Chapter Text
Dragged towards the lights of the Weathervane like moths, the newly expanded gang of Nevermore students made their way inside, hopping to slip in unnoticed by the normies as, even in Jericho so close to the school full of outcasts, not everyone is fully accepting of them. Filtering into the crowd, they split up to explore the coffee shop. It was like nothing else in the small town with its cosy lighting and warm atmosphere, the owners handing out free samples of their coffee which got removed from the hands of an angelic looking blonde teenager as fast as she picked it up. “And what exactly do you think you’re doing here?” Morticia raised an eyebrow at the girl, sipping the coffee she had confiscated. “Same thing as you.” The blonde mirrored the facial expression without hesitation before proposing an agreement of “I won’t tell mama if you don’t?” which Morticia accepted with a small nod, handing the half drunk coffee back to the smaller girl who grimaced at the dark lipstick stain on the rim “Relax, Ophelia, we share DNA anyway you’ll survive sharing a coffee with your big sister.” Morticia called over her shoulder as she went to go find her friends, leaving Ophelia sipping the coffee begrudgingly knowing she should just count herself lucky Morticia wasn’t snitching on her to their mother.
Isadora didn’t hesitate to part with her schoolmates as soon as they arrived at the café, already knowing exactly what she was there for. Who she was there for. Rachael felt a coffee bean land in her hair and swiftly spun around to see ginger curls poking out from behind a plant so as soon as her parents were distracted talking to the café’s owners, she slowly moved out of their peripheral until she could move properly without drawing attention to herself and join her werewolf in one of the darker corners of the café. “Still haven’t told them you befriended an outcast huh?” Isadora muttered as soon as Rachael sat opposite her, the latter being unamused by the greeting. “A hello would be nice, Miss Capri.” The title made her grimace “Don’t call me that you make me sound like a teacher.” The wolf grumbled making the woman opposite her soften and smile gently “It is good to see you, Isadora. Even if I must sneak away from my parents for it.” Both girls huffed at that, the acknowledgement in the open of the divide between them. “To be fair…I’d probably have to sneak around too if my parents cared enough to check up on me since I came here. Apparently when the golden prodigy child refuses to make another album and instead wants an education it sends you down on the list of favourites among the pack.” A small pout formed on Rachael’s face and Isadora was quick to run damage control, unable to bare seeing the woman she cares about so deeply upset especially if she’s responsible for it. “But it’s for the better! Who needs ‘em I’ve got a new pack now.” Her eyes scanned the room with a small smile exposing the tips of her fangs as her gaze bounced to each of her favourite people in the room seeing Morticia scalding Ophelia (whom Isadora had clocked as soon as they walked in), Isaac and Gomez debating over the most efficient upgrades to give the coffee machine which the owner looked unnerved by but was nodding along, Marilyn looking disapprovingly at the plant Isadora had previously been hidden behind clearly feeling it needed a water, and Francoise already back to reading her book curled up in one of the booths whilst Larissa sat behind her playing with the brunettes hair as she watched the Frump sisters. Then finally to the woman opposite her whose eyes she met instantly causing them both to look away and giggle slightly if only to avoid having to acknowledge the magnetism between them that was growing harder to ignore by the day. Despite this, it lives to grow another day as someone clears their throat over Francoise shoulder and she turns to see her father, looking at Isadora disapprovingly. It wasn’t exactly a secret that their daughter was fascinated by outcasts but that didn’t mean Mr and Mrs Fairburn liked her “fraternising with them” as they phrased it so it was a quick goodbye and then out the door back home for Rachael, leaving Isadora to fiddle with her jewellery as she watched the family walk away from the café longing for…well she wouldn’t admit to herself specifically what she was longing for but the ache in her heart was growing every step Rachael took with her parents until Morticia’s hand on the werewolf’s shoulder brought her back to the café as she met the big doe eyes of the woman stood in front of her.
Too normal for the outcasts, too outcast for the normies. That was what Marilyn Thornhill felt the second she was around people but plants? Plants were her sanctuary. Plants didn’t spread rumours or push people or laugh or ask questions. Just listened and needed to be listened to. A request these plants clearly weren’t having answered Marilyn noticed with a frown as she held the tender leaf of a snake plant, so she set to work. Sneaking past where Morticia was lecturing her sister to the kitchens to get water and then back to the plant Isadora had now moved from hiding behind, she watered every plant in the shop that needed it, also leaving little notes on some other ones anonymously for the shop owners to hopefully find. “Needs succulent soil” on one, “move to window” on another “toxic to cats!” on others. Granted that last one wasn’t exactly a tip, but she thought they should know given if the cat she saw on her way in was theirs. Cats were another thing Marilyn loved for the same reason she loved plants. Figuring she had fulfilled her only purpose at the opening once all the plants had been helped or left with instructions, Marilyn scanned the crowd for her friends and made her way quietly over to where Francoise and Larissa were sat, the book open but forgotten on Francoise lap as the two whispered until they noticed Marilyn. “Back to Nevermore.” Larissa announced softly and let Francoise get up first before following her and heading to the door.
“I’m telling you Addams, keep your zapping to yourself. This machine needs way more cogs added and a little clockwork and it’ll be better than ever!” Isaac insisted as the man who owns said machine just nodded perplexed by what was going on. Of course, he knew about the outcasts, but it didn’t occur to him their abilities could include inventing so when two boys came up to him squabbling over the improvements to be made to his machinery, he figured it couldn’t hurt to hear them out. Even if one’s solution was a little Victorian with all his cogs and screws, and the other seemed convinced everything needed “just a little spark”. He ended up giving them both business cards, more impressed than he was scared by the outcast boys, and informing them if he ever needed help, he’d let them know. And that his coffee shop was a very open-minded place that welcomed all types of people and relationships. The latter phrase confusing the boys, but they just shrugged it off and went to find the girls to bother them, seeing them all headed out the shop.
“Mind if I join you and Dr Jekyll?” Larissa smiled softly at Francois who had instantly opened her bag to reach for her book as Morticia vanished into the crowd and Isadora spotted Rachael. She gave the taller woman a small nod and they found a booth to hide away in, barely noticing as Marilyn slipped away and had a jug of water in hand next time she passed them, looking very determined. As if it was habit for them, Larissa sat behind Francoise who was positioned sideways on the bench with her knees up to rest her book against, and braided the brunettes hair whilst the other girl read her book, occasionally pointing out lines or reading them aloud for Larissa, not noticing the blondes gaze staying across the café on Morticia and Ophelia. It wasn’t out of nosiness or concern for them, Larissa simply enjoyed looking at Morticia and taking her in when she didn’t notice. That and she had always felt a sense of protectiveness over the younger Frump sister so wanted to make sure she was okay after sneaking out of the academy just like her friend group had. Only Ophelia snuck out alone. “I think you’ve braided it all ‘Ris…” The gentle voice of the girl practically in her lap broke Larissa out of her thoughts as she undid the braid and ran her fingers through Francoise’s hair. “Sorry. Distracted.” She hummed softly causing Francoise to follow the taller woman’s eyeline as it landed on Ophelia Frump who had just been left grimacing as her big sister walked away. “ah…” Francoise whispered in understanding with a small smile but before she could demand any details, Marilyn was in front of them much to Larissa’s relief who wanted to prevent any possibility Francoise could ask any further questions so she quickly announced it was time to head back to Nevermore and went to find the others.
“How is Ophelia getting back to the school?” Larissa hummed to Morticia as the group boarded the last bus of the night back to the school “She can walk for all I care” the dove muttered not convincing anyone with her nonchalant act, least of all Larissa. Sensing this, Morticia huffed and got up, commanding the driver to wait and returning moments later with her sister in tow who wasted no time sitting next to Marilyn with a smile. “I saw what you did for the plants.” She whispered as the bus started moving. “Do you have a favourite?” Marilyn was taken aback not by how bubbly Ophelia was compared to her sister, but by the fact she was taking an interest in her out of everyone on that bus. “Venus fly traps…” she muttered, cautiously just in case this was a trick but that was where the conversation ended as Ophelia turned her attention out the window of the bus, staying quiet until they all got back to the school and went their separate ways. Marilyn wasn’t even sure the girl had heard her answer.
Until she came back from brushing her teeth to find a Venus fly trap in front of her dorm door that was, paired with a small note much like the ones she left around the coffee shop. “Take care of nature and she’ll take care of you…by proxy at least.”