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[seas_open]

April doesn't mope.

She doesn't drink to excess and she doesn't let herself be seen a mess unless it's going to benefit her in some way. She doesn't waste tears on what's happened when she knows she's as much to blame as anyone. This was inevitable. She had seen it coming and she'd done nothing about it and so she is as much at fault as Les, though that's not the sort of thing she'll ever admit, because being able to blame him is both satisfying and potentially useful, depending on the person she's speaking to.

How upset she lets herself be, how angry she is, how much she blames him and how much she blames Corrine will all depend on what someone is looking for out of her. April is dealing with this in the only way she knows how: she's lying her ass off to anyone who looks at her.

On January first, she's getting out of Siren Cove. At least for a little while. She's been doing her research and there's an opportunity for a short term con about six hours from here and it's something she needs. She's so restless and this town feels like it's digging into her, like its claws have gotten into her skin and she needs out. So in less than a week she'll be gone.

But for now, she's doing exactly the opposite of what people might expect of her. She's been with Caden, she's going out for coffee, she's shopping. She very visibly returned the Christmas gift she had bought for Les and this might be one time that gossip magazine actually benefits her a little, because she's making sure to be seen.

A little sad, maybe, but not a mess. A little sad, but still strong.

This is the woman Siren Cove gets until she figures out exactly how she's going to pay this place back for every last fucking curve ball it's thrown at her. And then she'll be done playing nice.

[Catch her out anywhere, getting coffee or shopping for herself at some fancy clothing store~]

Comments

[scaledtokill]

It didn't entirely surprise Robert that Les had done that, but it didn't make him happy. He didn't imagine that April had the sort of relationship with Les that she had with most people. He couldn't imagine her taking it well, although maybe she had steeled herself against rejection a long time ago, it was hard to tell. It probably wasn't his place to try and figure it out.

"I liked him a lot more before you just told me what he did," Robert confessed, making a face. If it had been anyone other than Leslie Parker, he probably would have gone to pay them a visit for what they had done. "What about you and Caden? Or should I just leave the entire situation alone?"

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"Caden and I are fine," she answers, though she wonders how true that is. It's not as if her feelings for him have changed with Les leaving the both of them, but April has never been in a relationship before Les and she has to wonder just how much time will pass before she inevitably does something to hurt him.

Caden's a good man. She isn't a good woman.

Then again, she would have said the same thing about Les not that long ago. "Though I guess you can figure out neither of us are in particularly high spirits. It made for a strained Christmas."

[scaledtokill]

"Good, I like Caden. He's pretty crazy about you," Robert said. He would have thought as much about Les too, although with Caden the man had confessed it under siren compulsion so he was more apt to believe it. Apparently he had threatened the wrong partner though.

"I'm sorry, it's a particularly shitty time to do that to someone," he said. Not that there was ever really a good time to do it, but this seemed even worse. "Speaking of which, I got you a present."

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"I didn't get one for you," she says, although she doubts he's expecting anything in return. And as she collects her coffee, she has to admit she's curious. Gifts, as far as she's concerned, are a chance to prove what a person knows about another. She's sure not many people look at them like that, but she's always been a bit of a cynic and with good reason.

Gifts are just another way to manipulate people.

"If it's a big, flashy ring, just know I'm going to use it to punch Les in the face," she tells him.

[scaledtokill]

Robert didn't care if she got him anything. While he would have been pleased if she had April had made the sort of relationship they had very clear. That didn't mean he couldn't try and spoil her just a bit. Estranged parent's perogative and all that.

"Well, now I had wished I'd gotten you a big, shiny ring," Robert said. Whatever Les was to Corry he had clearly hurt April. "Instead, you will find that you're no longer a wanted woman in the state of New York. I didn't know if you had a favorite state you couldn't visit but I figured Ndw York would be useful at least."

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Both her eyebrows lift at that, though she tries not to let her expression betray her thoughts. She's wanted in three states, though New York is the one she's most missed visiting and the idea that she might be able to go back there is awfully appealing.

"Really?" she asks, her voice slow and cautious. "The warrant for my arrest has disappeared?"

[scaledtokill]

"I know a detective there who is open to bribes. No one was out for blood in your case so it was possible to make it go away," Robert said with a nod. She would probably check things out on her own, he'd be disappointed if she didn't. But she'd find that no one in the state of New York would be on the lookout for her.