03.2023 | WELCOME BACK! Hello friends old and new! I'm so excited to welcome you all back to SITW! I've made some changes to the plot and added the ability to play supernatural charcaters! So come and check it out! I can't wait to jump back into this little town with all of you!
A strange history surrounds the town, it is a place where mysterious and supernatural things have been known to happen. The reputation of the town reguarly draws in visitors and newcomers alike. While some residents avidly believe in the supernatural, others are far more skeptical. What do you believe?
Post by Elijah Vanderson on Oct 27, 2023 5:12:34 GMT
The more gentle pace let the men carry on with their conversation, which was a refreshing change from the stresses awaiting him at home. “My specialty with my work lies more in anything from the 1800’s to early 1900’s. My collection spans quite a bit more variety than that.” Elijah said with a nod as he recalled the earrings he acquired as a gift for his eldest daughter.
“I really enjoy helping recover anything that was made in France, but I’m not too picky. I enjoy the digs and restoring pieces of history.” Elijah clearly enjoyed the work he was speaking of, even his horse walked at a calmer pace picking up on her rider’s level of excitable energy. “Is it greedy to say I just enjoy the work, regardless of what the finds may or may not be.” Elijah found himself admitting and he cleared his throat a little to break any potential tension.
“What about you, I know aside from the horses you’re also the fire chief,” He paused to look back over at him with a raised brow. “Does all of that typically keep you busy enough?”
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Oct 27, 2023 5:47:54 GMT
"That's Victorian Era?" He guessed. And beyond. Ferris only just realized the distinction Elijah made about his work versus his collection. He had assumed it was one and the same, that the digs were about him. But clearly that had been a poor assumption on his part. "Never been to Europe. Closest would have to be the French quarter in Montreal." Just once. At least some of the architecture was similar, if newer.
"Modern day Indiana Jones, eh?" He said it out loud this time. Clearly amused but not judging the man for it. It might be a bit greedy but Ferris understood what he meant. It was about the act of discovery itself. The anticipation. The investigation and pursuit of knowledge more than what that knowledge really was. It was so...idealist that for a moment he thought Elijah really might be a fictional philantropic adventurer in a movie.
Then the conversation shifted to him and he frowned. "Busy enough," he said with a shrug. "The recent fires have most of us on edge." He hadn't been sleeping well and not remotely enough. If not for the need to mentally unwind and the OSHA regulations, he wouldn’t be here or take any days off. But that wasn't healthy as his job put a lot of stress on his body. He kept his gaze on the trail ahead, avoiding saying much more. Ferris felt a desire for nicotine creep down his spine but he did he best to ignore it.
Post by Elijah Vanderson on Oct 27, 2023 6:18:24 GMT
Elijah gave an enthusiastic nod, never one to be shy when it came to talking about his work. “Yes actually, a good bit of my work is handling and identifying a great deal of Victorian style jewelry or unique finds… though I’m afraid I only venture out when it’s insisted upon now.” he almost sighed, part of him missing the thrills of traveling and the digs. But mostly he missed his kids, and his mother begged him to limit his travels because it ‘worried her, ever so much’. He couldn’t put that sort of stress and worry on her constantly.
“I’ve probably spent at least four years of my life traveling around Europe for my work, with a little bit of that time also spent expanding my personal collection. But the majority was excavation ventures funded by museums or universities that wanted to expand their own collections.” He couldn’t help but think back on so many fond memories spent sifting through dirt and rubble to find the pieces lost in time either from a natural disaster or simply from being buried. He chuckled at the comparison to Indiana Jones.
“Well, minus the fedora and whip… I never could get the hang of a whip.” Elijah shook his head with a mock ‘defeated’ look, but a smile present on his lips. The smile faltered at the mention of the recent fires. “That’s right, my mother called to tell me all about them. It sounds like you all have your hands full.” He sighed, not sure what more to say on the topic because he wasn’t here, and it didn’t seem like Ferris was too keen on talking about himself. Which is exactly how Elijah felt on the daily, though he could go on for hours when it came to his work. “If you had to pick a favorite; which horse would it be?” He asked randomly, just trying to change the subject.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Oct 27, 2023 22:36:19 GMT
Normally, Ferris felt he had to slog through conversations. Not because he found other people boring but because he wasn't particularly good at social graces, as Elijah had noted about himself. Fortunately, Elijah had no problem sharing. Though it seemed his adventuring days weren't quite so common now. Family reasons seemed the most likely. "Sounds like you enjoyed it a lot," he noted, identifying with the man's wistful tone. Hearing about it certainly set some of the rumors he had heard of the man's travels in a new light. Seemed many were jealous of Elijah's world experience. Ferris among them, but he wasn't much for gossip.
He smirked slightly. Imaging Elijah in a fedora was amusing. It didn't quite fit his mostly clean-cut look otherwise. "It's not a perfect comparison," Ferris admitted with a chuckle. Still, he was proud of himself.
As if speaking of the strange events summoned them, an eerie howl rang through the woods. Whatever odd sounding wolf it was, it was quite distant. Ferris couldn't tell why, but it made a shiver run down his spine. "Yes," he said simply. He didn't aim to overshare too much and from the look of the other man, this wasn't an ideal topic for him either.
The change of conversation was a relief, if a bit of a curveball. "Ah, Czar, I suppose," he said, reaching forward to pat the stallion's neck. "And Ponchovilla." The latter of which had bitten every farmland and trainer and instructor at least once, himself included. Ferris was still figuring the paint horse out. He was well trained in practical skills, a cow horse if he had to guess. But something about his personality perhaps had ended him up here rather than working. Poncho was grumpy. Like Ferris. There was something appealing in that.
"You have any others?" Favorites or owned, he didn't specify.
Post by Elijah Vanderson on Oct 27, 2023 23:52:23 GMT
If it had been deemed acceptable, Elijah would have brought his family along for the work. But Siobhan wasn’t a fan of traveling out of the country, and she always had one reason or another for why the children needed to stay. So it made more sense after the passing of his father and being appointed family representative; to limit his travels and stay close to home. Hence his entrance into realty. It’s wasn’t near as thrilling or exciting, but it kept him close to his kids. “Oh, I loved it. I might be a Vanderson, but I’m a fan of hard work. I’ve never been afraid of getting dirty.” He chuckled and shook his head, adjusting the reigns in his hands as Abbagucci trotted along the trail contentedly.
“True, but damn did it excite my children when they were younger, thinking their dad was like Indians Jones.” He grinned at the memories brought to mind, back to a simpler time when Price, West and Alexis all stayed out of any serious trouble, and Claire was barely forming complete sentences. Now Price was in college, and often too busy to bother with ‘dear old Dad’. West avoided him like the plaque, Alexis seemed to follow him with his alcohol issues and Claire… his mind went back to the unopened letter. He needed the answers, but it was nice to pretend even for a few moments that things weren’t about to change colossally for them.
Abbagucci’s ears twitched at the howl in the distance and she gave a shake of her head and a snort, making the riders and other horse aware of her discomfort at the sound. Elijah had never encountered any wolves while on his rides, but he knew they had a decent wolf population in the area, at least that’s what the Rangers were always saying. Apparently some of the largest wolves too.
He looked back to Ferris as he spoke of his favorite horses, then asked if he had any others. Elijah nodded. “Three actually, not counting Abbagucci. Each one named by one of my children…. Colonel Anna, Smithers and Nox.” He recalled the other names with a nod, though it had been a minute since he’d taken the others out for a ride. Mostly because Abbagucci seemed to be the most keen on him.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Oct 28, 2023 0:33:15 GMT
Ferris studied Elijah with a blank expression. He was still trying to sort his opinion of the man out. From flashing his wallet at him to Indiana Jones. Like a scoundrel who came from money. The way he talked about his kids; they clearly meant a lot to him. Maybe as much as all those archaeological digs. Ferris knew of a few others of the Vanderson brood, but so far had had the fortune to avoid them, as well as many other founding families. They weren't much more than rich people to him. Any opinion past that was just gossip he'd overheard at the bar.
Czar wasn't usually concerned with any howls. He'd proven time and time again he was curious and interested in them, if anything. But this wolf...this one made the blue roan put his ears back. It was bizarre. Ferris continued to pat the stallion's neck comfortingly. Long as they stayed on the trails, they would probably be alright.
If the fire chief could ever afford to own, board, and feed one horse, he would consider himself a fortunate man. For Elijah to have four...well, even if they were sort of shared with his children at one point was a lot. Of course, he knew Nico owned his fair share here as well. "I've seen Nox and Smithers around," Ferris noted. They weren't any he ever used for lessons or rode himself. Knowing who they belonged to, that made more sense why not.
The trail curved up a shallow hill, the trees thinning a bit and making it readily apparent how alone they were. The sun was starting to touch the tops of the mountains around them, casting the leaves in vibrant oranges and purples. "I always liked it out here," he said softly, slowing Czar to a walk to take in the space.
Post by Elijah Vanderson on Oct 28, 2023 1:48:49 GMT
Following along the trail at a leisurely pace, Elijah was thankful for the time outdoors. Ferris was decent company, and didn’t pry into his personal affairs like most of the folks around town. He just let him enjoy his escape and talk about his kids or work. “You know, I can’t remember the last time my kids have talked about their horses. I may need to start coming around more just to ensure they’re all getting enough exercise.”
His children were all busy with school and their social lives, he didn’t imagine they made much time for the horses. Perhaps that could be something to give him some time spent with them. He’d have to ask them if they’d like to accompany him for a ride sometime. He didn’t think Price would, but perhaps Alexis might. Abbagucci gave an annoyed stamp of her hoof at the howl, clearly not the horse one might take hunting. She could be on the skiddish side, and Elijah wanted to make sure he kept her calm. He relaxed his hold on the reigns slightly to stroke her neck.
Elijah pulled on the reigns enough for Abbagucci to slow to the same pace as Czar with Ferris, turning to look out across the landscape with a nod. “I’ve spent a good portion of my life here, and a little time traveling; but I still think there’s something special about the familiar spaces around Sweetwater.”
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Oct 28, 2023 3:08:48 GMT
Ferris would never consider himself a good listener. That necessitated a lot more...empathy than he figured he had. Not that he didn't have any or that he wasn't paying attention. He listened, but to say he was good...that was subjective. Still, he knew a man looking for an escape when he saw one. Personally, one might say.
"I'm sure you could talk to one of the farm hands or trainers." Or instructors. Ferris had been told to leave the privately owned animals alone unless given permission.
Most of the horses Ferris worked with weren't trained for hunting or intense work, besides maybe Poncho. Czar seemed rather good with loud noises and sudden movements, but he wasn't sure what he had been trained to do originally besides some carriage work and dressage. He had a smooth power about him. While not worried about the howling, he kept an eye on Elijah's mare. He didn't want her to spook on them.
"Vancouver's pretty but the mountains here..." he didn't have words to explain it. He wasn't good with expressing such things. "I've enjoyed the few years I've been here. More than anywhere else." Or maybe he just had enough bad memories elsewhere and he hadn't here. Yet.
Post by Elijah Vanderson on Oct 28, 2023 16:27:43 GMT
it seemed despite the good or bad memories around Sweetwater, Elijah was a sucker for the familiar place. And sure it had a little to do with the lavish lifestyle his family was privy to as members of one of the founding families. But he liked to think it was more due to the memories and life he’d made for himself. He gave a soft sigh and shook his head. Maybe he was just a sentimental old fool.
“Well, you’re not wrong. But where the fun in having someone else tend to it?” Sure there were things in his life he left to be done by others, but Elijah enjoyed time spent on horseback and in the fresh air. It gave him an illusion of control and freedom. Things that comforted him.
“Well, I think the town’s better off with you here. You’re great with the horses, not to mention on top of things at the fire station. It’s nice to have peace of mind knowing someone competent is in charge over there.” And nice it wasn’t a position dictated by the town politics and such. Fires were bound to happen, it let them all rest more easily trusting the man handling the firefighters and the rigs.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Oct 28, 2023 22:36:01 GMT
Considering he hadn't seen the man around the equestrian center before and from the way Elijah said it, he was a bit surprised to hear him want to do it himself. But Ferris wasn't there all that often either. Elijah did seem to be enjoying the ride. Or the time away from normal life. "Suppose I'll see you around more often?" He doubted it, since he wasn't here often either.
Ferris snorted at first. Sure, the horses appreciated him, was that what the man was trying to say? But his compliment got there eventually. "That's my job," he agreed. He didn't think of his work as flashy or anything big. But the peace of mind and helping people. He was glad to hear it meant a lot, even from one person. Not that he needed the recognition.
"I've been in the field for eight years. Since I left the airforce." Besides the period of time where he hadn't known what to do with himself and couldn't find a job after active duty. "Being fire chief is a lot more work but mostly on the paperwork side." In a small town like this, he still fulfilled a lot of duties a regular firefighter would. Chores, emergency calls, making meals, training, talking to the police, and even more beyond that. The biggest change was that he wasn't just a volunteer anymore,this was his full-time job.
"I'll sleep better once the rangers, sheriff, and I sort these fires out." It ate into their ability to see to other emergencies too. Alarms, car accidents and medical episodes, were just part of their oversight including fires.
Post by Elijah Vanderson on Oct 29, 2023 23:05:11 GMT
“It’s within the realm of possibility.” Elijah said with a slight chuckle, running a hand along Abbagucci’s neck, causing her to gently toss her head back and shake her mane. The action was calmer than he had expected from her, but then again he had yet to experience the horse be less than manageable.
He looked at Ferris as he spoke and everything started to make a lot more sense. Elijah had never served in the military, but he had a lot of respect for any service member. “I know how tedious paperwork can be. But with your work; lives are saved and community safety issues are handled… you might not like being praised for the work you do, but never take what you do lightly.” Elijah loved the work he did when he was on archaeological digs, and while his work didn’t save lives or matter significantly; he loved the history and beauty the work allowed him to have access to.
“Oh, I’m sure we all will, these fires have a lot of people worried.” Elijah said in a more somber tone, shaking his head slightly.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Oct 30, 2023 0:08:51 GMT
As basic and slim of information as it was, it was a lot more than Ferris had shared with most people. Even after being here for four years now, the fire chief had shared very little with those outside of his work. Not that he noticed the slightly different way Elijah looked at him over it. He shrugged. "I've gotten used to it." It helped keep track of events, made communication with the sheriff easier, and honestly being in charge of all of that meant he knew about a lot of the goings on in Sweetwater. At least on one side of the proverbial train tracks.
He supposed archaeologists needed to go through a lot of forms both to clear a dig site and to note findings. Though Ferris imagined that sort of thing to be a lot more mundane and therefore enjoyable, at least compared to his reports. Ferris hummed in acknowledgement. He supposed praise felt nice, but he'd always had an intense understanding of duty.
With their conversation back on the fires again, Ferris stayed quiet as they continued to let the horses pick their way along the trail under the setting sun. Seemed he was quite an expert at bringing down the mood just about anywhere.