wrap everything in bubble wrap do I?" She teased.

"A lock of hair isn't creepy! Maybe you had a comb or something, I don't know!" Serena giggled to herself as she thought about the jar of Abby's hair she had. Now would probably not be the best time to tell her. It wasn't creepy though! She had simply collected it for if she needed it, you never know. A shame she never thought to collect Fastion's hair. "Hey I like my career just fine! Someday you will understand." Serena knew Abby would believe her eventually. She would prove it to her somehow. "I thought maybe you stole it because it was important to him and you knew it would piss him off! Com'on you can't say that's not something you would totally do." She raised her eyebrows at her. Continuing to move around quickly, she grabbed various glass jars filled with things she needed in addition to the cross.

[Abby Hurston]

Abby hummed and ha'd about the idea of being nocturnal. She always thought about how cool it was to have a nightlife, but to be honest she was basically crawling into bed at 9pm most nights. Not that there was anything wrong with that per say, but you'd assume that she would be more of a morning person. "Yeah! I could get those eye stickers! Y'unno those really weird ones that you put on your eyelid, to make people think you're still awake." Though that wouldn't really fly and she could see the kids poking her with a stick or something. They weren't very.. creative, and she found herself constantly trying to think of a new activity. Don't you think somebody should be able to pick something to pass the time. She hated singing, she hated having open discussions about scripture. Basically it was playing regular games that had a 'Jesus spin-off' or throwing in a terrible B-rated movie about coming back to faith.

It was true. She was pretty impressed herself as well, not to mention her reflex's. Perhaps she was more like a cat than she first thought. She loved sleeping, curious as all hell. Maybe that was her spirit animal or some shit like that. "I know right? I don't get it." she shook her head, but she wasn't complaining! "Uh.. I don't think so. Just hoping that I don't end up sneezing and send something tumbling over." She laughed, but it was true. Her sneezes were ridiculous. It was almost like she was taken over and just lost all sense of her own body. Arms flailing and all.

"Yes Serena, I like to brush my dad's hair. Gotta make sure I have comb in my bag at all times for that." Sometimes the things that came out of that girl's mouth was just so absurd. Next thing you know it, she might actually do that herself! Can you even imagine how odd that would be. "I don't think I'll ever understand," she replied with a chuckle. "But that's cool. It's your thing, I get it." Abby shrugged it off nonchalantly. She may not ever understand why Serena thought all this stuff was real. Abby wasn't so sure that her friend had ever witness anything happen, or if some sort of weird coincident kept her faith in it so strongly. "Okay perhaps I would have 'miss placed' it, just to see his reaction. But nothing so cynical as to steal it."

[Serena Robertson]

Serena tried not to laugh at the thought of Abby sitting there with stickers over her eyes to look like she was awake, but she ended up cracking up anyways. She somehow didn't think all the little kids would buy it. They would probably end up drawing mustaches on her or covering her with paint or something. That would be interesting to see. "Okay so maybe that's not the best idea after all." She shrugged and laughed.

Her eyes widened as she imagined her friend sneezing. Abby's sneezes were so over dramatic, it was impressive. "Oh gosh please try not to do that." Nobody had a crazier sneeze then Abby, if anyone could take down a whole antique shop with a sneeze, it would be Abby. "Do you remember that time in 6th grade when you ruined your whole art project with a single sneeze?" She chuckled at the memory. Our teacher never believed she had really ruined it with a sneeze until Abby started sneezing in class one day.

"Noo not like you brush his hair or anything...ah never mind." She waved the thought away. It was no use in trying to explain, but she knew Abby would understand eventually. "You might not believe it, but at least you don't look at me crazy like everyone else in this town, so thank you!" Abby was probably the only person besides her grandma that didn't think she was crazy for doing hoodoo. She probably would have given it up a long time ago if she wasn't positive it was real. But she knew it was so it would be silly to stop doing it when she had been practicing all her life. "Ha! See I told you. Don't act all innocent." Serena tied the charm up and cupped it in her hands. Closing her eyes she muttered a quick prayer over it before holding it out to Abby. "You can either put this under his pillow, behind his door, or preferable somewhere he will carry it with him."