001 | arrival

[goldsteins]

WHO: Tina Goldstein
WHERE: The Fountain & Around
WHEN: 3/25 Onwards
OPEN TO: Closed arrival to Queenie, OTA threads to anyone else
WARNINGS: Nothing applicable at the moment
STATUS: OTA sans Queenie thread

---

FOUNTAIN// ARRIVAL
(This is locked to Queenie, but should you want to do something with it let me know! It's merely because I prefer not to have a lot of initial reaction threads. )

Tina is usually not so quick to wake up in the mornings. The nature of her job forced her to be an earlier riser, but even then she had to wake up a little earlier than most. It took at least one cup of coffee to make her ready for the day (some days more if a case kept her later than usual). The sudden jerking motion, as if from a fitful of sleep, to wakefulness is more than enough to set her sense alive. Her brain whirled half groggily become aware very quickly that this was certainly not where she was supposed to be.

It's December in New York. Most of the water inland was frozen over, so she has to be somewhere else. It's distinctly somehow warmer than it had been and that's more than enough to set off further bells. Bells that she can't really take heed to at the moment as she forces herself upwards. Grateful, not for the first time, of the training that Aurors were pressured to go through of all kinds. Panicking right then would surely be her downfall. A few moments later her hand grasps the sides of a slick wall, uses it to guide, and lets out a strangled breath as her hand grips the edge and her head emerges from the water.

She gives herself a moment to catch her breath before giving a frustrated noise and hoisting herself out of the water. The immediate danger seemingly gone for now, the woman can't help but still remain on high alert. What kind of Auror doesn't have a wand? She mentally scolds herself, but it's easily returned with a simple: The kind who was sleeping peacefully in their home until five minutes ago. The realization sobers her from the adrenaline high of a few minutes prior and she takes in her immediate surroundings: Buildings she would certainly not find in their part of New York.

A tensity sets her shoulders and for the first time she glances down at herself: Definitely not the comfortable pajamas she had worn to bed. Her mouth formed a thin line and she rises to her feet, hefts the weight off her back-- a bag-- and glares at it as if it's the problem here (there was a lot of problems here).

"What in the name of Deliverence Dane is going on?" She growled to herself neverminding at the moment how absurd she most look as she unzips the thing hoping against hope somehow a wand would be in there. Hope, of course, doesn't work and she hardly looks as absurd as the last person to arrive. Or the person before them.

LATER// AROUND THE VILLAGE
Once she's settled and dry, Tina finds she can't sit any longer. As much as she wants to sit and talk to her sister-- to make up for an apparent lack of being there-- she's restless. The house Queenie had settled in was nice, far larger than their one bedroom they shared in New York, but it reeked of unfamiliarity. The idea of simply having her own room after all this time was simply disconcerting and saying as much wasn't going to help anyone (of course, however, her sister knew her better than anyone could read her in ways she didn't like to be). Tina just had to get out and do something: Anything.

Even taking in the village left her uneasy. The functionalities of things didn't seem so strange, but she's used to taller buildings, crowded streets, millions of people. There was overcrowding New York and here it seemed overly spacious. The fog certainly doesn't help. When the weather was right the fog rolled over Manhattan and on a good day it was difficult to see where you were going and as homey as that feeling was it's inherently wrong. Tina feels more disconcerted by the moment as she takes in the various houses and buildings, frowning at how it can seem so empty and stepping away quickly if she comes too close to someone.

She doesn't seem to offer any words of apologies in that moment: Or at least the excuse me doesn't sound entirely apologetic. It's not as if people running into each other in overpopulated New York wasn't normal nor was it really easy to see anything. The disgruntlement is obvious in her tone if and when she does even if she manages a somewhat apologetic look.

THE WOODS// A FEW DAYS LATER
Being busy is just part of who Tina is and investigating is another. Once she's set on where things are in the village she can't help but test the limits: Just because someone says they're trapped doesn't make it any easier for the woman to believe. Her time in any expanse of forest is few and far between. Most of her job involved city arrests and her Ilvermorny days were kept to the school (not into the surrounding woods on Mount Greylock). In spite of that she's determinedly made her way into the woods.

The woman certainly doesn't move with any sense of ease in the woods, but she's careful enough. Taking in the growth and wondering just how large the woods are. If there's really no way out. Right now, however, she's merely curious-- taking in the area as opposed to even trying to find a way to escape. It's hardly as if she's prepared for that at all.

Unfortunately for her, inexperience in a forest shows and now and then the noises of animals moving or the rustling of trees makes her stiffen up. At one point she catches sight of a deer out of the corner of her eye and stops-- Turning to it in surprise and gives out a puff of a breath.

"Now this is ridiculous," She mumbles to herself unhelpfully deciding then that she's certainly had enough for the day and turns to find her way back to the village. Which is another thing altogether: Mapping a city she can do. A forest? Not so much.

Comments

[chosenbytheocean]

Moana shook her head. "I'm happy to have the help. It's warm in the kitchen too." That way Tina would be able to warm up and feel useful. Being idle was something that Moana couldn't do, she always had something to do but unlike Tina, she didn't keep a schedule.

"Can you help me cut up some of the roots? I'm going to put them on the fire with the fish." She also had to grab some logs and start a fire in the oven. Everything here was very simple which worked well for Moana because she didn't know how to work a conventional stove top. This way was easy. She'd take the root, fish and wrap it in a leaf that's been soaked in water and then place it around the fire.

It always tasted really good and it reminded her of home.

[repressings]

Tina's crying. Brave, strong Tina with her soft voice is crying. Maybe it's just one tear, but Credence feels himself being unafraid to cry himself, now. Perhaps their feeding off of each other. Perhaps there's just far too much emotion. Credence can't really handle things like this. But he can concentrate that now the woman who saved him is here. He can concentrate that in this village, only a few know what he's done. He can concentrate on--

--oh, Tina's smile is gone, and Credence's lips part, knowing full well it's something he's said. He's unsure, unsteady, and he finds himself clinging to Tina just a little more until her answer comes out, even and with a tone of gentle authority that he craves.

He still feels bad she's lost so much. He still doesn't think he's worth it. But Tina seems to think he counts for something, even before everyone knew he was an Obscurial.

He's gained weight since the village - apparently, he's one of the only ones to do it. He's a little sturdier now, a little stronger, and even if it's not by much he's not living on a diet of watery soup and hatred. Tina puts her arms around him and --

--oh.

Oh, Tina is hugging him.

Credence moves into it like he's starved for affection, and in a way he still is. Tina initiates it and Credence follows, long lanky arms wrapping around her, burying his face into her shoulder, shaking like a leaf. The last time he'd been embraced it was with a necklace and whispered, false promises. But this? This is Tina. This is someone Credence can rely on. This is the only person in New York City that cared about an adopted boy with a difficult mother.

Credence is openly crying now, and for once, he doesn't apologize for it.

"He saved my life, earlier," he mumbles. He's got another scar to add to his collection - lightning, this time, courtesy of the village. He clings to Tina like he might drown.

"You saved my life, before that."

[kestreldawn]

"Yes, you - I suppose you have a point," Jyn admits, voice and body defeated, crumpled, caved in. She knows that, even if she does find him, she will be of no use to Cassian or anyone else if she were to run herself to death, that she needs to find and strike some sort of balance. But the urgency of her situation, the desperation in the vibrating cells of her body, tell her she needs to keep moving, reminds her that she's faced worse many times over and is still alive to recount the tales. She decides she'll return home for a bit, see if he's there or if he's turned up, cook them both something and eat her share before resuming the search.

"I'm glad you've got someone here with you," she says, her tone genuine. "It makes the transition here all the easier." She wants to warn her, use herself as an example of not taking a single moment for granted, wants to tell her to love her sister - if they have a good enough relationship - with all of her might and all of her strength. But she won't steal that happiness away from her. It wouldn't be right, even for someone as devastated as Jyn. "Jyn Erso," she adds as an afterthought. "I wish - we had met under better circumstances."

[fantastic_kneads]

"Aw, c'mon, you can't think like that," Jacob insists, trying to look at this from the positive side of things, even if he doesn't really know her or have any idea what this place is like. For a moment, he's about to charge forward and keep making determined proclamations, then he realizes he's been a real rude bum and hasn't even bothered to introduce himself. Maybe the fog's seeped into his brain and stolen away all his manners or maybe he's just not feeling himself lately.

"I'm Jacob Kowalski," he introduces himself. "I can't believe this place would be that cruel to take your sister away from you. Not if you've always had her."

Around the Village

[hawkeyesniper]

It was a little too soon to be taking Arado to far into the woods, she had to make sure he was disciplined enough not to go chasing after things she didn't want him to. As it was, his training was coming along nicely. He was just as smart, loyal, and obedient as she had predicted. She could sense that he wouldn't take just anyone's orders though--that had to be earned and apparently Riza had done her job well enough to do just that.

At the moment, she was training AND playing because she had grabbed a stick and was throwing it off for him to go fetch and return. The retrieval part was going smoothly, the part he was proving stubborn on was dropping the stick. She looked down at him, face a mask of neutrality, "Arado. Drop it."

He looked up at her, brown puppy eyes looking at her like he didn't know what she was talking about for once. She didn't respond, just waited, and finally Arado reluctantly let it drop to the ground. She scratched his ears while also grabbing the stick back up, "All right. Good boy. Let's try again."

And once again the stick went soaring through the air and a few seconds later Arado was tearing after it. He wasn't quite fast enough to catch it, but when he did pick it up, he noticed a woman approaching. He looked back at Riza, waiting expectantly, and then towards the unfamiliar woman. He should...investigate right? He trotted over to the new woman, tail wagging expectantly.

[posilutely]

"I dunno, it might be easier if he's got some kinda plan. If he's trying to lay low again. If you don't kill somebody, you don't have a body to worry about, and he's got all those crazy people following him, right? What if they're doing to us what he did to Mr. Graves? Polyjuice or somethin', and they need us alive to keep making the potion?"

Tina's right, nobody should have that kind of power, not even Grindelwald, but how could they know? He's more powerful than anybody thought; what if he knows stuff they don't?

"I don't know, I just know it's the only thing that makes any sort of sense to me. Which ain't a whole lot."

[goldsteins]

The frown she wears sinks further into her features in its attempt to become a permanent fixture. It doesn't add up-- None of it does, really, and as easy it is for her to assume Grindelwald the whole thing remains beyond him. She doubted Grindelwald wold attempt the same trick again. Never mind the fact that she wondered what purpose he would find in using polyjuice on them or why he wouldn't make the accommodations more sparse (giving them anything at all did not seem his style).

Besides Grindelwald was still locked up somewhere wasn't he...?

She shook her head with a low frustrated sound, realizing she had gotten caught up on her own thoughts instead of ever answering her sister. The creases on her forehead ease up as even her grip on the mug in her hands relaxes. "It doesn't make any sense," She agrees grimly, "but that doesn't mean we can't figure out something."

Because Tina at her heart was, and would always be, an investigator. Just because she had been demoted, although now promoted again, or lost in a place keeping them trapped didn't mean she would give that up. Or stop. Not when there were apparently too many perplexing matters and she'd only been there a matter of minutes.

"We'll figure it. We'll have to."

[goldsteins]

"I do," Tina agrees with all of the authority she can muster, "so you should listen to me." Her voice quivers with something more apologetic towards the end, but her eyes remain with set determination. She hopes the other woman would listen. Although she hadn't been in this place that long she can't leave someone alone knowing they'l run themselves to the ground. It's not a matter of potential guilt later, but it goes against everything she is-- To leave someone when they need help.

She shifts uncomfortably, brushing away the pieces of hair that fall into her vision. "Queenie's the only family I have. We've always been together," She answers solemnly, pulling at her lower lip, "I can't say I'd be in any better position if I were without her." It's an acknowledgement of the unspoken words Jyn said. A thought that's lingered in her mind since the first day. Blaming herself for leaving New York for other business and arriving here to find that her sister had been here a month, alone. Wondering if she had stayed home would it have happened or, worse, what would happen if Queenie disappeared from here.

Tina always worries-- That did not seem to cease here.

"Circumstances are what they are," Tina answers, a small roll of her shoulders, "not the strangest way I've met someone by far." The corners of her lips curve up with just the tiniest hint of fond amusement. "Tina Goldstein," she adds in, pausing before shifting over, "now how about we get you back now that introductions are sorted?"

[goldsteins]

Even with a lack of modern advancements, Tina feels out of place in the kitchen. She'd never been a conventional woman and following the tides expected of her had always been something rather difficult-- She was an outsider by nature, through and through. Still, she was determined to learn what needed to be done.

So even glancing around the room apprehensively she still manages a swift nod at the question. "Yes, I can do that," Tina answered quickly, taking a breath before reaching for knife and root and moving to set it properly to cut. At least this part of cooking wasn't too odd to her-- When it came to simple things she often liked doing it by hand. If not for anything more than to have something to do. And having that right now was something she desperately needed.

Frowning into her work she's quiet a moment before thinking maybe she should speak more-- but small talk was rarely her strong point.

"What else do you do around here?"

Nailed it? Totally.

[goldsteins]

Worrying's in her blood-- It's certainly one thing the woman is very good at. She holds her tongue when Jacob speaks, if only because it's not a battle she wants to fight. Considering all of the possibilities isn't something she's going to neglect, not when Queenie's been here by herself. Frown deepening further at the realization that the pair of them never even had a proper introduction before and she's reminded of the Murtlap and him and the fate he was handed.

She doesn't linger instead offering a sigh at his continued proclamation. Tina had no doubts that a place could be cruel if it wanted to, even if she desperately wanted to hold onto the hope that it wouldn't. "Tina Goldstein," She says abruptly, only realizing moments after that maybe saying her name was a bad idea. He seemed to vaguely remember her already what if--

Well, too late for that.

"Should you be going back to work?"

She plunders on, just as abruptly, hoping the question would lead away from any wandering questions if they somehow appeared.

[goldsteins]

Perhaps she should have asked permission before hugging the young man, but it really hadn't been a thought. She'd acted instinctively-- something that often gotten her in trouble-- but the returning motion is one that makes her suck in a breath of surprise. It's undeniable then that he had gained weight and her heart soared. Somehow, after everything, he was managing well in this place.

Well enough, even, not to be put off by a hug.

He's shaking. She's all too aware of it as she hugs him more tightly a moment, listens to his words, and fiercely shakes her head no. Taking a second longer before gently pulling away, hands sliding up to squeeze his shoulders before falling to her sides. Brown eyes that were usually lit with certain determination watery in his presence. The firm setting of her lips remains for a lack of questioning. If it was the real Graves, she cannot doubt he would help someone in need.

As much as the question comes to her tongue it's the young man's other affirmation that strikes her heart.

She had failed him in that subway. She couldn't save him.

She had told him that Newt and she would protect him and then...

Tina gives a quick shake of her head no. She faltered to look at him for a moment before she took another breath and spoke again. "No, Credence, I helped you," She answered in turn, worrying further, "I couldn't do more than that."

Another beat passed and she tries, softly:

"But I am glad to see you here."

[chosenbytheocean]

Moana as familiar with cooking though the kitchen was still new to her. There were moments where she'd run off to one location of the kitchen, look frustrated and then move to another. The easy part was starting the fire in the stove, she struck flint together and watched as the sparks littered across the wood, coaxing a small flame from the glowing embers.

She then cleaned the fish, rubbed them in spices and then wrapped them in leaves so that they wouldn't burn. She wanted to add the roots that Tina was cutting before tying them up and tossing them into the fire to cook.

Moana found nothing odd by the girls question though she did take a moment to answer while running in circles around the kitchen. "Well, it took a while to get used to things. I made a fishing net and I've been working on making some other tools for people." She looked over at Tina with a small smile. "Like needles and things like that. My island isn't like this place, we lived with the land and I was taught to take and give back to it." It was a give and take relationship and Moana always treated the land and sea with respect.

"What did you do before you came here?"

[fantastic_kneads]

It's a little bit blunt and brusque, sure, and maybe Jacob flinches a little, but he tries to hide it with an easy-going smile, shaking his head. "I got nowhere to be, I lost my shop the minute I got yanked here and I got nothing to do but figure out where the heck I am," he admits freely, overwhelmed, his mind overworked, and he just sort of wants to talk to people.

It's a connection that he's after pretty desperately, he knows, but maybe he wants to be selfish this once, especially after the crazy few days he's had. "It's good to meet you, Tina," he says, giving her a nod of his head. "Look, if I'm bothering you real bad, you can tell me that's why you don't wanna talk to me, you don't have to pretend to care about my work."

[goldsteins]

Social graces were never the woman's strong point even if catching sight of people's behaviors was. Tina tugs on her bottom lip when she notes the way Jacob flinches and let's out a breath as he begins to speak. It's too complicated to think about talking to Jacob, there's laws in place and even talking to the other seeming no-majs here goes against every fiber of her being.

"I just don't think it's doing either of us any good being out here," She says with a finality, the smallest of shrugs rolling across her shoulders. That much was true, anyway, and she wants very much to apologize and speak to the man properly but that's not how-- That's not how this should work, should it? All of her training points to no.

"Sorry. I'm not exactly sorted out much myself either right now."

[goldsteins]

She glanced at the girl between her own work. There's something nervewracking about the way she flits about, but she doesn't say anything-- Merely nods as she discusses whats she's been doing here. She finds she wonders again what the point of bringing all kinds of people here is, if there's something more to it.

There's a pause when Moana turns the question to her and she scrunches up her eyebrows. "Law enforcement," She finally answered decidedly, turning back to knife in roots in her hand to continue her job. "Making sure people obeyed our laws and protecting those within them." That was it, really. Queenie took care of the household things more than she did.

[maternis]

Nor had Newt done anything of the sort for Tina, but find each other they have. He supposes someone might consider that to be a thing called fate. He's never really believed in that sort of thing, honestly. He wasn't inspecting the woods, so much as trying to ascertain what might offer a way out, or things that could possibly be used for supplies and the like.

"Yes, it's me," he offers, looking back and forth at the forest floor, before casting a quick glance up at her.

"I suppose. I don't much care for the village. I only drop in if I've gathered too much food for just myself." He's not very good at things like this. Social situations. He finds it odd and cumbersome. Cues don't come as easily to him as they do to others. Still, he stays, and that means something.

"You look well."

[goldsteins]

Her teeth tug on her lower lip as the man comes into better view, ever looking away from her. She had thought-- hoped?-- they'd pulled away from that some. It's strange seeing him in the clothing of this place, even with only a week the brightly colored suit he wore was part of her image of him. Though, she supposed, the teals she wore were far from the old Victorian clothes of her parents.

She's patient-- In some ways she's learned to be patient about Newt. Her fingers loosely clasp before her, fidgeting with the same sense of apprehension. It's not as if she's much better than him, but she's better at faking it. She has to be. Still she can't help the slight tilt of her head at his admission and the furrowing of her brows.

"Newt, there's no shelter out here," Tina remarks simply. While she was well aware of the fact he spent much of his life in the wilderness, she can't help but think that was in his case. Or with proper equipment and magical assistance, he didn't really seem to have that here. A hand found itself propped on her hip, brow arching up her forehead questioningly waiting for an answer. She can get that he doesn't feel comfortable around people, but it doesn't stop the sudden worry.

She deflates some, though, at his last comment. Taken aback a moment as she glances away from him-- Down to the new clothing skeptically and blushes faintly. Glancing back upwards, she bites back an amused smile, free hand drifting to tuck a strand of her hair back. "Thanks," She answered, more softly than before. Her eyes remaining trained on him in hopes he'd look up properly, but all too aware that even this much is a strain on him-- One day she finds she hopes he can be more comfortable around her.

"So do you," Tina continues amicably, letting out a breath, "but I think you'd be better with shelter. You know Queenie has an extra room. You could sleep there." She decides to plow on, but in some ways her tone doesn't say she'll take no for an answer. As much as he understands his reluctance to people, after everything they were friends-- She wasn't going to let him stay out alone. Which gives her another idea--

She gives another small sound and the hand that had brushed her hair away joins the other in propping against her hips. "Or I could join you out here."

Tina, no.

[goldsteins]

Tina hardly expects the approach of a young pup on her trip this time. She'd heard the sounds of a woman speaking and of course the subsequent playing, but the idea the pup would wonder her way wasn't something that crosses her mind. She can't help but stop, however, when the young pup is before her-- Excitedly investigating the newcomer.

She softens just slightly, tucking unruly hair behind an ear before she shifts to lean down and offer the pup a hand. Her eyes dart over to the woman he'd been accompanying offering an apologetic smile. "Shouldn't you be taking that back now?" She remarks to the dog quietly, remembering vaguely watching Newt handle small creatures. Or her grandfather with owls. She'd never had a pet, even at Ilvermorny, but she learned in some ways how to deal with them.

The people here were a bit more of a wildcard-- In theory she shouldn't talk to anyone, but that didn't really work here. "Sorry," She said glancing up, "I hadn't meant to distract him any."

[chosenbytheocean]

Moan nodded her head. "There are a few here who've done that in the past." She wondered if she'd be able to introduce Tina to Emma. She thought that the pair might make fast friends though it was hard to say. They were both very reserved in the same ways.

"There wasn't anyone dedicated to law enforcement on my island." She began as she continued her preparation of the fish. The fire was slowly growing and Moana hoped that it'd soon sink to hot coals that she could use to cook with. "It's a very small place, like this but with a few more people. Everyone helped each other out. When there were difficulties or disputes that my father couldn't solve he'd take it before the council. Everyone tried to settle things on their own though. Which is why we didn't really have anything like law enforcement." After talking to Sonny she'd given this a lot of thought.

Dark eyes glanced over at Tina with a small smile. "I bet that sounds strange. Doesn't it?"

[fantastic_kneads]

"I'm not saying that any of us should be knocking our heels together in joy to be here," he admits, trying to agree with her because he doesn't want to pick a fight with someone he's just met, especially not over a place that he doesn't even feel real loyal to, "I just don't see the point of being miserable about it, especially if there's something incredible out there."

"Did you see how many houses there were? How much stuff's in them? And the people!" he raves. "I still can't believe there's people from a hundred years in the future, sometimes more."

[goldsteins]

She had meant to say it wasn't doing them good being in the woods, maybe he'd be happier baking (he would be wouldn't he?). But she's not necessarily the best at communicating that worry and concern and feels it when he begins to speak. Tearing her eyes away she ignores the flipping in her stomach: He doesn't even realize he's missing memories which, all the better, would be something to be miserable about.

"I try not to think about it," She admits, glancing towards the man once more. Queenie thinks it's Grindelwald behind this. While it's possible and Tina disagrees the idea so many multitudes of places exist makes her feel more that it's impossible. And she's clinging to any sort of logic she possibly can.

"Don't get me wrong," She adds in hastily, "there's some good things here--" Credence. She shakes her head before managing to continue on, "but when you have good things going for ya you can't be expected to take it so nicely." Especially when you're trained to prevent these kinds of situations, she thinks wanly.

[goldsteins]

She holds her tongue knowing that being an Auror was more strenuous than she'd seen from the no-maj police in New York. It's the closest equivalent she could think of given they didn't merely hold the laws but acted as defense in wars and investigations. Though she won't put down the efforts of a regular police no-maj it's hardly the same and she knows it, but it's not something she can explain. Not without saying things she's still uncertain she even should here. Grateful for Moana continuing on and being a distraction from that, she concentrates on the food before her.

Her gaze flickers to the girl once more when she questions her and after a small pause she shakes her head. Turning her attention back to her cutting before she speaks once more. "Not any stranger than anything else," Tina answers, "smaller places don't need as much. There's plenty of towns in America that can handle things through local authority and likely run the same way. New York's too large for that, though. And a lot of people arrive from other countries in New York that it'd be a mess not to have laws in place. That's still got its own local departments. What I worked for is larger, though, a country-wide scale than just our city..."

Which is why she had left New York now to begin with. Aurors were utilized where they were needed even if MACUSA's headquarters was in New York City. And with the events in Europe there always seemed to be that possibility as well... Shrugging her shoulders she hefted out a breath. "Besides. Anything sounds strange if you're not familiar with it. Where I'm from would be every bit to you as well." Especially if it was Magical New York.

[chosenbytheocean]

Moana wasn't completely unfamiliar with magic. She spoke to the ocean and she knew of those who could command the wind and sky's. They had a different name where she was from but magic was in everything around them, if you had the eye to see it.

"Yeah." She agreed with a smile. "Are you done cutting? I can throw them in with the fish if you are." Moana knew a little bit about New York and other large cities. "Do you have any legends where you're from? Of gods or monsters?" It was an easy question and one that reflected the culture.

Moana's culture had traditions and stories that were passed from one generation to the next. "Thorfinn told me about the god of lighting Thor when I first arrived." Who happened to also be in the village. "I really like hearing stories like that." She admitted with a smile.

[fantastic_kneads]

"You got things good back home? Husband? Good job or something?" he asks, not wanting to rule out anything, especially seeing as she seems like a real smart woman, the kind that he used to see do loops around him in school when it came to sums and figures. "I mean, I had a shop back home and I'm missing it a lot, but it was kind of lonely," he admits.

Sure, he'd had success, but there had always been a strange kinda itch, like Jacob was missing out on something and he couldn't put his finger on it. Working around the clock didn't exactly help when it came to a solitary life, either.

[goldsteins]

She quirked a brow at the mention of a husband. A sheepishness at the thought because that kind of life never worked into the framework of her life. She could see Queenie getting married and one day having a family, but she could see a lot more about that side of life for her sister. Romance and domestic life were just two things the woman had never really considered for herself.

"My job," She answers quickly, lips pressing into a thin line. Her work had always been what she had and she rarely made time for anything else. The truth was that doing anything for her own sake outside of work wasn't something she thought of. Or, at least it wasn't until recently-- It was only very recently she bought clothes that weren't formerly her parents as it was.

She wouldn't count it as lonely if it was what she wanted.

Could she?

"My skills aren't really equipped for a place like this, you know?" She motioned half-heartedly around them with a shrug of her shoulder. "I didn't even really handle the cooking at home, but I was good at my job." And that's what mattered.