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Voice messages
Apr. 14th, 2025 04:43 pm"H-Hello? Is this what I'm supposed to talk into? If you need to speak to Aggie, please leave a message."
For so many nights, under any moon phase deemed remotely auspicious, Aggie has walked Darrow's Ley Line. It's something she's done plenty of times in the past but ever since June when she laid eyes on the Purge booth at Pride, she's done it with a dedication that brings her closer to feeling religious than she's felt in centuries. She'd thought that if she prepared enough, then she'd feel okay, feel safe. By now, the Ley Line is as fortified as she can make it; her animals are already at Greta's house with plenty of food and space; her power is as strong as ever; and yet...
She doesn't remember feeling this much dread the last time. Hell, last year, she'd been house-sitting, eating microwaved chicken nuggets, feeling a different kind of immortal. Feeling invulnerable. And maybe she is. With her powers, with her experiences of Darrow and her life before, Aggie knows all too well how much she can endure.
It's not because she doesn't have something to fight for either. Maybe her family looks different now than it did seven years ago, but she'd had plenty to protect then too.
All she knows is that, after weeks of telling herself she's as prepared as she can be, she's sitting on her porch after nailing boards over her windows, unable to quell the sick unease that roils in her stomach.
Left hand tapping nervously on her thigh, Aggie scrolls through her phone in the dying light, finding every number of every friend. All of them get texts. Many of them get a phone call. She hits dial, counts the rings, leaves a message if she can, but whenever someone picks up, she gets right to the point.
"Hey, how's it going. I'm, um. I just wanted to make sure you were all ready for...everything at the end of the month. Also, I ordered a couple pizzas for tonight if you're up for some company...?"
[[If you think Aggie would worry about your pup, feel free to tag in for a phone or in-person conversation (either she'll go to your pup or they can come to her house).]]
She doesn't remember feeling this much dread the last time. Hell, last year, she'd been house-sitting, eating microwaved chicken nuggets, feeling a different kind of immortal. Feeling invulnerable. And maybe she is. With her powers, with her experiences of Darrow and her life before, Aggie knows all too well how much she can endure.
It's not because she doesn't have something to fight for either. Maybe her family looks different now than it did seven years ago, but she'd had plenty to protect then too.
All she knows is that, after weeks of telling herself she's as prepared as she can be, she's sitting on her porch after nailing boards over her windows, unable to quell the sick unease that roils in her stomach.
Left hand tapping nervously on her thigh, Aggie scrolls through her phone in the dying light, finding every number of every friend. All of them get texts. Many of them get a phone call. She hits dial, counts the rings, leaves a message if she can, but whenever someone picks up, she gets right to the point.
"Hey, how's it going. I'm, um. I just wanted to make sure you were all ready for...everything at the end of the month. Also, I ordered a couple pizzas for tonight if you're up for some company...?"
[[If you think Aggie would worry about your pup, feel free to tag in for a phone or in-person conversation (either she'll go to your pup or they can come to her house).]]
(no subject)
Feb. 27th, 2020 12:38 amIt's not like she doesn't have a menagerie waiting for her at home, but some habits just never die. Growing up in Darrow has prepared Aggie for a life of inconsistency that makes her cling all the more fiercely to what has managed to stay–to who has managed to stay. So she ends up at Un Chat Gris more afternoons than not, paying the entry fee to sip a coffee and do homework around other cats.
There have been a succession of friends who worked here, all the way back to Urahara and Rukia and now with Blue. Though none of its previous employees have left ghosts, per se, Aggie likes to imagine that she can feel them a little more closely through the veil or across dimensions or whatever it is that separates them.
And there are still friends here, which means a lot too. Every so often, she can't help but raise her head and just be glad for people like Blue.
There have been a succession of friends who worked here, all the way back to Urahara and Rukia and now with Blue. Though none of its previous employees have left ghosts, per se, Aggie likes to imagine that she can feel them a little more closely through the veil or across dimensions or whatever it is that separates them.
And there are still friends here, which means a lot too. Every so often, she can't help but raise her head and just be glad for people like Blue.
Hello there, wicked smile [Yona]
Jan. 31st, 2020 06:22 pmThe best part of college is that the professors seem as disinterested in giving Friday classes as Aggie is in taking them. It leaves her with a quiet streak of hours between sunrise and afternoon, when the less fortunate elementary, middle, and high school students are turned loose. A lot of her classmates have expressed envy that Aggie's a genuine morning person but that's only because she doesn't tell anyone why she hardly needs any sleep.
That quiet is what sends her wandering today. She's carrying a warm cup of coffee and letting her feet carry her wherever, window shopping as she pleases. Nothing really tempts her in the door until she sees a window display of crystals and tarot cards. Neither are really all that useful to her innate brand of witchcraft but she enjoys the look and appropriately supernatural sense to them all the same.
What catches her attention, more than the crystals, is who she sees through the window.
Stepping through the door, Aggie waves to catch Yona's attention.
That quiet is what sends her wandering today. She's carrying a warm cup of coffee and letting her feet carry her wherever, window shopping as she pleases. Nothing really tempts her in the door until she sees a window display of crystals and tarot cards. Neither are really all that useful to her innate brand of witchcraft but she enjoys the look and appropriately supernatural sense to them all the same.
What catches her attention, more than the crystals, is who she sees through the window.
Stepping through the door, Aggie waves to catch Yona's attention.
Can you fill the silence? [July 28]
Aug. 2nd, 2019 02:35 amThis is supposed to be the best summer of her life. For a slim moment, it even had been. For a few shining weeks in July, she'd had her family and her freedom and a sense of things to come. Now, the month has never felt so cold. People have been checking in on her and she's been making herself go out, sometimes staying out too long to avoid going back to the quiet of the house. It means she gets swamped by eager dogs on her return, which lessens the blow, but it doesn't change the quiet emptiness.
It's one such evening. Aggie's lingering at the table in the middle of a kitchen that's half-tidied, given up partway through to pursue a less than enthusiastic attempt at eating dinner (ordered pizza). She expects that quiet to drag on until first Bran and then Aster lift their heads, tails thumping. They jump to their feet and hurry joyfully to the door, Foha not far behind, while Aggie sits there with Toulouse and Ace, more than a little confused.
"Who's there?"
It's one such evening. Aggie's lingering at the table in the middle of a kitchen that's half-tidied, given up partway through to pursue a less than enthusiastic attempt at eating dinner (ordered pizza). She expects that quiet to drag on until first Bran and then Aster lift their heads, tails thumping. They jump to their feet and hurry joyfully to the door, Foha not far behind, while Aggie sits there with Toulouse and Ace, more than a little confused.
"Who's there?"
It's been a weird journey. 2013 and Agatha Prenderghast, eleven going on twelve, seem so far away. There's a frankly embarrassing array of photographs of herself on tables and place settings, some of which she doesn't even remember being taken. The little girl in some of the oldest ones is her but Aggie feels like she can only barely remember being her.
Six years is a long time to change. It's a long time to learn her powers, to stop being afraid, to get angry, to feel unbelievable joy, to find people, to lose them. She's gained several pets, a few piercings, a lot of different shapes of family, but she's here. Aggie Prenderghast is at her own graduation party, surrounded by family and friends. There's music playing on a speaker, food made at home and brought by guests, and a guestbook parked next to her open year book, surrounded by permanent markers to sign.
Underneath the shade of their trees, the hot day turns into a balmy evening and Aggie watches the fireflies start to blink in and out and feels like she's really accomplished something. She's made it.
Now onto the next milestone.
Six years is a long time to change. It's a long time to learn her powers, to stop being afraid, to get angry, to feel unbelievable joy, to find people, to lose them. She's gained several pets, a few piercings, a lot of different shapes of family, but she's here. Aggie Prenderghast is at her own graduation party, surrounded by family and friends. There's music playing on a speaker, food made at home and brought by guests, and a guestbook parked next to her open year book, surrounded by permanent markers to sign.
Underneath the shade of their trees, the hot day turns into a balmy evening and Aggie watches the fireflies start to blink in and out and feels like she's really accomplished something. She's made it.
Now onto the next milestone.
She doesn't actually think Krem will tell her no, definitely not when he took her the first time she wanted her ears pierced two years ago. This request is a little more unusual and definitely the kind of thing that will earn raised eyebrows at school but...that's half the fun. She's never cared much about not fitting in to the point that it's almost strange now for her classmates to have embraced her as much as they have.
And if she's going to wear the name Spooky with pride, then maybe she should look the part.
Just like last time, she's got her money saved up and her (probably unnecessary) list of reasons, but she doesn't bother with hedging.
Instead, she waits at the breakfast table, Aster's head on her lap, with two cups of coffee until Krem appears.
"I'm thinking about getting a nose ring," she says.
And if she's going to wear the name Spooky with pride, then maybe she should look the part.
Just like last time, she's got her money saved up and her (probably unnecessary) list of reasons, but she doesn't bother with hedging.
Instead, she waits at the breakfast table, Aster's head on her lap, with two cups of coffee until Krem appears.
"I'm thinking about getting a nose ring," she says.
She comes to that forest sometimes, what's left of it. Though she's not particularly studied in ley lines or corpse roads or whatever they're called, Aggie's still spent long enough time in a place between places, as a thing between being and not being. She's no magician, no dreamer, but Aggie can feel its pulse sometimes. There's a road that powers through Darrow and if she listens carefully, Aggie can hear it. Or she could. It's been quiet and weak for months now. Not dead, but emptied down to the bones.
Its heartbeat is stronger tonight, the moon heavy and red in the sky. There's a chill in the air that has nothing to with cold and Aggie swears that the forest is calling out, searching for its now-missing caretakers. Their house in the countryside is still a trek, but she needs to get out and see. What good is all her power otherwise?
What she sees isn't all that encouraging. Even for winter, the place where the forest should be feels particularly barren. There's no sense of magic, just cold, just absence. Aggie starts to wonder what she expected and turns to leave, only to stumble. She falls–swings–backward, dragged back by a rough length of rope that tightens around her neck. She can feel its weight, knows its short fall.
Witch. Devil. Hanged by the neck.
Frantic, Agatha scratches at the rope at her neck but like some living creature, it seems to only get tighter. Fear lights up her skin and crackles like lightning. All the power she's held back, that has threatened to break loose since that demon appeared, bursts forth and Agatha forgets how to be. The girl that she's become burns away and the Witch of Blithe Hollow, all rage, fear, and crackling energy comes forth.
The sky turns red and the witch screams.
Its heartbeat is stronger tonight, the moon heavy and red in the sky. There's a chill in the air that has nothing to with cold and Aggie swears that the forest is calling out, searching for its now-missing caretakers. Their house in the countryside is still a trek, but she needs to get out and see. What good is all her power otherwise?
What she sees isn't all that encouraging. Even for winter, the place where the forest should be feels particularly barren. There's no sense of magic, just cold, just absence. Aggie starts to wonder what she expected and turns to leave, only to stumble. She falls–swings–backward, dragged back by a rough length of rope that tightens around her neck. She can feel its weight, knows its short fall.
Witch. Devil. Hanged by the neck.
Frantic, Agatha scratches at the rope at her neck but like some living creature, it seems to only get tighter. Fear lights up her skin and crackles like lightning. All the power she's held back, that has threatened to break loose since that demon appeared, bursts forth and Agatha forgets how to be. The girl that she's become burns away and the Witch of Blithe Hollow, all rage, fear, and crackling energy comes forth.
The sky turns red and the witch screams.
Is it opportunistic to do this? Maybe. Probably. She hadn't actually expected Olive and Eduardo to take her seriously when she'd offered to house sit for them. She also hadn't expected them to be willing to pay as much as they've promised her either. Given the atmosphere of the Purge, the opportunistic whispers, she supposes they might see it as an investment. Even with her powers acting up, she knows she can put on a hell of a scare.
It's strange though that while many of her friends have been feeling their powers dim, Aggie's have never felt stronger. This isn't necessarily a good thing. Every time Aggie startles, lights dim and then surge back on; electrical devices go on the fritz; things break. Her own physical body always feels too small for her these days. It's not like a growth spurt in her bones and muscles but in her soul and there's no growing to accommodate that.
She's not in danger of being unable to defend the Saverin house. If anything, the greater danger is in being unable to limit how much damage she does to a person if they try anything stupid.
For the first hour though, most of the activity seems to concentrate in the city and Aggie just sits on the Saverins' porch eating some of their leftovers (they'd said she could). For a minute, the zombie makeup seems to feel like overkill until she hears something rustle at the end of the driveway. Then she's on her feet, eyes glowing fiercely.
"This isn't the place you want to try," she warns.
[[Be a friend or a burglar. Aggie will deal with them accordingly.]]
It's strange though that while many of her friends have been feeling their powers dim, Aggie's have never felt stronger. This isn't necessarily a good thing. Every time Aggie startles, lights dim and then surge back on; electrical devices go on the fritz; things break. Her own physical body always feels too small for her these days. It's not like a growth spurt in her bones and muscles but in her soul and there's no growing to accommodate that.
She's not in danger of being unable to defend the Saverin house. If anything, the greater danger is in being unable to limit how much damage she does to a person if they try anything stupid.
For the first hour though, most of the activity seems to concentrate in the city and Aggie just sits on the Saverins' porch eating some of their leftovers (they'd said she could). For a minute, the zombie makeup seems to feel like overkill until she hears something rustle at the end of the driveway. Then she's on her feet, eyes glowing fiercely.
"This isn't the place you want to try," she warns.
[[Be a friend or a burglar. Aggie will deal with them accordingly.]]
Generally speaking, Aggie thinks of herself as pretty smart. Smart enough, certainly, to avoid a candy cottage that might as well be a gigantic, cinnamon-scented red flag. Except that strange things have been happening and people have been acting stranger, many of them changing shape or memories or else something equally crazy. It's come close enough to her own loved ones that Aggie has to investigate again.
Peering into the windows is no good. The windowpanes are made from sugar and they're cloudy like poured sugar, bubbly and a bit warped. Despite their fragile material, nothing Aggie does can break it. At first she jabs it with a fallen branch and then (stupidly) punches it. When neither works, she sends a bolt of power crashing that ricochets and nearly knocks her off her own feet. She's glad, at least, that no one seems to be there to witness it.
Without a recourse, she goes around the side and finds the door swinging open, though she's sure it was closed a minute ago. She doesn't mean to go in, except that a tree root that she swears wasn't there either trips her and sends her sprawling, upper body passing neatly through the door. "Shit," she mutters, indulging in a swear word while there are no adults to reprimand her. Getting back on her feet, she looks around the cottage and finds it surprisingly empty. Not even a witch to blame. Weird.
Forced to conclude her search without answers, Aggie brushes off her knees and puts in her earbuds so that she can have music when she walks home.
Zoning out, it takes her far too long to realize that she's going in the wrong direction entirely, straying to the edge of the river where some of the magic is strongest.
Peering into the windows is no good. The windowpanes are made from sugar and they're cloudy like poured sugar, bubbly and a bit warped. Despite their fragile material, nothing Aggie does can break it. At first she jabs it with a fallen branch and then (stupidly) punches it. When neither works, she sends a bolt of power crashing that ricochets and nearly knocks her off her own feet. She's glad, at least, that no one seems to be there to witness it.
Without a recourse, she goes around the side and finds the door swinging open, though she's sure it was closed a minute ago. She doesn't mean to go in, except that a tree root that she swears wasn't there either trips her and sends her sprawling, upper body passing neatly through the door. "Shit," she mutters, indulging in a swear word while there are no adults to reprimand her. Getting back on her feet, she looks around the cottage and finds it surprisingly empty. Not even a witch to blame. Weird.
Forced to conclude her search without answers, Aggie brushes off her knees and puts in her earbuds so that she can have music when she walks home.
Zoning out, it takes her far too long to realize that she's going in the wrong direction entirely, straying to the edge of the river where some of the magic is strongest.
She shouldn't be so fidgety. It's just Bondurant's and, theoretically, it's just dinner with Barbara. They'd done that a thousand times when she'd been Aggie's guardian. Only things are different now and she hasn't seen Barbara in a long time. What if this is the last time? What if the rift stays open forever and she can see Barbara whenever she wants? What if the city is playing games again?
Worried, she can't help but turn her coffee mug around and around and around until the hot beverage swirls a little bit, threatening to lap the edge.
Worried, she can't help but turn her coffee mug around and around and around until the hot beverage swirls a little bit, threatening to lap the edge.
[For Gannicus]
Sep. 12th, 2016 10:15 pm"Krem, are you home?" Aggie asks. She doesn't actually bother waiting for him to answer before she unlocks the door to his apartment and walks in, carefully stepping around Prunam's figure eights around her. Being a ghost cat, Aggie supposes that she could walk through Prunam without issue but, being a ghost herself, she thinks it's not polite.
"Krem?" she repeats. When she circles around the couch, she sees someone lounging there but not Krem. It's Gannicus and she pauses, waving her hand at him in a tiny motion. "Hi there."
She's not entirely sure what to do with him, though they've met, Aggie can't really say she's especially close with any of Krem's partners. Does she sit down with him? Start her homework? Flee to her place?
"Krem?" she repeats. When she circles around the couch, she sees someone lounging there but not Krem. It's Gannicus and she pauses, waving her hand at him in a tiny motion. "Hi there."
She's not entirely sure what to do with him, though they've met, Aggie can't really say she's especially close with any of Krem's partners. Does she sit down with him? Start her homework? Flee to her place?
She'd been playing with the idea ever since Mardi Gras, when Aggie hadn't been able to stop looking at all the beautiful and opulent jewelry. More and more in Darrow, she's becoming aware of the things that other girls her age might accept as a given that, for her, had been unforgivable vanities in Blithe Hollow. Now it's a source of curiosity and something she wants for herself, especially after one of the girls at school had actually taken a seat with Aggie at lunch, wearing delicate earrings she had made by hand with beads and wire.
Getting her ears pierced requires a guardian's signature, which is what brings her to Krem's door. There's money in her bag and a carefully rehearsed list of reasons in case he objects. Knocking on the door, she waits.
Getting her ears pierced requires a guardian's signature, which is what brings her to Krem's door. There's money in her bag and a carefully rehearsed list of reasons in case he objects. Knocking on the door, she waits.
(no subject)
Dec. 29th, 2014 04:35 amAfter last year's excitement, Aggie had decided she'd rather ring in the new year in the relative safety of home. It was to that end that she'd texted invitations around to her friends and then helped Barbara set out a table of drinks and snacks. There were a few bottles of sparkling cider, as well as a smaller table of alcohol for adults, for popping open at midnight to celebrate. The couch was pushed up against the far wall to make room for the sleeping bags and pillows that would fill up the space later in the night.
For once, Aggie made use of the TV that had been in her apartment on arrival, tuning in to the festivities happening a few miles away.
Being a well-prepared child, she'd also made sure the windows were shut tight and ready to reinforce if necessary, with cans of Raid on every windowsill.
Now all they needed to do was figure out how many pizzas they'd be ordering as the first guest knocked on her door.
"Come in!"
[[Aggie's NYE party in Dimera Apartments. Open to friends of Aggie and Barbara, turning into a sleepover after the midnight festivities.]]
For once, Aggie made use of the TV that had been in her apartment on arrival, tuning in to the festivities happening a few miles away.
Being a well-prepared child, she'd also made sure the windows were shut tight and ready to reinforce if necessary, with cans of Raid on every windowsill.
Now all they needed to do was figure out how many pizzas they'd be ordering as the first guest knocked on her door.
"Come in!"
[[Aggie's NYE party in Dimera Apartments. Open to friends of Aggie and Barbara, turning into a sleepover after the midnight festivities.]]
(no subject)
May. 22nd, 2014 12:13 amAs she wakes up, Aggie swears she can hear roaring, as though someone's tearing past on a motorcycle outside. Only when she opens her eyes, all she can see is Goblin purring on her chest, the rumbling louder than anything ever. She's also more aware than ever of the particular smell of her cat, not unpleasant but familiar. However, now she's picking up the scent of his food, of his cat litter, even the lingering scent of his favorite rubber toys.
Aggie knows she's never done this before and it doesn't matter that it's late at night. She has to go to Barbara.
Quickly, she hurries upstairs and knocks on Barbara's door.
"I think something happened again!"
Aggie knows she's never done this before and it doesn't matter that it's late at night. She has to go to Barbara.
Quickly, she hurries upstairs and knocks on Barbara's door.
"I think something happened again!"
The first order of business, after finding out her change of state, has been for Aggie to take her money and acquire a nice large parasol. She's found herself able to walk around in daylight, but it's rather painful to do so fully exposed and so she's kept to the shadows as she makes her way back home.
The word that Barbara's used is vampire. Aggie thinks that what she should do next is perhaps find something to...eat. Or else someone who can help her do that.
She may have killed people in the past, but that's where Aggie would like to keep her tendency for murder. Not in the present.
The word that Barbara's used is vampire. Aggie thinks that what she should do next is perhaps find something to...eat. Or else someone who can help her do that.
She may have killed people in the past, but that's where Aggie would like to keep her tendency for murder. Not in the present.
(no subject)
Mar. 30th, 2014 03:38 pmBarbara's been tired lately, behaving oddly. She hasn't been any less kind to Aggie, but she can still perceive it, the way exhaustion's been clinging to her. It's what has her sitting in Barbara's apartment now, her hands folded around a mug of hot chocolate as she waits. Barbara went out tonight and Aggie had known, instinctively, that this was different from the other times that Barbara went out. She'd had a look on her face like something was haunting her and Aggie would've had to have been covering her ears and eyes not to hear the news about the serial killer going around.
So she waits. Barbara never promises she'll come home safe. She always promises she'll try because it's more honest. And tonight, Aggie waits. There's a mug of hot water in the microwave and tea bags on the table when Barbara comes.
So she waits. Barbara never promises she'll come home safe. She always promises she'll try because it's more honest. And tonight, Aggie waits. There's a mug of hot water in the microwave and tea bags on the table when Barbara comes.
