Diamond Bright

Emma couldn't face the idea of staying another moment in Massachusetts, and they couldn't get a portal back to the island until morning.

Besides, Rhode Island was probably the last place anyone would think to look for them, and therefore safest. The hotel was also almost completely empty, so the manager was willing to cut them a deal to get two rooms for the night.

Emma just wanted a hot shower and a bed. And for someone to explain to her why she'd waken up on the lawn of the Clinic.


[OOC: Wrap-up and relaxation for the rescue rangers. NFB due to distance.]

( Emma's parents had always politely referred to it as 'The Clinic.' The Snow Valley Pavilion for the Mentally Disturbed. )

[OOC: Cut for violence, NPC abuse, disturbing images, etc. Preplayed with my fantastic cast, who helped me bring Emma's original origin from Generation X #24 into Fandom High canon. Oh, and shamelessly rip off a little bit of Endsong for the end. I feel no guilt. NFI, NFB, OOC = OK.]

Emma hadn't exactly had photographs of her childhood or family home laying about her room, so this was the first time anyone from Fandom had laid eyes on Frost House, the massive structure sitting silently behind the iron gates.

( Not exactly a welcoming sight to uninvited guests. )

[OOC: NFI, NFB, OOC=OK. Preplayed with bitten_notshy, fratboybitch, glacial_witch, justwantsquiet, and theotherpeter. And please give a round of applause to the resplendent raspberryturk for playing Cordelia!]

( Emma no longer knew what day it was, or even if it was morning or afternoon. All she knew is that she was exhausted. )

[OOC: Establishy! NFB, NFI, OOC = OK. CUT FOR EVERY SINGLE REASON THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE CUT.]

Emma hadn't meant to stay out so late shopping, she really hadn't. Once she'd realized it was almost nine, she'd hurried for her portal, ducking down the safer shortcuts that she still knew like the back of her hand. New York was her city, and that knowledge gave Emma the confidence to hurry along, less than mindful of her surroundings than she would have been anywhere else.

When she'd tripped over something, she just swore at herself for not watching the sidewalk more carefully, and set about picking up her bags. She didn't pay any mind to the two men walking past her; at least, not until the turned around and grabbed her.

( The last thing she remembered, she hadn't even had time to scream or shift before a cloth was pressed over her face, and the chloroform kicked in. )

[OOC: General warning for disturbing shit and abuse of authority. Establishy. NFB, NFI, OOC = OK.]

She'd won. Or at least, her lawyer was going to win, and Emma had a stalemate for now.

She waited until she sensed Winston and Hazel leave, along with the on-again-off-again flickering presence that was Cordelia. She couldn't spot Adrienne through the eyes of anyone during her quick scan, so she figured the coast was clear. And victory was very sweet.

To celebrate, she figured she'd hit the mainland for a little bit. Pick up some new clothes for the inevitable court date, as well as a few pretty things for herself, then come back here and see who wanted to hit Caritas or Devil's Nest with her. Or both! Both were sounding pretty good right about now.

Since she was only planning on being gone a few hours, she didn't bother to leave Triela a note. It's not like her roommate would remember after reading it, anyway.

[OOC: Establishy. Open before she leaves, sure!]

The finger-shaped bruises from where Winston had grabbed her arm stood out sharply against her pale skin, and her split lip and swollen face also stood testament to Emma's argument with Winston last night. She'd seek out Karla and have them healed after her family was good and gone; she didn't want her younger Sister getting any ideas about retribution.

For now, she wore it as a deliberate mark of rebellion against Winston, almost as a matter of pride, while she waited for the next round to begin. She'd thrown the gauntlet four years ago, and now Winston was calling her bluff.

But for once, Emma had the law on her side. And two very good lawyers who were going to make sure it stayed that way.


[OOC: NFI, OOC = OK. Comes after this.]

Going to Fast Eddie's to decompress had a been brilliant idea. Emma had played pool, eaten burgers that could probably induce a heart-attack just by looking at them, and it was a place that was the complete and total opposite of anything to do with her family.

( What hadn't been her smartest moment was not paying attention when she left, not remembering that Winston didn't play by other people's rules. )


[OOC: NFI & NFB since the squirrels would be in bed. This post contains violence and references to previous incidents of emotional and physical abuse, as well as references to drug abuse. The Frost clan isn't exactly a healthy group of people.]

To the outward eye, Emma looked completely calm as she stepped into the lobby of Cabot & Associates. To anyone who knew her well, the way her fingers curled around the papers she carried telegraphed loudly how tense - and afraid angry - she really was.

Not that she had any reason to be tense here. She had copies of all Winston's documents. Supposedly. Emma had managed to schedule an emergency meeting with Miss Cabot herself. ( If anyone could get her out of this mess, it would be a former ADA who was living on a multidimensional nexus. )

[OOC: Many thanks to the lovely glasses_justice for coding and preplay! Takes place after this. NFI, OOC = love.]

It was with determination and assurance that Winston and Hazel Frost knocked on the office door that supposedly belonged to the vice-principal.

The fact that Emma had - willingly - told them where they could meet with a school official had Winston suspicious, and, admittedly, intrigued. Emma had never been the most willful of his children, but she was the most unpredictable. Adrienne and Cordelia were...less than thrilled to be dragged along on this part of the trip, but it would strike a greater blow against Emma to see the entire family there, unified against her.

( It's oooopeeeeeen... )

[OOC: LET THERE BE PLOT! Follows this. MEGAPROPS to mouthy_merc for preplaying with me!]