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?
There was a lot about her family and former pack politics and shit that she never got to talk about. Even her current pack didn’t know all the details, well all but one wolf; Rhett. But that was back when they were friends and not the Alpha and Beta of the pack. But she didn’t mind sharing with Ferris, it felt almost as natural as breathing. And he was an attentive listener, and she appreciated that to no end.
She simply nodded to his comment on her grandfather, he wasn’t wrong. The man was flawed and stubborn, and if Darcy was honest she was a little afraid of him. Even as an Alpha with her own pack, she worried about his reach and influence… I mean, someone called them to tell on her revealing herself to a human. Did she have a mole in her pack, or maybe someone trying to impress an old name. It almost reminded her of the founding families around Sweetwater. She shook her head, not wanting to sweep on all that anymore.
“Oh gosh, okay so it’s a little embarrassing. Werewolf’s imprint on a person or another wolf. It’s not really something we get a say in. The best description I’ve heard about it, is that it’s like waking up one day and just knowing with every fiber of your being that this person is who you want to spend the rest of your life with. It’s more than just loving someone though, it’s wanting to protect them and a deep seated need to just be with them.” She tried to explain it as best as she could, but also could help the deepening rosy tone in her cheeks, almost thankful for the cold that also caused rosy cheeks. “a werewolf only imprints once in their life, it’s a very intense and intimate bond.” Her voice got a little softer as she tucked her hands into her pockets, not sure why discussing that felt more personal than her own history with her grandparents.
Except she did know why.
Thankfully her own question had caused quite a reaction from him. She looked at him with a raised brow, noting his fluttering heartbeat and how he moved his hands. Even in the limited lighting, she could see the red in his cheeks. Wait, he actually liked that. A lot, judging by the details his body was giving her. So why did that make her blush even more? Was it because now all she could think about was being in a position to use the nickname to her advantage?
“That’s actually really sweet Ferris…” she trailed off trying to decide the best to ask her next question. “So, what was her name?” she finally settled upon. Looking up toward the pharmacy. Generally speaking, people only had expectations of children by a certain age if they had someone in mind to make that happen with. Was it wrong for he to be curious?
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 9, 2023 6:43:35 GMT
Although it took him a while to really see the picture Darcy was trying to paint, her flustered speech was quite adorable. He might not be able to catch the rosiness of her cheeks in the fading light, but he could hear it in her voice and her word choice. It was like listening to a high school girl excitedly discussing going to her first prom, only she was talking to someone who had never even heard of a prom so the excitement became muddied in the explanation of what prom even was.
"So what, your subconscious just decides the love of your life?" He supposed that made some sense. It kept some part of them honest. Though he wondered how often that happened in reality. If wolves imprinted mutually or if one might and the other on someone else. Or if, even if the imprint did happen, they decided to see other wolves. It just made sense to him though that this was something a werewolf did with another werewolf. He smiled a little at the 'intense and intimate bond.' Like how one might bond with someone over sex, especially their first time or with someone they really enjoyed or after four orgasms in one night. "That's...really romantic," he said, this somewhat counter to his first statement but much more thoughtful than that immediate reaction. "I hope you find your someone," he recalled them back to her notion of finding her 'imprint' and settling down.
Darcy asked for her name, and he didn't need any other context to know who she meant. He stuffed his hands back into his jacket pockets and frowned. He should have known it would swing around to him and his ex, but he still wasn't ready for it. He clenched his fists in his pockets and pulled his arms in a bit closer. "Doesn't really matter anymore," he said, quickly shifting the mood and shutting down that side of the conversation. It suddenly seemed to feel a lot colder and he was grateful that they arrived at the front door. He pushed it open with his shoulder and held the door for Darcy to step in behind him.
“I mean, it’s our truest most intuitive form that makes the connection obvious to us. If we’re lucky, it’s a mutual connection with another wolf. That’s not always the case, which leads to a lot of wolves I know doing a lot of that ‘ethical non-monogamy’ type of relationships.” Or killing their spouse and trying to kill their child. That’s what made the imprinting bond such a frightening concept. “And it’s not limited to just other wolves… my dad imprinted on a human.” She gave a shrug, mentioning her dad putting a sour taste in her mouth.
“Be careful Ferris, I might start to think you’re secretly a big softy.” She teased not wanting to really touch base on what it meant for her. Especially when she was struggling with that.
Darcy almost immediately regretted asking, because it seemed to suck the life out of their conversation. And she could hear how his pulse changed, not not in a positive way. Damn. “Noted, sorry.” She said not looking up at him, instead just following in the store behind him and giving a friendly nod to the clerk who greeted them as they walked in.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 9, 2023 7:50:51 GMT
The more Darcy spoke about it, the more poetic the concept became. Like it was some kind of magic spell or ability. A somewhat chaotic one. Which, he supposed made sense when it came to matters of the heart. The muscle was impulsive and powerful just as much as it was hesitant and fragile. At least the feeling being mutual most of the time indicated that perhaps it wasn't entirely random. That their true selves recognized the soul of someone they could begin building a closer bond with so that they might mesh. "Divorce must suck," he observed, more serious than joking but perhaps still joking.
He raised an eyebrow as she mentioned imprinting on humans. From the sound of it, that was rather normal. Though he wondered if the human made that connection in return. Likely not? But with the topic touching on Darcy's father he decided to leave it alone.
Ferris smiled for a moment, a little embarrassed at being called out before he could collect himself. So what if he was a sensitive romantic some of the time? And what if she knew that? It was only a little awkward and embarrassing. "Shut up," he said, though his tone was soft.
Inside, his cheeks and hands thawed a little. His gaze drifted over the snacks and drinks and sunglasses and seasonal items. As much as he'd had a clear point to coming here, part of him was still easily distracted. Especially when right now, after that personal note, he wanted to be distracted. Ferris stepped up to the counter with the clerk, skimming the cigarette packs on the back wall without really seeing them. The clerk knew what he wanted anyway, grabbing two packs of American Spirit Orange. He glanced over at Darcy as he pulled out his card. "You want anything?" Ferris felt awkward and detached again, just like when he had walked into his apartment with Darcy. He was so good at ruining things.
It wasn’t something Darcy had made a habit of thinking on, especially as she got older and started to understand what it all entailed. The last thing she wanted to worry about was what imprinting on someone could mean to her. Not after her experiences with ‘relationships’. In fact, Darcy had considered it a small mercy that she’d not yet experienced the imprinting bond, hoping she might never. It might be easier to just make a life without that.
“Oh, for sure. Typically divorce is most common among wolf and human couples than it is with two wolves.” She admitted with a slight shrug. “the only time I’ve seen a wolf move on is after a death, but it’s not ever the same for them. Wolves… they mate for life.”
The idea of being so devoted to just one person was wonderful to hope for, but terrifying too. What if the feelings weren’t returned? What if she went through what her mother did? Honestly there were so many ‘what if’s’, it was easier to just not think on it. Well, it used to be easier.
She smiled soft at him, she could tell from how tone of his voice he was a little embarrassed, and she found it absolutely adorable.
Once inside the pharmacy she just. Usually browsed, not necessarily needing anything herself. Just keeping her gaze fixed on anything other than Ferris at the moment. His question did bring her brown eyes back to him as she shook her head “I’m good, thanks.”
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 9, 2023 14:59:27 GMT
Hearing the whole inter-....species? thing didn't usually work out didn't surprise him too much. Falling in love with someone woth such a different way of life, who couldn't understand theirs was just another layer of difficult when it came to finding companionship in the world. He couldn't imagine the fear involved with telling someone what they really were or keeping it a secret. Especially someone they would be so afraid to lose.
Given the choice, he would have rather Murphy not find out what he did to himself. He could probably have handled life much better in the long run if he had just had her around. But instead, once she found out how broken he was, she left. Ferris figured he could understand quite well at least that aspect of wolves imprinting. Even just normal love was terrifying.
Darxy called him romantic while also confessi g every werewolf was one as well. Perhaps not by choice, but still. It was amusing, in an admirable sort of way for which there was no words.
He paid for the cigarettes and gave the desk clerk a reserved thanks. Ferris placed one pack in his pocket and had the other open before he was even out the door. Need slowly gnawed at him, urging him to stop here and get what he needed before they walked back. Ferris wasn't particularly interested in standing out in the cold and freezing his hands and nose off, but he couldn't resist. While he pulled out his lighter and lit up, he walked down a ways to get away from any doors.
That first draw felt much better than he remembered, enough to make him pause and lean against the building. He held the smoke in for a moment before letting out a breath. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the brick wall behind him, taking another inhale. The intention to walk and smoke entirely lost as his body practically hummed to get the nicotine he so badly needed.
It wasn’t until she became a part of the Bloodrose pack that she actually witnessed imprinting from a more positive viewpoint. Even getting to see the beauty of wolves loving humans who chose to not be turned. How they seemed so much more determined to make sure their person felt the full effect of their love. It was quite the romantic notion, and romance was not quite something Darcy had ever allowed herself to enjoy.
She figured she couldn’t let her wolf make a decision to imprint on someone if she kept them at a distance. As if she could understand exactly how the imprinting bond worked. She was only just beginning to understand how wrong she was.
Darcy felt bad for ruining the mood with a stupid question. Of course she was curious. But she hadn’t meant to allow her curiosity to be something upsetting for him. They had been making such good progress, and now she felt like they had returned to his original level of discomfort. She followed Ferris outside, stopping just short of him as he seemed to need his nicotine.
“I’m sorry for being so nosy.” She settled on that for breaking the silence, wanting to move back to more positive conversation. “The nicotine doing what you need?” She asked as she leaned against the building beside him, her attention turned toward the passing traffic and few people milling about.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 9, 2023 15:49:24 GMT
The silence was bound to happen sooner or later. Whether due to something Darcy said or did or just his own reticence in holding such open conversation. He was mildly surprised they had made it this long, to a point where he had almost thought he felt 'good.' Only he knew that wasn't how this worked. It was wishful thinking.
At her apology, Ferris simply looked at her. He sighed which turned into a slight cough before he took another breath of smoke. "You do that a lot. Say you're sorry for things you aren't sorry for. Stop." He wasn't offended at her, his tone wasn't accusatory, nor was he even frustrated. He got the feeling she didn't even know she was doing it. Didn't really mean to misuse the word. He just reckoned she shouldn't apologize for being herself. It wasn't like he told her to stop talking or to leave him alone and she certainly couldn't have known not to ask about Murphy. Her leaving had been a pivotal step in his descent to where he was now. It made it difficult to talk about any time, but he avoided it now for the preservation of his own sanity. He was well aware of the state digging too deep into that would leave him while already emotionally fragile.
Ferris snorted. "Need, sure. Want..." He shrugged. It wasn't just a vice, it was a crutch. He depended on something he knew wasn't going to give him want he wanted. Or, he supposed, what he figuratively needed. But chemically, it temporarily ticked off a lot of boxes. Enough to get him moving again because it was cold, and he'd rather enjoy whatever boost he could get somewhere more pleasant.
She looked at him curiously as he spoke and felt a bit sheepish. Did she really do that a lot? The thought troubled her a little, she wasn’t trying to sound like she didn’t mean the apology. But he was right. She wasn’t so much sorry for the prying as she was how the pushing made him react. Darcy supposed that would be something she’d need to work on, not offering empty apologies.
“Okay.” She shrugged, hands running through her hair before being pushed into her pockets as she watched him. Eventually push himself from the building’s exterior and began walking again, so she followed.
“Sadly that’s typically how things go.” She offered softly, considering how often she consumed alcohol to simply find some form of release that never came. Instead, she just felt slightly numb. Until it wore off and she just felt ready for another drink.
Darcy oddly enough found herself smiling a little as they walked on, the scent of cigarette smoke mixed with Ferris’ natural scent was intoxicating and comforting.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 9, 2023 16:32:32 GMT
It was very apparent to Ferris that he was the one ruining the mood. But he was used to it. There were days at work where he didn't speak to anyone for a few hours at a time. Because either he wasn't in a good mood, or he simply felt there was nothing to say. With Darcy though he found himself wanting to speak more. She was comforting. Comfortable. He didn't have a problem admitting that. But he did have a problem making her feel the opposite. Not that him not talking was the answer to that either.
He made a low noise of agreement in his chest at her words. More than just typically. But he knew she understood, considering how he had watched her drink. Sure, one of those times was an outlier, as he doubted she slammed back whisky after a fight with a bear on normal days. though, maybe the other had been too, since he didn't get the feeling she normally drank with company.
Ferris let the smoke and nicotine do their thing over the walk back, this time in relative silence compared to the awkward family conversation of before. Awkward or not, though, it had been preferable to being alone with his thoughts. He paused at his truck, opening it to put one of the packs inside the glove box. There was an opened pack there with two left, so he swapped that out. Instead of going upstairs however, he settled in a somewhat protected alcove to finish smoking outside, still with quite a way to go and an internal debate of if one would be enough tonight.
The silence wasn’t unbearable, in fact it gave her time to just reflect a little. The cold air left her cheeks a little rosy, but it wasn’t an unwelcome feeling. She just enjoyed the rest of the walk back toward the North Arbor Apartment complex, listening to the steady thump-thumping of his heart.
There was something so soothing in just listening to his heart beating. Sure she had spent a good amount of time learning how to know exactly what story a heartbeat was telling. She could at least tell he wasn’t bothered by her being there. Dare she say it, but he seemed to find her presence comforting. And that alone made her smile.
Watching him pause at his truck to swap out his extra pack reminded her that she still hadn’t replaced her emergency bottle of whiskey at the ranger station. She’d make a mental note to do that in the next day or so. Probably just bring one of the bottles from home that wasn’t opened yet.
“Does the smoking help with the depression at all?” She asked, suddenly curious. She leaned her back against a wall opposite of Ferris.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 9, 2023 19:12:51 GMT
Were Ferris aware of how much time Darcy spent just listening to his heart, he would probably find it both strangely intimate and weirdly invasive. But while he was aware she could hear his heart beating, he didn't know how actively she listened.
"Chemically, yeah," he said simply, glancing over at her. "Though it's also probably why my lows are worse." He'd read the simple science behind what nicotine did for the body and how introducing an external source of dopamine stimulation meant his body stopped being so good at making any itself. One more reason why it was a terrible habit in the long run. He took another long draw and leaned back, settling one foot against the wall. "I know I should quit. Cause it'll kill me, one way or another." Though cancer was looking less and less likely somedays, he knew that wasn't how he really felt about it.
“Just one of those ‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ scenarios.” Granted there were methods to aid in someone giving up smoking, she wasn’t going to try and push him to talk about those options. Namely, because Darcy had her own vice that had her in a chokehold, she wasn’t about to try and talk to someone about giving up theirs.
Though the implication of the long term effects wasn’t something she wanted to be thinking about. She shrugged though, not quite sure what to say. “Well, if you decide it’s something you want to work on, maybe try tackling that after getting your medication figured out. No need to stress yourself out to extremes.” She crossed her arms over her chest now, trying to let the warmth build again.
last edited Dec 9, 2023 22:50:16 GMT by Darcy Vance
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 9, 2023 21:45:38 GMT
Ferris let out a soft "mhm." He certainly was damned, one way or another. But the habit was firmly ingrained in him at this point. He'd thought over the effects. So far, he hadn't had a lot of obvious physical issues. But there was plenty of time for things to catch up with him. And they would catch up.
For whatever reason, more than her wanting to discuss his depression, Darcy's suggestion about quitting smoking rubbed him the wrong way. He was less upset though and more...not really sure why she was suddenly so sincerely invested in him. He put it down to her werewolf nature and how she seemed to really want for a friend. And maybe a little bit because they were sleeping together and she was just attached.
"I've tried. Cold turkey, patches, that disgusting gum..." He grumbled the list. "Never works out," he said, clearly resigned to his fate. Ferris watched Darcy wrap her arms around herself, clearly feeling the cold. He himself was freezing, but he still had a few more puffs on this one. He finished and walked over to the disposal, contemplating another because he still felt terrible. Probably if Darcy wasn't here, he would. But it was cold and he knew he wasn't being a good host.
Wordlessly he gestured for her to follow back up to his apartment, holding open the door for her.
“Hey, I merely said if you decided you wanted to work on it. No one’s going to force your hand there.” Darcy quipped with a flatness to her tone that wasn’t there before. Gaze looking out toward the parking lot, jaw set a bit more tightly than she’d intended. She wasn’t going to try and convince him to do something he didn’t want to do. She wasn’t ready to fight her own demons, why would she tell someone else how to handle theirs?
Sure she cared, but even that was confusing to her. Not so much the fact that she cared, but the why. Why did she care so much? Why now? Why couldn’t whatever was awakening inside her just go back to being a silent passenger? Why him? Not that she didn’t want him, she just didn’t understand why him. What did her wolf know that she didn’t? Darcy followed him back upstairs silently. Her own thoughts a jumbled mess in the moment. Why was she feeling so defensive? It was frustrating, nobody ever had this effect on her, and she didn’t know how to feel about it at all.
Entering the apartment again she wasn’t quite sure what to say or do, feeling just a touch out of place. And how fitting and on trend with her life was that beginning to feel. Out of place everywhere she went. She didn’t fit in with her born pack, didn’t fit in as a member of Bloodrose until she made Alpha, then not quite fitting in around town, or with people. Try as she might to maintain an exterior of calm and collected, Darcy was spiraling inside and that made her feel incredibly selfish. So instead she moved to stand in the kitchen against the counter again, raising a brow as she finally looked up at him.
“So, what now?” She asked her tone softer and not flat like before. But she didn’t stay looking at him, instead looked around the room before settling for the tips of her boots.