Recollectibles you shall see things, wonderful to tell

outfit

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The suggestion from Lucine to sublet had been such idea. Ava was able to quickly find a decently priced room she could sublet in a 3 bedroom apartment in Alder Heights. Even better was that the other two rooms were not yet being leased by their occupants, so she had the entire apartment to herself. But it also meant that she was often lonely and there was something she didn't like about it.

So, she hoped on a bus and found her way to Recollectibles. She didn't have much in the way of possessions, and she wanted something. Something to tie her to this place. A book, an article of clothing, a knickknack- just something inexpensive that she could love and cement herself to this area.

She was currently taking in a lovely cow painting, amused with it and wondering if it was perhaps a little too big for what she was truly looking for.

Outfit

---

Catriona was back at Recollectibles. This time she wasn't looking to purchase but to sell the rest of her shit she couldn't sell at the garage sale. Most of Kidd's stuff was gone at least, save for a pair of socks she balled up and threw in a box with the rest of the stuff to get rid of. Balancing everything on the bus and then the next bus had been a challenge but she managed it well enough to get her to the shop.

It was only as she made her way into the store that the box started to break beneath the weight of the items inside it. The first item to fall was a VHS tape of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, followed by the clatter of sandals hitting the ground next. Cat froze, reaching immediately for the bottom of the box with her hand to keep it from expelling every item she was trying to get rid of.

She saw someone nearby who looked maybe a little younger than her and decided to ask for help. Were they looking at a cow painting?

"Hey! Sorry, do you mind picking those up for me-" A nod at the sandals and VHS tape on the ground. "-And uh, just putting them on top of this box?"

There was a small clatter of sounds and Ava turned towards it, finding another redhead struggling. She'd already started to step forward to help, though her hands were first going towards the box. At the request, she nodded and reached for the sandals and the weird box thingy she'd only recognize as a VHS tape later.

"Uh, the box doesn't look sturdy. Would you like me to just hang on to these?" she asked, looking towards the counter. It wasn't like there was anyone else in the store clamoring for a cow painting. It could wait.

"Aye, thanks." Catriona smiled though she was still a bit embarrassed, especially since she'd interrupted the other woman's shopping excursion. Clearly.

Cat made her way to the counter and slid the box on top of it with effort before looking back at her helper.

"That's a cool find." She nodded at the painting the woman had seemingly abandoned.

Once the box was on the counter, Ava gently placed the sandals and tape on top. The clerk seemed to be handling other things for now, which meant that the other woman would be left on her own. So Ava would engage in a bit of chit-chat, since she didn't really have much else to do.

She glanced back at the cow painting when it was mentioned and nodded. "I think it might be too big for my apartment though." She would need to find something smaller.

Ah, too big for her apartment. Cat hummed as she looked at it. It wasn't too big. But fair enough.

"That's too bad. I was going to say you could put it behind a couch or something but yeah."

If the painting was too big, it was too big!

"I'm Cat," She held out her hand and hoped for a warm handshake in return.

It would look cute behind a couch. Maybe when she got a job and got her own place, she could purchase cute artwork for behind a couch.

But for now, Ava turned to look back at the woman, named Cat.

She smiled and shook her hand. "Ava. Nice to meet you. Do you get good deals on your things here?"

Cat received a warm handshake after all - one she didn't hold onto for long but long enough to register the temperature. No daywalkers here. It made it easier for Catriona to make eye contact and feel a little more at ease.

"I think this is the first time I'm trying to sell something," She laughed. "But I figured any deal is good enough for me at this point." Catriona wouldn't argue with the person behind the counter, whenever they came back.

Ava nodded. Maybe she would stick around to see what Cat received for her items. Unless it became weird. It wasn't like Ava really had much to sell anyway.

But she would keep the conversation going, always wanting to know more. "So have you been in the area long?"

Catriona nodded.

"Aye. Over a decade now." She laughed, finding it sort of difficult to believe at this point. Soon, she'd been in America longer than she had been in Scotland. Wild. "What about you?" Maybe the woman was new to town? Or newish?

Oh wow, so Cat definitely knew her way around then.

"Just a week for me," Ava answered quietly, suddenly feeling shy. "I, uhm. I don’t know why I came here yet." Said since she figured that would be the next question.

A week! It was so fucking fresh for her then! Cat was about to interject when Ava continued.

She didn't know why she came here yet.

"Oh, like. Existentially?" Maybe she just chose a place on a map and went there. Huh.

Ava laughed. "Maybe a bit? But I think I suffered from some memory loss? I just remember getting on a bus and then I ended up here."

Wait.

What?!

"Memory loss," Catriona repeated just so she could process it really. "Been hanging out with any vampires?" She asked it more seriously than intended. As someone who suffered from weird blackouts from the last few years because of vampires, it was obviously the first thing that came to mind. The second thing was maybe she hit her head or something?

Ava wasn’t surprised to see someone expressing some shock or surprise. Lucine had been like that too.

The surprise came in when Cat mentioned vampires. Ava giggled and rubbed her arm in that embarrassed kind of manner. "No, but that would be so cool! Knowing a vampire."

Ava didn't seem to know any vampires personally which didn't mean she hadn't encountered one. It put Cat a little on edge and she tapped into her aura power... just in case?

She was met with the familiar shiver down her spine as her eyes flashed silver.

"Sorry. Are you, um. A psychic? Were?" She whispered for Ava's sake, feeling a bit more bold if the woman was suffering from memory loss.

Oh. Ava caught the change of color in Cat’s eyes. There was something familiar about it. But something she didn’t like. She immediately looked away and frowned until the question came.

She would look back to Cat then. "Psychic," she would say very quietly, in a very little voice.

Catriona caught the way Ava looked away after tapping into her aura. Yeah. It could be like invasive. But sometimes it was necessary.

She offered a response up in a quiet voice and Cat nodded.

"Sorry. Just. I know vampires often take advantage of, um, us-" She decided to say. "-Cause our blood makes 'em high." It was a lot of information to throw at someone. "Not to say that happened to you or anything. Just. Aye. I'm probably projecting, which is, uh, not cool."

Ava didn’t enjoy this conversation. She loved vampires! Always thought they were cool!

So, she frowned. She wouldn’t be mean to Cat or anything about it, but she would let the other woman know her thoughts. "I actually think vampires are really cool. Would love to meet some."

Oh. This woman like idolized vampires or something. Which was... troubling. Catriona was extremely troubled by it, anyway.

"Just, uh. Don't look 'em in the eye if you do." She frowned, unable to keep her concerns to herself.

There was something about that again. She subconsciously knew there was something with eyes. "Eyes are the windows to the soul, aren't they?" she said with a small smile. A little light since it seemed like Cat had her own problems with vampires. "Have you had bad experiences?" This one was an actual question.

Eyes are the window to the soul. Yeah, except when it came to the undead, Ava.

"Seems like I've only had bad experiences." It wasn't true. There were some good ones but they were overshadowed and tainted by the bad.

"They can mind control you, if you look them in the eyes. Had it happened a few times, and it's not fun waking up not knowing how you got somewhere or why you can't move your body." Too much information, probably, but Catriona wanted to sort of send the mission home. Vampires were fucking dangerous.

"Oh," she said quietly. That did sound bad. She felt for Cat; could truly understand why she felt the way she did. But that didn't dull the feelings she had when she thought about vampires. "I guess I've always just figured they were regular people who have sometimes lived for a very long time."

Catriona nodded, understanding where Ava was coming from too if she truly didn't have any experiences with vampires. It still made her wonder what the cause of her memory loss was. Felt too weird. But it wasn't her business.

"Aye. Look, I don't mean to say this stuff to like disappoint or scare you. I just wanted to be upfront." She frowned and scratched the back of her neck. "But, uh, if you are looking for more psychic friends in town, I can definitely help you out there or, um, yeah. If you need help or anything with supernatural things, I'm happy to help."

This was a better conversation- wanting more help with supernaturals. Or well, actually just knowing other people.

"To be honest, I barely use my power. So I guess I don’t care if friends are psychics or not. But I’d love more friends. I used to have a lot of friends. But I’ve not had any it seems for a very long time."

Catriona eyed her curiously. She used to have a lot of friends but now she didn't. Well, Cat supposed that had to do with up and moving to a new place. But it was interesting. She didn't really know how to react to a psychic not wanting to use their powers. Even when she'd been more secretive about her own powers, she had wanted to use them!

"Well, guess it can't hurt to exchange numbers then. What power do you have anyway?"

Ava nodded, pulling out her phone. She'd always been pretty secretive about her powers, but it was clear Cat had them and it was probably safe to confide in her. "I can change what I look like," she explained, not really sure on what name to call that. "What about you?" She held out her phone to the other woman, so she could put in her name and number.

Oh, shit. That was pretty cool actually?

"Oh yeah?" Catriona grinned. "That's cool. I have a few, um. Plants, poison and something I call a force field." She put her into Ava's phone as 'Catriona', and added her number. Then she held out her own phone for Ava to do the same. Or she could text her. Whatever was easier.

Plants, poison and force field. Ava didn’t know how to feel about all of that. It kind of sounded like Cat could become a villain. Maybe have Ava as a little sidekick.

Ava nodded and took Cat’s phone to put her own number in it. "Well, now I have two numbers of people!" she said happily, if not a bit awkwardly.

Two numbers. Cat wouldn't inquire after the first one. Not her business, but she smiled.

"Well, if you ever do feel like practicing, let me know. If not, we can just hang out, too." Cat shrugged. No pressure either way.

Ava would nod. And probably keep in touch. "Yeah you too. And if you know anyone looking for a roommate, let me know too. Or know where a girl can get a job."

Catriona and Heather were not looking for another roommate for their new place unfortunately. They didn't have the space for one but Cat nodded anyway.

The job though.

"You could apply at Sk8 City. I work part-time there and at a plant store, but Sk8 City is like always hiring. It's a roller skating rink."

Ava appreciated the information, though she was unsure how helpful she could be. "Do you have to know how to skate?" she asked, as that was something she never actually learned how to do.

Cat shook her head.

"No, don't think so. It's an asset, definitely. But like not a requirement."

She smiled, hoping it was helpful.

Ava nodded. She still didn't know how useful she'd be in such a job, but she desperately needed some income. She smiled at Cat. "Well I guess I'll apply then. Thanks for the heads up." She would leave her be now, if she wanted.

Cat nodded just as the clerk returned.

"Of course. I guess I'll see you around soon, Ava."

She smiled and would let the other woman get back to shopping.

"Yeah, see ya!" Ava answered with a wave. And then she was off to wander the aisles since there was nothing better to do with her time right now.