Danielle
The town was quiet for once; the morning was calm, and Dimitra was up to no good— as usual. It wasn't that she entirely meant to get up to trouble, but it was just in her nature to do so. 

She couldn't say she spent an awful long time at the library, but she liked it well enough. Sometimes when she missed home, she'd go and find old books about her people— of course, those old books were often caricatures of her people, but they conjured into her mind vivid memories from her childhood. Dancing and laughing and music... The things she missed so dearly about her family. 

Dimitra opened the doors to the library and scanned the area, immediately scuttling over in her flowing skirts and wild hair. Big, chunky gold earrings hung from her ears, glittering in the light that filtered in through the frosty windows. Her eyes landed on the woman at the desk, sliding up to her and laying her hands down flat on the surface to look down at her. 

"Quiet this morning, isn't it?" She said, eyebrow raised. "Always this quiet, Miss...?" She wasn't so sure she'd ever got her name, honestly. But what she did know, was that she'd seen this woman lurking around Arty Maldorano, which made this all the more fun.
Tiffany
Arthur didn't need her at the shop until later, so here she was surrounded by old books, her favorite. It was her favorite form of escape, finding the old stories provided a little bit of comfort. However, Briar Ridge was no fairytale. She heard the door open and close, she had her back to the door at first, putting some of the older books behind the desk since they were worn, they would need to be put aside to be fixed or kept for request only. 

The brunette heard the sultry tones of another woman's voice, Dimitra, she smiled, obviously having no problem with the woman even if she was Arthurs's rival. She found Dimitra to be... Pretty and charismatic, she was friends with everyone, how could Arthur scold her for adding one more to the list?

It was a quiet morning, surprising for Briar Ridge, she nodded her head slowly "It is, I think I like it though..." She heard Dimitra trail off before realizing the woman was asking her name "Oh! I'm Jade... And you are Dimitra, right?" She didn't want to pretend to know but... Well when someone is your partner's rival, you are bound to hear their name cursed. Before getting swept up in all the charm and the wild curls, she reminded herself she was still working "Can I help you find a book?"

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Danielle
She snapped her fingers. "Of course, of course... Jade." She repeated the name, letting it roll off the tongue with ease. "Pretty stone, jade. Very rare, too..." She tilted her head. "A book? Oh, right... Books." Her eyes found the room again and looked around a moment, taking it all in. 

"I guess I should get a book, shouldn't I?" She trailed her fingertips across the table as she wandered slowly. "Do you have a lot of mysteries? Or adventurous tales?" Dimitra asked. 

"You work for Maldorano, no?" She flipped the subject quickly, turning to face her again. "How *Is* Business going, by the way?" She flashed a cheeky grin. "Or are you not allowed to say?" 

Clearly, she amused herself. Jade was a mystery to her; and she couldn't help but wonder what she knew, or particularly, what she *Did* For Maldorano himself. "Just curious, of course..." Dimitra cracked a wide smile and leaned on the table again. "Nothing nefarious."
Tiffany
Jade felt the heat flow into her cheeks when she mentioned the stone, pretty and considered rare. Why would that fluster her, it was true but... Books! Yes, books. Mystery and Adventurous, that seemed to be right up Dimitra's alley if she were to guess, she left from behind the desk for a moment "Mysterious..." She repeated back to herself with a hum, she did have a book in mind, whether it was there or not was an entirely different ballpark. Maldorano, oh right. She worked there too 

"I do, I clean mostly, you know tend to the flower beds and bring in the baked goods, a pretty face for the customers usually" She looked back to Dimitra, oh she meant that sort of business "Oh well, I don't really know. I wish I had answers for you but like I said, I just handle the cleaning and being the pretty face" She turned back to the bookshelf. Finally, she selected one. 

The Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett, she playfully tapped her fingers against the spine of the book before getting it down "Here we go, I think this one would keep your interest. The author is talking about his experience as a Pinkerton Operative and most of the interactions in this book were with real people" She didn't mean to ramble on, books were her thing. They were really her only means of escape at one point. 
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Danielle
She listened well, eyebrow raised as Jade wandered the shelves in pursuit of a book. She followed at a distance, watching her closely. "Maldorano doesn't share that kind of information with his...*Friends*?" She said, looking Jade over again and smiling slyly as she was offered the book. 

She flipped it open, finger gliding along the edge of the page. "This'll do nicely, I think. Thank you." She closed it, setting it on the counter and boosting herself up to sit on the edge of it. 

"You must read an awful lot of books," She mused and tilted her head. "Have you ever wanted to do something crazy?" She asked. "Like... Gun slinging, or robbing a bank? Or even jumping on rooftops to escape someone?" Her legs swung as she sat, grin spreading wider. 

"Then again... We've had enough excitement here in Briar Ridge to last about a lifetime." She laughed and shook her head. "Don't you agree?"
Tiffany
Friends... She didn't correct her. She truthfully didn't know if Arthur wished for their affection for each other to be private. Although she had an inkling that Dimitra knew, she was just trying to get under her skin. Jade admittedly did feel a little intimidated and a little intrigued. Dimitra would be a good friend, she had no doubt. She watched as the woman examined the book, hoping it would be to her standards. She felt a little triumph when she accepted it. So far her suggestions were undefeated. She slowly nodded "Yeah, I do read a lot" She offered before laughing 

"Well, that's why I read. I have lived many lives through books" She offered, leaning against the shelves "But I do think it would feel exciting. I don't know, the only thing I can think of that would be similar is running from home, running from marriage and a life I didn't want" She rambled until the mention of Briar Ridge "Yes... Plenty of excitement for a lifetime I should say" She lost a little bit of her steam, the full moon, some of it still plagued her mind. She had never felt so helpless in her life. 

"Dimitra, I'm sorry if this is too forward but have you ever shot a gun?" She questioned, maybe Dimitra would be open to teaching her. She would ask Arthur but she didn't see it going over well. Dimitra seemed like a good option, she hoped. This could go really well and the next full moon she wouldn't be helpless. 

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Danielle
She hadn't been corrected, but she knew better. People talked; and some talked more than others, especially when business was involved. Of course she knew about Jade Grant and Arthur Maldorano's little *Love affair*. It wasn't like they were particularly subtle about it, anyhow. Either way, she wasn't about to call her out on it, either. 

"Have I ever shot a gun?" She repeated the question and then couldn't help but laugh. In her line of work, it was a detriment to not know how to fire off a round or two. She came up to her, leaning on the counter with one hip, and gripped the edge of her own skirt. She slowly lifted, revealing ankle, then calf, and eventually, a scandalous peek of thigh. A holster was fashioned there, a pistol settled in snugly against her skin. "I sure do. Why? You need some lessons?" She wagered a guess. 

While it wouldn't be in her best interest to help competition, she also had zero qualms about poaching employees... Or lovers. All was fair in love and war and alcohol, after all.
Tiffany
As the woman's skirt lifted and the gun strapped to her thigh became evident, Dimitra was truly a fearless woman. One she aspired to be. She had no experience with a gun, except for when she shot and missed. She damn sure didn't want to miss again. She wouldn't miss again. She had her head in the sand at first not wanting to hurt the regular old wolves she thought them to be. Not anymore, she wanted to defend herself and her loved ones. She met Dimitra's eyes once more looking away from the gun. "I do..." 

"I need a way to protect myself and others. Especially given the circumstances of Briar Ridge. Jade didn't see much of a problem learning from Dimitra. After all, Dimitra hadn't done anything to her. However, she certainly wouldn't tell Arthur exactly where she learned or who she learned from. She knew that it wouldn't go over very well. "Well, that is of course if you are okay with that" She backpedaled. "I know that we aren't technically supposed to get along but I don't see the harm in it, if you don't" She tried to match the level of Dimitra's charisma but that would certainly take time. 


It was refreshing to see women with their own varying personalities in Briar Ridge. Vastly different from what she grew up watching if she had to describe it. It was like her mother was just a ghost and her grandmother as much as she loved her grandmother, was passive as all get out. Jade herself combating her own passiveness, learning to shoot a gun seemed like a step in the right direction. 

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Danielle
Her smile widened and she dropped her skirt, letting the pistol disappear from sight. Dimitra was quite pleased with how this was all panning out. Jade was pretty, though she wasn't sure how much she knew about the dangers of this world. She seemed a little naive; but then again, she hardly knew the girl. She supposed she would reveal more about herself with time. 

"I'd be more than happy to teach you how to shoot a gun. What kind? A pistol? Shot gun?" She asked, tilting her head and then deciding to boost herself up to sit on the desk with ease. Her feet swung as she sat there, observing the woman. She seemed... Quiet. Not exactly *Quiet* Maybe, but... She wasn't nearly as loud as her. And maybe that wasn't a bad thing. 

"If Arthur has an issue with our newfound friendship, then he's clearly afraid of me... For some reason." She smirked, tossing her wild curls over her shoulder with a sense of pride. "Anyway, I'd be more than happy to teach you a thing or two. It's important, these days... You know, with everything going on." She grimaced a little bit. 

"You could come by my place sometime. In exchange..." She whistled. "You stay for dinner?" She suggested.
Tiffany
Dimitra was unlike anyone Jade had ever met, aside from Arthur. Both of them seemed to be real wild cards. She was beginning to think that she had a type. Oblivion must've attracted those who have seen the world for what it was. Jade still had the sheltered excitement of finally being on her own. The only violence she had seen prior to Briar Ridge was her father and she was usually on the other end of it. However, now she felt what her father must have to be so violent. Rage, begging to scratch its way out. The beasts put everyone in danger, good people, people she loved and cared for. Dimitra obliging her only further enticed the anger inside of her. She thought of the guns, rifle, shotgun. None of which she owned, she did have her father's pistol however, she could stand to learn more about it. She looked at Dimitra as she sat on the desk. "Uh Pistol, I have one. I took it when I left home" 

The woman lounging reminded her of a sphinx. Waiting to be worshipped by their loyal servants. The confident ease of the woman, honestly even intimidated her. She let out a small laugh as she mentioned Arthur being intimidated, she never even imagined intimidated and Arthur going together. She shook her head "Arthur being intimidated... I don't know if that even exists" Jade looked behind her briefly to make sure the table was in fact there to lean on. She didn't put her entire weight into leaning but she didn't want to seem so uptight. Jade listened to Dimitra's offer. A smile formed on her face. 

"Dinner..." She let out a slight hum "Okay but how about you at least let me help cook since you are already taking on the role of teacher" She didn't want to put too much onto Dimitra and cooking was something that Jade knew she was good at. She wanted something to prove that she wasn't entirely useless. She wasn't that much of a screwup. As if that was what she was doomed to always be. 

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Danielle
She tilted her head and smiled. "Oh, please. Arthur is a little threatened by me, whether he'd like to admit it or not. He knows I can do his job— better, faster, and make more money doing it. He should be glad I don't try to." Dimitra smirked. She was quite confident in her skills, and the part that was different about her? She didn't need a bunch of people to work for her. She liked to get her hands dirty. 

"I know how to handle a pistol well. I can teach you real easy, no worries." She smiled wide and leaned forward, fingers gripping the wood as she did to keep herself from falling forward. "I guess you can help me cook. You don't have to, though. Then again, I would never say no to a pretty lady cooking me dinner." She leaned back and laughed, holding her stomach as she did and shaking her head. 

"If Arthur heard me talking like that to you, he'd kill me." But she didn't care one bit. "Anywho... It all sounds like a fair deal to me." She said, cocking her hip out. "When'll you swing by?" She asked.
Tiffany
Dimitra would certainly know more about the intimidation game than she would. Could she even be intimidating? She felt guilty at the thought of being intimidating to people. She didn't want to be like her father and that may have been why she acted the way she did. Overly nice and overly caring. Ready to bleed for people who wouldn't do the same for her. She shook her head, lightly laughing with Dimitra. She was easy to get along with even if they weren't really supposed to get along. "Well, I suppose I should thank you for holding back" She held no malice in her tone. It was quite lighthearted and carefree. She was grateful for Dimitra, even if she did vex Jade in some sort of way. Like a game of cat and mouse. 

"I suppose I shouldn't complain much about you cooking either but you are already doing something for me, so it feels only right that I do something in return." She flustered easily. At least that's what she told herself. Dimitra must've had a knack for getting under people's skin. She loved Arthur, more than words could even describe. So why was she flustering about being called beautiful? "Well, thankfully walls can't talk, now can they?" She teased, it was her turn to let out a small hum in thought "How about sometime before the full moon? That is when I would need your lessons the most" 

She didn't want to completely fumble and feel helpless again. Although she didn't admit that to Dimitra, she didn't want to appear weak. Even if the woman could sense that she was. Jade unfortunately was a very readable person, almost easier than reading a book. 

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Danielle
The corner of her mouth upturned as Jade flustered. Even if she had no real intention of stealing anyone's lover, it still gave her a sense of satisfaction to see some color rise to Jade Grant's cheeks in response to her harmless flirting. It felt like a leg up on the competition, which was always something she preferred. Then again, she felt she was doing well for herself in the bootlegging game, and like she'd said— she didn't need a bunch of lackeys to do her work for her. 

"Before the full moon? I suppose I can pencil you in..." She drawled, taking an imaginary notepad out of her pocket and pantomiming flipping through it, as if needing to write it down. 

"Just come by the house whenever you'd like. I'm almost always there in the evenings, and if not, I'm at the barn." She cracked a grin and leaned her elbows back on the counter. "You'll be a sharpshooter in no time, sweetheart, don't you worry your pretty little head." She shot her a wink before standing up straight. 

"Well, thank you for the book, Miss Grant," She said, picking it up and holding it to her chest. "I should be going soon... But don't be a stranger, alright?"