A Bitter Pill To Swallow

At first, all she can muster for Eva and all the connections is "Hmmm," because her mind has started tossing Brian's message over and over in her mind. Knowing what she knew now about the creep she couldn't understand the hold he still had on her. But now maybe she could use him. Play undercover agent so to speak.

"That text was from Brian. He wants to meet. Should I use this?" She asks no one in particular.

Full honesty, my ass, motherfucker.

Eva shows her phone to Dave, Augusta, and Mel.

"What should I tell her?" she asks, her inexperience with this sort of thing showing through.

Augusta flinches at the text from Brian, not entirely over the handsome devil, no matter what she says. That she was passed over for the pretty blond is not easy to take, even if she dumped him.

When Eva shows them the text, she says to Eva, "We need to do this now. Could you say please, and that it will be quick? We can meet her anywhere before she heads back."

Eva sees anguish flit over Ang's pretty features, but she doesn't understand why. So, uncertain if it's the right course of action, she lifts her phone and texts again.

E: It's important. And can be short. Can I meet you on your way to WL, or right before you take off?

E: k
Turning to the others after typing her single-letter response, Eva starts for the car. "Okay! She's going to meet me, in ten minutes, at Dark Lips. Says she's not supposed to talk to me at the moment, though."

To just Dave, she adds, "I need to be careful here. This could blow the whole thing with Tanya up... and we haven't really figured out what team she's on yet. What are we planning to ask her or say to her?"

"We could start with why she's handing out pills specifically to people with powers and maybe where that supply is coming from." Dave scratched his head. Things were a lot easier when he had smart friends, like Danvers, to put all the puzzle pieces together and tell him what was going on. Putting the puzzle together yourself was a lot harder than it seemed like it should be. "Anna is either going to have to sit in the car or be on her best behavior..." he shot the woman a glare, "otherwise we're sure to blow things with Tanya. We'll get to the bottom of what's going on, Anna, but we don't need to spook the only person with a better idea of what's going on than we currently have."

"Uh, someone? Should we use Brian or should I just stay clear? I'm sure he's sitting at the edge of his seat waiting for me to respond to his text. "

"That's up to you. If you think he's into you, that's one thing. If you think he's onto you, don't agree to go without backup."

Eva nods at Dave. "Yeah. She'll spook if we show up as a gang, or press her on stuff. I like just asking about these other drugs. Just me, or do you wanna come with me?"

"She'll know something's up if I show up with you..." Dave mused to Eva. "Augusta might be the better play in this case. She's a pretty good read with people and can provide backup if things get...heated.". He knew Eva really needed someone adept at navigating awkward social waters and he certainly wasn't the one to do that. "Whatta ya say, Augie? You up for it? The rest of us can get Brock and Anna to the ER. I'd hate for us to be sitting here sipping coffee while he has a brain bleed or something."

She doesn't wince at the Auggie appellation, she might if it were anyone but Dave. Then she wonders what kind of 'heat' Tanya could bring that Eva couldn't handle.

"Sure, I can come with Eva to meet Tanya. We'll figure out a reason why I'm there on the way. Maybe we were going shopping."

"I don't know how he would be onto me, Augusta but I suppose it's possible. I'm not sure what more I can find out though. Unless anyone here has something in particular I should draw out of him I'll tell him it's not happening. Dave? Got any ideas? Or am I just risking my personal safety by meeting him again? Maybe he heard we were outside his apartment too. That wouldn't be good."

Melissa sighs, frustrated. Brian was obviously bad news. What was his obsession with her?

Eva nods at Dave, knowing his idea is better, then holds her fist out so Augusta can bump it. Shortly after, she suggests the pair get going -- it's not far, but the clock is ticking.

---

"This is all so tangled," the blonde says to Ang as they approach the coffee / book shop. "How well do you know Anna? Just from Draven's group?"

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital
After some arguing back and forth, Anna agreed not to go to the meeting at Dark Lips. They could hardly go and confront Tanya while carrying an unconscious man around and she wasn't willing to leave his side. Since they only have one car, they stopped by the hospital where Melissa, Dave and Anna get out. Anna doesn't let anyone but Dave touch and carry her boyfriend, so he's the one bringing the unconscious man into the ER while Augusta drives off in Brock's car, taking herself and Eva to their meeting at the café.

Inside the hospital, before they even make it to the counter, a female voice calls out to them. "Mel, David!" Turning in that direction, they recognize Peyton Smythe, a rising star in local politics and a friend of Augusta's. She has approached Dave before about working with him and his support group in order to publically display her support for metahumans as well as their victims, though they haven't gone beyond her original pitch yet. She also frequents Caine and Sloane more than one might expect from a woman of her means and status, and Melissa has noticed that she always seems to hang around whichever department Melissa is working at at that time, chatting with her.
"I would ask what brings two of my favorite Graybridgers here," Peyton says, her eyes lingering on Melissa's face noticeably longer than on Dave's. Then she throws a glance at Brock. "But I think the answer is obvious. So instead, I'll ask if there's anything I can do to help."

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Dark Lips Books
It's already near closing time when Eva and Augusta arrive at the book store / café where Eva earns her meager wages. Eva recognizes Tanya's bicycle locked up in front of the store, so she must already be there.

As they step inside, Eva recognizes Jackie Emmerich behind the counter, the woman's lips a dark purple in accordance with the name of the place. She's the daughter of the owner and - purely coincidentally of course - one of the managers. She's also a big gossip. But she's usually nice to the awkward blonde and helps her out when she gets turned around with some customers. She recognizes Eva as well but rather than give her a proper greeting, she just throws her a knowing smile that seems to indicate that she knows exactly why Eva is here this evening. She actually winks at Eva and then nods over to a table in the corner, but rather than Tanya sitting there, Eva recognizes Mike Crandall. He hasn't spotted Eva yet, but given her stature, it's only a matter of time until he does.

Looking around, the two do also spot Tanya, sitting by herself in a small booth, a cup of what looks to be tea held between her hands to warm them. She looks up at the new arrivals and her expectant smile turns to a confused look as she sees that her sister did not come alone.

"Oh, hello Ms. Smythe." Melissa had always thought the woman was a little odd, the way she seemed to pop up at whatever department she was in, but a customer was a customer. Maybe she thought Melissa was the most knowledgeable of all of the employees. In any case she was rich, and the rich were better in her book.

"How did you like that new nail polish? It was the perfect shade, I thought. I loved it so much I bought the same shade for myself." That was a lie but she'd never know. She defers to Dave about their reason for being there, not knowing what if anything she should divulge.

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Dark Lips Books
"Shit," Eva says quietly to Augusta after waving to Jackie, following her eyes and spotting Mike. "I've been avoiding him. Haven't seen him since that night in the store, when the whacky guy from the prison broke in and faced down Melissa and I."

Dropping her shoulders, trying vainly to reduce her stature and nuclear-powered noticeability, the tall blonde makes her way to Tanya, hoping to not be spotted by Crandall.

"Hi. Thanks for meeting up with me," she says matter-of-factly, sliding into the booth, leaving room for her companion. "This is Augusta, a friend of mine. We've got... uh... a question."