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?
It wasn’t that Darcy thought he’d never mention her threat to turn him, but she had hoped it didn’t make such a lasting impression. It was no wonder why he treated her as he did. While he might not know her well enough to know her sense of humor, it was a stupid thing to even jokingly say. Darcy’s smile faltered for a moment as she tried to think of the best way to explain herself, and yet; she couldn’t. She didn’t have a good reason for making a poor in taste and tact ‘joke’. “Well, if it makes you feel any better I kinda prefer you staying a human… being a werewolf is my thing. I can’t have you out there copying me.” She stated very matter-of-factly, looking at him and giving a playful wink as she relaxed her shoulders and watched him move.
He picked up his cigarettes and eventually ended up beside her, a sort of proximity that caused some of her arm hairs to stand on end and goosebumps to race across her arms and down her back. She was suddenly thankful she had a cardigan on, covering her arms and making her alight nervousness less apparent, or so she thought. Darcy chuckled at his question, though knowing he didn’t actually require a response. But when his tone got softer and the serious question came out, she could feel her shoulders tense up again.
“No… as ridiculous as it sounds, my family is very biased against ‘made’ wolves. I don’t have a lot of memories of my mother, we were in a car accident when I was young, I nearly died too. And all of it was due to pack politics. My scoundrel of a father was forced to marry a pure blood wolf, all the while he was in love with a human that he’d already imprinted upon. He eventually turned her, but not before arranging the accident that killed my mother. ” And with that level of personal sharing, Darcy wanted to vomit. She stepped back to the coffee table to finish off the bottle of scotch he’d shared with her, returning to lean against the counter and unintentionally closing the space between then until she could feel the warmth from his arm against hers.
“I’ve always felt that turning a human into a wolf is a very personal and intimate thing, and it some cases can result in some twisted ‘sire bond’. I was born into this, I didn’t get a choice. But I could never force it on another person, I know how painful it is, and I’ve witnessed new wolves struggle with the change… it can be messy and ugly and sometimes the elders have to step in and petition the Alpha to take the wolf’s life if they can’t control themself.” That was the worst part. As Alpha, she’d been the one to make those tough calls, and Darcy knew she was by no means innocent. She’d had her fair share of blood on her hands, but pack laws were different than human law, she was bound by a blood oath when it came to pack matters.
Hey dark brown eyes studied him for a moment as she sighed. “I am sorry I threatened you, but I could never bite you… I’d be too afraid your saltiness is contagious.” Leave it to Darcy to turn it into a joke when trying to apologize. She just felt like it was getting a bit too real and she needed to not feel like the best option was jumping out a window.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Nov 22, 2023 5:12:40 GMT
"Never once considered being something other than human," he phrased carefully. Considering he had once considered simply not being. That hadn't been a fun ride. Needless to say, he was grateful for her teasingly shrugging it aside. Copying her indeed.
Ferris didn't need heightened senses to know something was going on with Darcy. He couldn't read minds or even her scent, but he could tell from her movements she wasn't comfortable. Yet she didn't move away from him when he got closer, so he too that as a good sign. Her talking more too was good, though the more she spoke, the more he realized the words were the problem. He simply nodded as she explained werewolf politics and family politics and her views on turning someone. It was at once a relief and frustrating to know what she had gone through to come to those beliefs.
"Sorry about your mother," Ferris offered lamely. There weren't any words to talk about her father. Nor did he imagine suggesting if she had proof to go to the authorities. None of that twisted past was his place. Her stepping away invited no further comment on the matter.
When she returned, Darcy brushed against his right arm that bore a portion of his weight against the counter. He looked down at her cardigan sleeve against his bare skin and then he looked up at her, watching the way her curls bounced as she spoke of her convictions. The notion of one wolf putting another down made a brutal kind of sense. Survival of the hidden, after all.
Grey eyes met her brown ones unwavering. The real apology earned a faint smile and a real laugh. "Apology accepted, Darcy," he said, shifting his weight to just his hips on the counter so he could offer her a casual handshake. "Sides, you probably have rabies. Not to mention didn't you just say no serious personal shit? You're making me feel compelled to confess my life story just to balance out your gloominess."
He leaned back and breathed deeply of smoke, feeling a little less dreary. "You hunt in the woods, yeah? Besides scaring the shit out of tourists. What's your best catch?"
“I give some of my best performances of being human at the bar when I’ve forgotten people notice how many drinks a gal enjoys.” She chuckled and shook her head, curls moving wildly at the motion. “Metabolic issues aside, being a werewolf isn’t half bad. I mean, I’m going to look this young for at least another forty years… we typically live to be damn near 200. Well, if we aren’t hunted and killed first.” Because as long as you have creatures that go bump in the night; there will always be someone hunting them, one of the reasons Darcy was so set on relocating their pack from Wyoming.
She didn’t like how heavy the air felt in her lungs after the conversation got so serious and real. It made her feel something worse than just sadness, it was more along the lines of despair. Which, when she thought about it just seemed over dramatic.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Ferris spoke, and oddly enough she gave a soft smile and felt some of that ‘heaviness’ in the air dissipate. “Thanks.” She managed out softly. Not many people had witnessed the level of softeners from the Alpha. She was so used to being ‘on’ at all times for her pack, it was surprisingly refreshing to just exist without feeling compelled to be authoritative.
When Ferris met her gaze, accept her apology and even laughed, should couldn’t help but smile, ignoring the blush that crept into her cheeks yet again as she shook his hand. “Hey, I stay up to date on all my shots. And please don’t, I’m so incredibly uncomfortable from over sharing I might actually start undressing.” She said it so casually like it just should make sense, but then realized Ferris didn’t know that side of her. Her face got a slightly horrified look as she tried to explain. “I don’t generally do personal, serious or vulnerable. It makes me so uncomfortable I’d rather be naked because for some reason that’s way easier than sharing feelings. I mean, you’ve seen me naked.” And somehow she wasn’t making it any better, and it was at this moment she realized she was still holding onto his hand awkwardly shaking it.
“My bad.” She said as she released his hand and cleared her throat a little as she shrugged her shoulders. “Oh shit, that’s a tough one. Are we talking best catch as in largest, or most impressive?” Darcy effortlessly hoisted herself up to be sitting on the counter, her hip bumping him slightly and she simply grinned.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Nov 22, 2023 6:05:27 GMT
The notion of acting human hit a little closer to home than he would have e liked. She was talking physically of course compared to his interpretation though, so he pushed the feeling down. Easier while drunk. "I don't think I could act at being drunk." Especially considering he was doing okay as it was stating together. Of course, the nicotine helped him feel less bogged down. "Two hundred? The opposite of dog years, eh?" That seemed crazy. How did they stay hidden with that kind of life span? In tiny towns, he supposed.
Ferris was glad to see her relax a little. Though he would have preferred they be talking on the couch. Much more comfortable.
He glanced down at her continuing to shake his hand as she spoke, like she had forgotten. At first it was awkward, but then it was funny and she became more and more cute. "Undressing?" He echoed as she blushed. Ferris recalled the moment vividly even before Darcy mentioned it. Her contortions and shrinking into a gorgeous nude young woman laying in the brush. Her body a tapestry of scars, her beautiful curves, her sharp features framed by her hair that drapped over her shoulders and directed his gaze lower. In the moment he had bee shocked, horrified, confused. But now he had only admiration. "I have," he agreed. "You should be confident. You're gorgeous naked." It should have been his turn to blush as the drink took some control of his tongue, but he meant it.
He pulled his hand back once she finally released him, looking up at her as she hopped onto the counter. In his experience, women who initiated casual contact wanted it back. Not that that meant giving shoulder massages or sex or a relationship. But it was on that path and he wasn't certain how to feel about it. On one hand, he liked Darcy. On the other hand he had been solo for so long. "Most impressive," he offered, watching smoke curl up around him.
“It’s really not all that difficult, I just sort of talk slower and look a little confused. I laugh at EVERYTHING and when I’m walking I just sort of channel my inner Captain Jack Sparrow.” She chuckled at her own little joke, but it wasn’t too far off. She tried not to make a habit of it though, as she didn’t need rumors getting back to her work and then sending her to counseling and recommending ’AA’.
Darcy nodded with a grin. She hadn’t seen him in years, but her great-grand father on her mother’s side was still alive. He looked not a day over fifty, but the man had just turned ninety-one! Darcy’s own grandparents looked like they could pass as her parents. Just one of the benefits of being a werewolf. She’d always look very youthful.
The rosiness in her cheeks flared again at his acknowledgment that he indeed saw her naked, and then his compliment. She tried to give a casual shrug, but couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, I am! That’s why I think I can handle being naked better than I can handle feelings and serious conversation… and thank-you.” she gave a playful wink as she raised a brow. “So, am I less gorgeous with clothes on, because if so…” She teasingly removed the cardigan and tossed it at him with a chuckle. She was enjoying the proximity to Ferris, but would be lying if she said sitting on the counter was comfortable. So she eased herself back down and moved to the couch as she tapped her chin.
“I’d have to say, my most impressive would be besting a pack Alpha when I was twenty-four. Some of the elders still think I ‘cheated’, but I just out maneuvered him.” She gave a slight shrug, hoping he didn’t push the topic much more, as she realized she vaguely eluded to how she took over as pack Alpha.
last edited Nov 29, 2023 14:40:01 GMT by Darcy Vance
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Nov 22, 2023 21:29:25 GMT
The Pirates of the Caribbean reference earned a smile, largely because it made far too much sense. Still not something he was going to try. He'd probably end up looking more eccentric than simply drunk or high.
Ferris wanted to agree with her, that could handle being nude better than he could handle dealing with his own feelings. But like her, he was pretty sure there wasn't a good way to say it. Not without it coming across as creepy. Besides, he was just enjoying her slight embarrassment and attempts to dig herself out of a hole. Only this time she decided to commit. He moved his cigarette out of the way and half caught her cardigan with his other hand. "Easy there," he chuckled. "You're gorgeous in anything," he said, a lot more easily than he thought possible. Which made him pause, rather glad she had her back to him while he grimaced at himself.
He stayed in the kitchen until he finished his cigarette, hunting down an ash tray while Darcy spoke. Ferris made a soft incredulous sound. "Pack Alpha, eh? That common in werewolf packs or did he just have one of those faces?" The punch-able kind, he meant. He understood vaguely the dynamic of wild wolf packs. From her use to the term, he imagined it was a similar thing. An extended family group, maybe with more variety of families and a defined matriarch or patriarch. Ferris put out the butt of his cigarette and moved to the window in the kitchen to crack it slightly. Even with the rain, he wanted some fresh air. Finally he followed her back to the couch, draping her cardigan over the back of it before rounding the far side to sit back down where he had been before. He glanced over at her, now in just the white tank top that contoured to her body just as well as her jeans.
Rather than dwell on that, he leaned back and closed his eyes. "There a lot of packs around here? I don't recall hearing about any turf wars," he noted. He wasn't sure he had many more questions. At least, not that he had sorted into proper words or that weren't awkward open ended 'what else is out there?' questions, especially not after the scotch.
Darcy was beginning to worry the rosy blush was going to become a permanent fixture on her face at this rate. Try as she might to turn the tables and feel less embarrassed, he seemed to know exactly what to say to give her pause. She couldn’t help to soft smile that took over at his words as she sat down. “Okay enough of that, you’re going to give me a very inflated ego.” She teased, shaking her head and suddenly very aware of how bare her shoulders were now that she could feel the movement from her hair against her skin.
“Oh, he was a major asshat. He wasn’t addressing issues with young wolves biting and turning, or killing, people without council approval. Generally Alphas aren’t challenged unless it’s for the good of the pack, or you get a group of rowdy younger wolves who think they can best anyone.” Darcy rolled her eyes at the last part, having taken down her fair share of obnoxious wolves who saw fit to challenge her just because she’s considered ‘young’ in her pack, and a female. Some wolves couldn’t stand a female pack Alpha. Thankfully, that run-in with the bear seemed to give them pause when debating challenging her. Not simply for facing up against the bear, but because she tended to her wounds without assistance from the pack. Just with the aid of Ferris. Darcy was quite lost in her thought for the moment, absentmindedly twirling some hair against her middle and index finger.
His question snapped her back to reality and she nodded. “Two packs currently reside in Sweetwater, and while they aren’t technically at war, for the moment, they aren’t exactly allies either. ” Darcy gave a light sigh, knowing that was just another thing she had to constantly worry about. Her pack didn’t want to just join ranks, and the other pack didn’t particularly like that her pack was taking up residency around town. She kept it fairly strict with her own pack, absolutely NO fighting with the local pack. She’d already shipped off a few stubborn wolves for refusing to listen, but thankfully the last two years hadn’t been that bad. Even so, there was an uneasiness in the air at times that Darcy feared could turn into something violent at a moment’s notice. She didn’t want war, and she’d been fighting with the elders for months on coming to an agreement about their departure should things turn violent. Of the six elders, only two agreed with her.
Darcy looked back to Ferris and raised a brow. “Hey, why don’t you play something? I was listening from outside, I didn’t mean to make you stop.” Because why not give her just another reason to be looking at him with admiration…. Or was it desire?
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Nov 22, 2023 23:02:56 GMT
Ferris only shrugged as she told him to stop complimenting her. If she had an inflated ego, it wasn't his fault. He smiled again with the term asshat. Yeah, he'd always liked that one. Her description of him included quite a few rather serious accusations. "Sounds like you had a problem with more than his face," Ferris observed, correcting his previous statement. He was a bit concerned to hear about deaths and turning regular people, but in all the time he had been in Sweetwater, he hadn't heard anything like that. Of course, he also hadn't known to pay attention for it. But besides the latest fires they had already discussed was due to something else, he didn't know of anyone dying from animal attacks. He was confused for a bit, but as she explained more about the two packs, he understood.
"Old hunting grounds became unsafe, eh?" Perhaps not undeserved if they were really attacking people. But he kept that to himself. "I guess it makes sense that more than one pack in the area leads to tension." That was how it worked with territorial animals, after all. Seemed like werewolves had quite a lot of bestial nature in them. Not that he would call Darcy a beast.
He looked over at the guitars. "I figured, since you knocked right after I finished the song," he noted. "I guess. Song requests technically ended four drinks ago but...I could try another one." Buzzed strumming was a common occurrence, but not usually at this point. He pushed himself up from the couch and picked up his acoustic guitar again, settling down in the dining table chair where he had been before she stopped by. "Got a favorite artist?"
“I honestly hadn’t planned to challenge him, but he made some choice remarks about me just being ‘some orphaned pack bitch’ and I may or may not have raged out. All I did was try to talk with him about some concerns, he’s the one who decided to run his mouth. ” Darcy shrugged her shoulders, giving an ‘innocent’ look as she did. But cracking a smile as she sighed. Maybe that was why she had such a tough time adjusting to being Alpha. She had never planned to challenge him, but it just sort of happened.
“Four years ago, we left Wyoming and traveled freely for a year. Then stumbled upon Sweetwater and just sort of made it home, at least for the last three years. So far we’ve been able to maintain civility, we’re pack animals that crave community after-all. But I worry about turf wars all the time… I don’t want to see it come to that.” She admitted with a voice that sounded heavily burdened. She slipped her rain boots off and pulled her legs up on the couch to hug her knees and rest her chin on them.
Darcy couldn’t contain the glee filled smile that appeared as he grabbed a guitar and took a seat to play. “Oh that’s an easy one, Chris Stapleton.” She didn’t even have to seriously consider when asked, the majority of the music on her favorite playlists featured various artists of classic rock, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll and some various country music artists.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Nov 23, 2023 2:33:58 GMT
Hearing the fight had been unplanned fit. Darcy didn't seem to be the premeditated sort. He had learned she wasn't afraid to say what she thought. Ferris chuckled at the phrase 'raged out,' finding it quite amusing and way before his generation.
Darcy spoke with a weight and a matter of fact manner that he knew as a leader. The thought crossed his mind that packs had ranks and he didn't know hers. By fighting the Alpha, he wondered of that meant anything. Certainly she would have been kicked out if he stayed in charge, right? But she hadn't said a word about that. Like she didn't want him to know her exact relationship to her pack. Maybe he was overthrowing things. "Let's hope things stay peaceful," he agreed. Especially with these attacks. They needed a united front. "Or at least a truce like police and firefighters," he joked.
He watched he shed more articles of clothing and was glad the mention of music seemed to bring her away from that contemplative state. Brooding didn't look good on her.
"Country girl, eh? Sober, I think I know some Stapleton." Not sober...recalling lyrics was gonna be a challenge. Well, either way he had always had a good ear for music and chords and enjoyed expanding his repertoire. Ferris caressed the strings, debating on a song and finding himself automatically tuning the strings for a specific one. It wasn't even a conscious choice. Belatedly he recalled the pick in his pocket and shifted his weight to pull it out.
The plucky staccato opening rift of "You Should Probably Leave" left his fingers and from that moment on he didn't look up at Darcy. Even he wasn't sure if it was embarrassment or a sort of drunken focus or both. He pushed the tempo a bit faster but let the intro meander into an instrumental for a minute while he reminded himself of the song.
"I know it ain't all that late, but you should probably leave."
The fire chief had a rougher sound to his voice when he sang. Not a note of country twang, making it clear this wasn't his usual genre. But the regret and desire and soft reflection in the song wasfamiliar to him and it showed. He skipped the bridge, not remembering it or the solo Stapleton employed, but added his own sad/hopeful flair. Even after drinking so much he only slipped a few notes and words. As he closed out the final chorus he let the sound drift off for a moment and then rested his hand on the strings, looking up at the werewolf and offering an awkward half smile.
Darcy simply nodded in agreement, knowing just how bad things could get if a turf war took place. But as Alpha, she’d do her damndest to avoid that. Hell, she’d relocate the pack before she let the town suffer. But sadly, big decisions like that had to be voted upon. No, she didn’t want to dwell on such things at the moment. It would only serve to stress her out, and she just wanted to simply enjoy whatever this was with Ferris. He made her feel, well, what she assumed normal felt like. It was nice. Talking, cutting up, teasing… maybe she was lonely and just didn’t know what it was like to have friends.
“What can I say? Country music just gets to me… but I will deny it if you ever tell anyone that.” Darcy said with a soft grin as she watched with interest as he prepared the guitar and started to pick at the strings. It took a moment, but she was familiar with the song. She found herself letting her head nod in tempo with his strumming and she mouthed the words silently as she listened, smiling a bit bigger than she realized as she watched him with fascination. She liked seeing him like this. He looked like quite a natural sitting there playing his guitar and singing.
Granted part of her was curious about the song selection, but then again; that was one of his more popular songs, and he did make a comment about knowing more when he’s sober. So she chose not to overthink it all. Though she did wonder if he wanted her to leave. Hyper fixation could be such a tedious thing at times.
Darcy gave a slow clap for him with a chuckle. “Well that settles it, I guess I need to invest in a tambourine… or maybe a harmonica. That ways I can jam with you.” She gave a playful wink and then moved her legs to be sitting ‘Indian style’ on the couch, one hand resting in her lap and the other running through her hair. “Have you ever played at open mic night? Ooooh, we should find a bar doing karaoke. I’ll go first so people can be thoroughly disappointed, and then you’ll get up there and wow everyone.”
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Nov 23, 2023 4:32:48 GMT
"No judgement," he said quickly. "I can get behind some country. Garth Brooks. Underwood. Cash. HARDY..." he trailed off on his list of some of his favorites in the genre. "But I'll deny it if you ever tell anyone," he added, matching her tone and grin.
It was a song about temptation and love and the failure to avoid it. It wasn't about him wanting her to leave, but about...well, how he wanted something else. He wasn't sure why he picked it, it was just the one he could remember the most.
Ferris snorted. He would have suggested backup vocals, but from her comment about karaoke, he gathered she wasn't a singer. He picked up a soft experimental melody of "Iris" out of habit. "I haven't," he admitted. "Don't usually get much free time." He liked playing guitar and to some extend singing. But work and everything else just seemed to take priority. He was confident enough that he didn't mind who he followed in a performance. "You can't be that bad. Give me something else. Something you'd sing?" Honestly the challenge of playing something he normally wouldn't was kind of fun.
The fact that not only did he not tease her, but even admitted to some artists he enjoyed made Darcy smile. “I won’t tell if you don’t.” She said with an almost childish playfulness.
Darcy watched him as he spoke and then nodded with understanding. She certainly understood the lack of free time, but she definitely felt like he’d blow some people’s mind if he were ever free for an open mic night.
“Me? Well I don’t typically sing in front of people, more of a shower singer personally.” She chuckled a little but gave a shrug. “Do you Cigarette Sober by Leah Marie Mason?” It was a relatively new release, but was a fast favorite of hers.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Nov 23, 2023 5:39:19 GMT
Ferris was very much a fan of most genres. Anything that had the right sound to it, that had a fun guitar lick, that had lyrics that hit home... There were plenty of reasons to find for him to like a song. If it struck his fancy, he'd find a way to play it. He leaned more rock and alternative, but especially when he was in a low mood, that was when he broke out the acoustic. Anything from country to Sheeran to Hallelujah.
The fire chief wasn't much for public attention. Sure, he worked in public services, but not because he needed people to pay attention to him. Honestly, Darcy stalking him to his apartment was more attention that he'd had in a while. Which was probably why he chose that dumb song. He felt like such an idiot, considering she was only here because of their hike.
"Can't say I do," Ferris admitted unfortunately. The artist sounded vaguely familiar, but he wasn't so versed in this genre as his friend. The man half got up to pull his phone off the coffee table and Google chords. "Don't normally try and teach myself something like this but..." Conveniently, they lived in a world that made that easy and he had a few sites he used to teach himself new songs. He leaned back and thumbed through the tuning and the chord list.
He set the strings and listened to the opening lick for the beat and the vibe, then set his phone back down and the guitar pick along with it, opting for a lighter touch. He lightly started plucking the contemplative and mournful mainline, finding things a bit off so he paused to fix his tuning and check his chord progression. Once he started up again, he looked over at her. "Alright, Darcy, your turn on vocals," he half encouraged, half ordered. Because he wasn't about to attempt singing a song he didn't know how to play, especially not one sung by a woman. He was at least willing to make a fool of himself with fumbling through the notes along with her. Ferris
This was probably one of the better dates he had had in his life. It was a whole hell of a lot better than drinking alone.
While part of her had hoped Ferris wouldn’t know it and they could drop the idea of hearing her sing, she was instead met with Ferris looking up the song and teaching himself to play it on the spot. If she wasn’t already incredibly impressed with Ferris, this definitely would have done it for her. She watched how he handled the guitar and flushed a little as her thoughts wandered to wondering what else his hands could do. Darcy made herself look away quickly to try and get her mind out of the gutter.
“You really don’t have to do that Ferris…” She tried to insist, but he seemed determined and was doing a great job honestly. Which actually made her a bit nervous. She didn’t ever sing for anyone, not because she was awful or tone deaf -thank god- mostly just because didn’t feel like it benefitted her in anyway. But he insisted and she felt it was only fair after her went though the trouble of learning the song on the fly. She hummed a few notes the try and help warm her throat a bit before she joined in with the music.
“I already know that you’re a bad idea, Talking to myself in a fogged up mirror, Intoxicated thoughts I don’t want to hear, Ooo ooo”
Her voice started out a bit shaky, but Darcy pushed away the nervousness and let herself continue with more confidence in her voice as she nodded her head to the music and even let herself smile as she sang the hook;
“I'd never fall in love just 'cause I'm lonely I'd never play with fire 'cause it only burns me I'd never sleep with someone for the closure And I'd never smoke a cigarette sober, sober” Thankfully it wasn’t a very long song, so she didn’t have to sing along for much time. Despite her nervousness, she was having a really nice time. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so relaxed and was just enjoying herself like this.