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?
Him tending to his food and watching the microwave didn’t bother her, she knew you couldn’t force someone to open up to you. If he was going to share, it would be when he was ready. She just needed to be available and ready to listen. And she had plenty of experience being patient. For now, she just enjoyed hugging him like this, even though she felt a little selfish. Like she was the one benefitting for the physical contact and not him. But he didn’t pull away or seem to mind. Infact, Darcy could both hear and feel his heart rate leveling out. That made her smile softly.
“Not a mind reader, just fairly intuitive.” She teased, burying her face into his back with a soft sigh. The pure delight that seemed to radiate in her body at his proximity and scent was not lost on her. But it was easy to ignore what was going on inside her when she was focused on him.
What Darcy said had apparently been the right thing, because he seemed to lower his guard and tear down a little bit of that wall in between them. His words made her want to hug him so tightly and never let go. Perhaps it was because she was a werewolf, and wanting a pack was hardwired into her biology; Darcy knew just what it meant to finally feel secure with people. To know that they had you, no matter what. And she would be that for him, even if he resented her persistence or got annoyed by her being there. It wasn’t just a want, but a need. Deep down, she knew she would never be able to leave him, especially not when he needed someone.
She kept quiet, not wanting to disrupt his progress, and just readying herself to listen to anything he might have to say. When he set his food down on the counter she wondered if he’d continue or change the subject, or possibly even push her away. Bracing herself for whatever he’d decide, but she couldn’t have prepared for what he said.
Suddenly things started to make a lot more sense and she couldn’t help but recall his crack about how she could have told him he was having a mental break down, suddenly regretting how she responded to that now. Her grip on him tightened, as she felt an overwhelming need to just comfort him. He didn’t move to face her, so she wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to be seen. But she couldn’t help it.
She lessened her grip and gently encouraged him to turn to face her. Darcy’s expression one of deep affection and care, which was terrifying for her to show, but she couldn’t help it. “Hey, life can be a lot all the time. But you’re still here, and that’s amazing, especially when you’ve dealt with some serious loss and hurt.” She moved her hand to run through his hair, just wanting to be able to be a source of comfort for him. And then hugged him again, because she didn’t know what else to say at the moment and just needed the physical contact.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 18:59:12 GMT
Ferris braced for whatever her first words would be. Not that he expected her to say something terrible or to laugh at him or anything like that. But he wasn’t really sure what she would think and that unknown terrified him. Yesterday, Darcy had said something about treating mental illnesses like real illnesses, but before that, she had laughed it off that he might have had a mental breakdown. Of course neither time she had known the truth.
The initial silence crushed him but he pulled himself together with a breath. She had given him a lot of time to come to terms with her, after all. And it said a lot that she not only didn’t let go, but hugged him tighter.
It took very little of her encouragement to turn around, Ferris offering her an awkward grimace because he felt a little stupid. Having told someone about his mental illness, it didn’t weigh nearly so much. Meeting her deep brown eyes and the concern and care there made him feel even more stupid. But in a relieved sort of way.
And then Darcy hit on the other side of the coin. The fact that he was still here. She made it sound like such an achievement. And he supposed it was if he tried to look at it from her perspective. But it hadn’t been easy. "Not for lack of trying," he said softly, ashamed of himself. He reached up to pull her hand from his hair and press it to his chest. Just to feel her warmth there. Ferris gasped at the second surprise hug, and then chuckled and took a breath. "Thanks, Darcy. Had I known back then how much I would be depriving you of my sexy ass, I might not have bothered."
The fact that he’d even felt able to open up and share this with her, made Darcy feel relieved. He didn’t have to, and yet she appreciated the fact that he did. She just enjoyed the closeness, hearing the steady beat of his heart. Taking in his scent, committing every little detail to memory. His words triggered some very intense emotions inside her, and it was a touch confusing. She didn’t connect with people like this… with anyone like this.
Knowing he’d experienced a time where he’d tried to end his own life, she couldn’t imagine the type of pain one might have to be in to get to that point. And she was beyond grateful that he hadn’t been successful in his attempt, or was it attempts? She wasn’t going to ask, not trying to make him uncomfortable or ashamed. Instead, she couldn’t help but crack a smile at his attempt to turn it into a joke.
“I really am glad you’re here, and that I get the chance to know you.” She looked back up at him, giving him a reassuring smile. “Do you mind if I ask a few questions?” Darcy raised a brow, her fingers running softly up and down his back. Now at least she could understand why she was so much more perceptive with his tones and mood, it was his scent. Kind of like how dogs made great service animals, being able to smell changes in people’s moods and such. She wasn’t used to being so observant toward a person as she was with him.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 21:29:10 GMT
This time, thankfully, the joke went over with the correct amount of sarcasm and sincerity. Which was to say more sarcasm than sincerity, but definitely both. Ferris knew he would always be a work in progress, that he would always struggle. But having someone who wanted to be there for it...no matter for how long that lasted...it helped.
For him, when things got bad like this, it felt like being stuck in quicksand. The more he tried to fight his situation or himself, the fast things spiraled out of control. But if he did nothing, he'd sink to the bottom all the same, even if it took a lot longer. Which was how he would describe his time in Sweetwater. Slowly but surely sinking, with medication or some small thing helping him sink more slowly. The only think that seemed to pull him out was the right connection with another person. Like his sister Mara. Or like Darcy. The quicksand was always there, but knowing there was a hand to lift him out was reassuring. Especially as he had been starting to find it hard to breathe before Darcy arrived.
Her smile was hard to resist. Ferris smiled, though he was still far from happy at the moment. "Uh, I don't mind," he said, a little nervous about what she wanted to ask him about, but he could always say no. "I'm gonna eat though," he added, more to remind himself. He still wasn't hungry, but it would be a waste of food. He half hugged Darcy once more and then turned in her arms to pick up the container of rice and chicken. He gestured to the fridge. "Drinks?" He asked. Technically he meant the non-alcoholic kind, but he didn't specify.
Whether Darcy wanted anything or not (she was welcome to something harder) he got a can of Pepsi from the fridge and moved to the couch to eat.
while she didn’t particularly want to let him go, she didn’t have a way to stay close without it just being weird or awkward, he needed to eat and be comfortable. She gave a nod, grabbing a bottle of water for herself. As tempting as alcohol might always be, she felt the current situation didn’t warrant her needing a strong drink. She took a drink from the bottle of water and twisted the lid back on.
She slipped her ankle boots off not wanting to put the shoes on the furniture, and she couldn’t ever just sit like normal. Darcy stepped onto the seat and lowered herself to sitting crisscrossed on her feet, facing Ferris as she did. She set the bottle of water in her lap and considered carefully what exactly she wanted to ask.
“Are you on any medications?” She finally settled upon, now also curious about the painkillers in his truck. They had at least been prescribed to him, so maybe it wasn’t the worst case scenario.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 23:02:07 GMT
He didn't notice she only took a water from his fridge until he allowed himself to sink into the couch. Ferris sat there for a moment with the plate on his lap, turning to watch Darcy's curious sitting preference. He raised an eyebrow in cursory interest and confusion. It was certainly strange, though not the strangest thing he had ever seen the werewolf do so he didn't ask. She took her shoes off and the couch could handle it. It probably would have been amusing if he wasn't mildly anxious worrying over what she would ask him.
Ferris set the container on the coffee table and reached over for the PlayStation controller, navigating to the menu and putting the console in sleep mode properly before turning off the TV. Finally, he picked up his food again and took a bite. It tasted good, he still just didn't really have much interest in eating. He ate another bite as she posed her first question.
He nodded and swallowed. That was easy enough, is also awkward to talk about. "Yes and no. I have a prescription for, uh...something with a V." He'd remember if he saw it, but even the brand name slipped his mind. "I don't take it." That was likely evident from his behavior, or at the very least his lack of remembering the name. "For a few reasons...mostly because of work." He couldn't operate heavy machinery or do half the things his job entailed in a real emergency if he was drowsy and nauseous and everything else. He didn't tick all the side effects, but a lot. And it wasn't the first or only medication he had had. There was always a tradeoff. But there were also other side effects he disliked immensely.
She smiled sheepishly at his curious look at how she chose to sit and she gave a shrug. “It’s just comfortable.” Darcy admitted, another sip from her bottle of water. He turned off the PlayStation and started to eat. He might not have been in the mood to eat, but she was glad to see him it regardless.
“Medications can have have more side effects than what they’re supposed to be ‘fixing’ sometimes. So I get that, especially if it interferes with your ability to do your job.” She gave a soft nod, propping her elbow on the back of the couch to support her head as she rested it against her head, dark brown eyes taking him in.
“When you’re not taking your medication, how do you typically handle the tough days?” She paused for a moment, thinking of the state he had been in the other night. And then began to worry that she had taken advantage of him having a difficult day. “Because I will go ahead and purchase that tambourine and make you suffer through me learning it if I have to.” She teased, her smile soft but playful.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 8, 2023 0:17:11 GMT
This time, he was very surprised with her answer. Even Ferris knew he should be taking medication prescribed to him by a doctor. Sure, he was careful to gradually change how much he took, originally thinking he would take it on his days off. But that left him woefully intolerant to the side effects even more because his body never got used to it. It had been a solid six months on this specific pill that he simply didn't take it. He still picked up refills and dreaded the next doctor's appointment he had.
What had Darcy said in that text a few days ago? Something about not being a martyr all the time. She didn't know how right she was then. Maybe she did now if she remembered.
He made a brief noise of agreement that was more of a mirthless laugh. "I can't drive, and I feel like shit," he confirmed. Because while he could compile a verbal list, then he really wouldn't be in the mood to eat. So to save them both he took another few bites.
Ferris simply looked over at Darcy as she asked how he handled tough days. So maybe contemplating the casual murder of a co-worker and inviting his friend whom he was sleeping with to come hang out weren't how he 'typically' handled himself. But he didn't really, and he wasn't sure how to say that without the self-pity card either. So maybe he could and should do better personally. Which was how he got in this cycle. He sighed and took a drink.
"I don't. Handle it, I mean." He snorted and shook his head at the continuing joke. It was kind of nice though, to have an ongoing inside joke with someone. That didn't happen to him that often. "If you're learning anything it's something that's compliments guitar. Like guitar," he said, clearly not feeling all that playful. But he was serious. Ferris realized he hadn't really answered though. "I play music, more often when I'm having a bad day," he agreed. "I try to go workout, get out of this fucking apartment. It's...harder to manage when I am at work." He didn't really have an answer most of the time. Which was another reason he knew he should just take the meds.
“Yeah, kinda hard to do your work like that. How long do you think it would take your body to work through adjusting to a proper dosage of your medicine?” She asked curiously, a bit of an idea stirring.
Darcy watched him as he spoke, nodding when appropriate and then unable to fight off a grin at his telling her she’d have to learn something that compliments a guitar. “I doubt I’m coordinated enough for that… what about a cowbell?” She teased with a wink.
“Okay, have you thought about maybe trying to take a temporary leave from work to give yourself the time to adjust to your meds?” She asked with a raised brow. She knew from previous conversations that he seemed to play the martyr a lot, and it wasn’t a safe game to play when it came to mental health. The town and his team could manage without him for a while if it meant keeping him around for the long haul.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 8, 2023 2:17:34 GMT
The moment Darcy asked, he knew where she was going with it. So maybe she was in fact going to insist he be on his medication. He bought himself some time by taking a few more bites of food. Ferris leaned back and shrugged. "Maybe a month and a half? I think this one, I was supposed to double the dosage after two weeks?" He sighed. "I’ve done this…five or six times? And it always takes me a while." His body took longer than most to adjust. He didn’t know why, all he knew was it meant a high barrier to entry for any medications he tried. He was tired of dealing with side effects.
Ferris smirked slightly. "We’ll figure something out," he said gently. He wouldn’t force her though. Just her company was a positive when he played.
The Fire Chief sighed. "Darcy, I can’t." He couldn’t leave the station entirely out to dry like that. There might be seasons were there were less fires but there were always emergencies. "Sweetwater is relatively isolated, the fire station, police and urgent care are all we have and I can’t just take break," he said firmly.
"And I can’t afford it," he added with a forced laugh.
Damn, that would be difficult to swing. Trying to take off that amount of time for work wouldn’t be doable. She frowned a little, the hand propping up her head running through her hair as she sat back up straight again. She truly couldn’t relate, she didn’t have experience with medications due to the whole ‘werewolf metabolism’ and such.
She gave nodded in agreement. “Hey, is bass guitar as complicated as a regular guitar?” She truly wasn’t opposed to trying to pick up a new hobby, lord knows she needed one. Plus, it would be more fun if Ferris was involved in the hobby.
“Okay, but would it be possible to maybe take a temporary restriction to allow you to still be able to work, but maybe not take the most active roll during the emergencies to account for you adjusting to a new medication?” She offered with a slight shrug, not quite sure how that would work either.
“Hey, it’s gonna be okay. I’ll make sure you don’t get too low. Even if it means kicking that perfect ass a little bit.” She gave a playful smile before taking another drink from the bottle of water before setting it on the coffee table.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 8, 2023 4:27:38 GMT
"Mechanically similar, but I suppose you could say easier, sure," he said with a shrug. He didn’t play bass or bass parts all that often these days. He found it curious that she suggested it though. That meant she was thinking about it. "I learned on an acoustic," he said for an example. "And then played some bass before deciding I liked main guitar parts."
Even if he took all his vacation time, paid and unpaid, he didn’t have the time to cover a month. He could file for some sort of medical leave probably but that was a lot of effort and he wasn’t sure when it would be and regardless, he didn’t want to leave his team like that.
Darcy was putting a lot more effort into this than he expected. When he called her, this wasn’t exactly the conversation he had had in mind, but it was arguably more fulfilling than anything else he could be doing right now. Only his sister had gone to this sort of effort and it was difficult for her to keep tabs on her brother when she was managing three kids solo. Ferris shrugged again, "That’s better," he admitted. Not that he really trusted himself to refrain from doing anything and everything he felt capable of in the moment. "I hate desk work but I took this job knowing that I’d be doing a lot of it." Just not only that kind of thing. He worried he might get some sort of cabin fever from being the guy behind the desk for that long.
He snorted as she called his ass perfect. He was starting to think Darcy was doing it just to tease him. But he appreciated it. Mostly. "I’ll think about it," he said noncommittally, staring at the rest of the chicken and rice. There was still about half, but he wasn’t so committed to trying anymore.
Darcy nodded with interest, she’d have to do a little research, maybe see if anyone in the pack had an instrument she could borrow to see if she wanted to make the purchase. It could be fun. “Okay, well how about this; if I can teach myself to play, you gotta do an open mic night with me.” She challenged with a soft smile.
The fact that he was actually still just talking with her about his options made Darcy feel good, he’d already told her this wasn’t something he talked to people about. So the fact that he hadn’t stopped talking or changed the subject told her he trusted her. And she couldn’t quite put to worlds exactly how that made her feel. But it was definitely good.
“Okay, well what if you did that, then used vacation time or a medical leave once you started to get crazy behind the desk?” She would never understand people who could work behind a desk all the time, it was so boring. That’s why she always offered to do the outdoor work at the station, checking and mending fences, posting signs and such.
Now that he appeared to be less inclined to be interested in trying to eat it, Darcy moved to take the container from him and stood, grabbing her bottle of water and moving toward the kitchen. “Do you want the rest saved, or will you not eat the rest?” She asked so as to not just leave it on the counter. She finished her bottle of water and threw it away as she looked back up to him with a raised brow.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 8, 2023 5:32:04 GMT
She didn't need to teach herself, but he just figured she didn't want his help. Not because she didn't like him obviously, but maybe she just preferred to learn herself or didn't think he would be a good teacher. He supposed he didn't blame her. "That's not..." He frowned. "I don't want you doing something you don't want just for me to play an open mic night. That's not necessary," he pointed out. As opposed as he was, it wasn't so much so to make someone else uncomfortable. He liked music and he should play more often. It was more about the motivation to work up to something worth playing.
Ferris hummed softly. That was an idea. He'd still be miserable, just miserable at home. But Darcy was right, that mostly solved his concerns on the professional side. The other issues were personal and pleasure. "Work's not the only reason I don't take my medication," he admitted. "The initial side effects are...not great," he finished lamely. It was stupid to even bring up.
He half got up when she took the container, more than capable of cleaning up after himself. But Darcy seemed determined, and she was probably bored just watching him fail at basic life skills. Ferris sat back down and took a drink of soda. "In the fridge is fine," he said. It would keep for another day if he wanted. And if not, she didn't need to do his dishes. "Unless you're hungry, then be my guest," he told the always hungry werewolf.
"I'm still not sure what I had in mind when I invited you over," he admitted, watching her over the back of the couch. He wondered if she had further questions.
“Who said I didn’t want to learn to play? I was just trying and failing at making it more of a challenge for fun.” She shrugged slightly, feeling a little ridiculous over it now. Oh well. “I’m still very much needing a hobby, especially before my grandmother sends me a dog or something.” It was only mostly a joke, though during the conversation her grandmother was hinting about her needing a pet. She was hardly home, what good would having a pet do for her?
Her brow furrowed in confusion for a moment, brown eyes peering at him curiously. “Hey, if we can come up with a plan that solves the business side of getting you a game plan for your meds, we can figure out the rest.”
In the kitchen she closed the container and put it back in the fridge. “I actually ate before I left the house, but thanks.” Darcy said with a half nod, closing the fridge door and looking back to him on the couch with a shrug.
“I mean, if I’m bugging you I can go. I don’t want to overstay my welcome, and I know we just hung out last night.” The words coming out were not at all what she wanted to be saying. She didn’t want to go, she wanted to stay. But she suddenly felt a little awkward, like maybe he didn’t want her there anymore. She didn’t know. Now her gaze dropping to the countertop she stood beside.