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?
The vampire wasn't a religious man. But nor was he an atheist. He had lived through enough war and strife and human suffering, both self-inflicted and not, to know there was no God. Not how most people seemed to think of one. Vampires and werewolves were no creation of Heaven, but nor were they a creation of Hell. They simply were. He had also seen an impossible amount of coincidence and miracles, of both nature and science and the unknown. There was something out there. Something no mortal or perhaps even immortal could understand.
It was enough to lead him to finding organized religion amusing. But there was something familiar and comforting about the various rituals of faith practiced under this roof. When he was mortal, he had considered himself a righteous Catholic. He'd attempted to hold onto that for a long time until he was captured by the Inquisition. The colored light shining through the stained-glass windows reminded him of the old days. If only the architecture around here matched better.
But while Arturo sat in one of the back pews during a quiet prayer session and listened to the soft music filling the space, he wasn't here to pray. He was here to meet a friend he had invited. The church was very much neutral ground for them both and the coven leader found it beyond amusing to be here. He practically inhaled the supernatural media that humans came up with, and some of his favorites were the depictions were that churches such as this one were 'safe havens' for the likes of them. That a vampire could not enter a home without invitation and could never set foot on the hallowed grounds of a church. He smiled to himself in amusement.
Post by Giacomo Ettore on Mar 10, 2024 18:13:50 GMT
A church. Gia had smiled at the idea of the meeting place and had to admit it was pretty perfect. Annika had left a few months ago and Gia had shut himself away in anguish for a time, not wanting to see much of anyone. Vampires were fairly solitary in nature, at least if compared to the pack mentality of werewolves, but Gia had always craved the 'family' feel of a coven. Even after more than 600 years he had never experienced coven life because of his sire's strict hatred of them. Since she left he'd never felt more alone, which made it hurt even more when he later found out that Mikey was actually back in town after having left for a long while. He'd never admit it out loud, he was far too proud for that, but Giacomo had never felt so unwanted and unworthy as he the last few months.
When Arturo reached out he'd been hesitant only because Annika had instilled that in him but he also felt curious and maybe even a little excited. He'd never spent any time with Arturo without Annika, at least not for more than a few minutes, and he was intrigued by the idea.
He entered the church as if he belonged there. He wore all black with the sleeves and collar of his jacket lined with lace. He wore a hat with a netted veil over his face and it was hard for the average person to tell if it was out of respect or fashion. It was the latter. He quickly spotted Arturo and moved to sit beside him. His hands with black polish on his nails clasped together on his lap, almost prayerfully. "I like your choice of meeting place," he commented with a half smile as he looked around at the others in the church and the winter sun casting colored light on the walls through the stained glass though in a much more muted tone than they did on a bright summer day.
Post by Arturo Diaz de Frontera on Mar 11, 2024 1:41:14 GMT
Of course the church had another meaning too. "I had hoped you would," he returned softly. It had been a long while since he spoke to Giacomo and certainly not like this. While he had a goal, the priority was something else. "How are you?" he asked, turning to give the man his full attention for his answer. The other man looked a bit hollow, though to be fair, Arturo did not know him well enough to make such a comparison. It was a shame really. Just because his sire had been against joining a coven did not mean it was okay for the Spaniard to not have made more of an effort at a relationship.
He and Annika might not have gotten along, but that needn't be the case with her spawn.
Arturo had long ago grown accustomed to more modern styles of dress. He wore a casual black suit jacket with red satin interior over a white turtleneck. Perhaps it was a bit cliche for a vampire to like the color red, but his attachment, while based in red being the color of blood and heart, was because of his heritage as a matador. He missed those days. They were arguably more complicated than his life now, there was nothing simple about facing down death between two horns just to put food on the table. But sometimes he missed the high of a healthy fear of death.
"Very fashion forward. I like this ensemble," he added the casual compliment.
Post by Giacomo Ettore on Mar 27, 2024 16:12:51 GMT
It wasn't so much the question as it was the way it was spoken. How are you? It seemed, at least to Giacomo, that he was really asking, that it was not simply a casual greeting that was not meant to be answered truthfully. He didn't know why it surprised him, but it did. He might no longer have a beating heart but the ache he felt in that space was not related to anatomy anyway. Emotion, it seemed, was not halted upon one's death. He had felt the hole of Annika's absence deeply but to have someone ask him directly made it even more real.
Still, it was hard for him to show that emotion fully, always putting on a mask rather than expose his vulnerabilities. "It's been hard," he throat felt tight. "I've actually never been on my own before," he admitted. "She's always been there. Since the beginning. For centuries. I'm doing well enough I suppose but- well, sometimes I just don't really know what I should do now."
He looked down at his own outfit at the compliment and smiled softly. "Why thank you very much." Nearly everything about Giacomo had a tie in to his art. Not only was he an artist himself but he saw his appearance and fashion as other ways to express himself artistically. He himself was his own work of art just as much as his paintings and sculptures. "You've always looked very sharp yourself." Don't think he hadn't noticed. Giacomo greatly appreciated good fashion and he'd never seen Arturo looking anything less than perfect.
Post by Arturo Diaz de Frontera on Apr 10, 2024 19:52:02 GMT
He could tell his simple question his hard. While he had not wanted it to hurt, he had meant it for the question it was. He knew how hard it could be to lose one's sire. He might not understand the longing as Giacomo and many others did, as there was no love lost between him and his own. But he understood that bond. Understood the man was hurting. To hear him say it out loud, even just that slight acknowledgement confirmed just how large the hole was.
For centuries. Even between vampires, that was no trivial amount of time. Especially when the collection of them amounted to the larger part of their life. He'd met the pair way back when. Had thought them quite dedicated and even envied them. He nodded though as the man suggested he didn't know what to do. It was a problem Arturo had had on many occasions. He used to shed lives like snakes shed skin. Sometimes due to dangerous circumstances, often due to boredom. But modern life, he had found he wanted a break from himself and instead focused on others. His much younger friends. Though at present, he had no close ones to speak of, he got far more enjoyment out of life being a patron for both his coven and favorite mortals. Helping them achieve a dream, live a lifestyle, find who they wanted to be.
"Your art gallery seems to be doing well. Sponsoring any promising artists?" Many of their kind were patrons of the arts in one way or another. Though he knew Gia wanted more than just to sponsor but didn't need the fame of being known for his art. "I heard your young friend returned. Perhaps there is something he wants?" His initial ideas stayed far away from himself. Not because he didn't want to offer, but because he respected that the other man might prefer to keep on his own and Arturo wanted to be clear that that was okay, that he would look out for him regardless. Just perhaps not as well as he would one of his own.
"I find I have grown accustomed to modern dress," he admitted. though he very much admired Giacomo's flare and how much of himself he was. It was easier, being comfortable as they were. But there was always room to admire.
Post by Giacomo Ettore on Apr 11, 2024 15:21:27 GMT
Giacomo loved his gallery and as long as he stayed in Sweetwater, he intended to keep it open. However, that was hard too because it had been Annika who had been the driving force in getting it and in helping them get started and get their name out there. Gia had always been the dramatic, background artist. He made the art and Annika did all the business. What if he failed because he couldn't measure up to that particular skill of hers.
A twinge in his chest rubbed him oddly at the mention of Mikey. He didn't know that Arturo had been paying attention to that. His feelings for Mikey were complicated, especially as the man had left so suddenly and then upon returning had intentionally not reached out. After losing Annika too, that distance between them was an added to pain to his already miserable circumstances.
But Gia had lived too long and he knew that wallowing in this depression wasn't something he wanted to do. He just didn't have experience in how to move on from losing someone as close to him as Annika had been. He just had to find a way. "Perhaps," he replied to both questions, his mind wandering to possibilities. "How is the coven doing these days?" he asked, turning his gaze to fully look at the vampire rather than the church scene in front of him.
Post by Arturo Diaz de Frontera on Apr 20, 2024 21:20:01 GMT
He could tell his suggestions evoked a lot of thought. Clearly Giacomo was struggling, and Arturo wanted to offer him much more than mere suggestions. As for his friend, Arturo knew no details. Hardly would have known the boy's name if not for the fact that his family was the only mechanic in town. The vampire liked his fancy cars and while he could handle minor repairs himself, certain things he found too frustrating or beyond him. Besides, what was the good of all the investing (legal and otherwise) he'd done over the last centuries if he couldn't spend that money on people or things.
Arturo looked up and watched the priest deliver a sermon. the young man vaguely reminded him of his old 'friend' from way back when. When he and Giacomo met in Rome. So perhaps he had chosen to meet here for those memories as well. He was nothing if not nostalgic.
He glanced back at Giacomo, admiring his silvery hair for a moment. He smiled at the question and let him have his full attention in turn. Interesting he would ask. Though he supposed it was polite, as he had asked after his well-being and the coven was Arturo's livelihood. "Very well. The bank is boring as ever, but the metalworking shop has become very popular online." He'd discussed the hobby with Giacomo before. Arturo wasn't simply a collector of ancient weapons, but a smith. Though plenty of his coven enjoyed the art as well. "Elsa introduced a few of us to the art of chainmail metalworking," he said in amusement. Especially being as she was one of the younger members and had never worn chainmail or scale mail or anything close to such armor. "Of course, people use it for jewelry and other arts now, being often iodized aluminum and every color imaginable. Perhaps when the next shipment of rings comes in you would like to attend?"
Post by Giacomo Ettore on Apr 29, 2024 20:12:49 GMT
Giacomo had always been curious about Arturo's coven and the vampires who were part of it but had never allowed himself to show any interested because of Annika. He had had a few opportunities to get to know some of the other vampires within the coven over the years but he had always restrained himself, not wanting Annika to catch on to his interest or his longing for others in his life. So while he knew many of them by name and face, he knew very little else about any of them. Perhaps he ought to have gone after his own interests a long time again. If only he'd know that things with him and his sire would turn out this way.
He seemed genuinely interested in Arturo's answer though the idea of people using chainmail as jewelry was a little amusing to him as much as it was interesting. He was a lover of art and the idea of reusing something that was once for armor into something beautiful was intriguing. A genuine smile lifted his lips lightly and he gave a nod and an appreciative expression. "I'd like that very much," he said, letting the gratitude imbue his words. "Thank you, Arturo,"
Post by Arturo Diaz de Frontera on May 1, 2024 12:51:45 GMT
He smiled, having hoped that the other vampire might be interested. While Arturo didn't consider himself an artist in any classical way, he still enjoyed expressing his own artist talent. Metal working was a fun hobby and not one he would have thought himself to ever pick up when he was younger. Especially not in any form of ‘jewelry’ making. But there was something about hand crafting a piece of chain link or a blade that he was fond of. It scratched some of his adventurer’s spirit.
Arturo nodded. “Splendid. Looking forward to it. I think we ordered some white. Or maybe pearl rings?” He'd been to the gallerie a few times and understood Giacomo had a strong color preference. Though Arturo had never been in some of his more personal studios. “I would offer to show you, but fine motor skills are not my strong suit,” he said modestly, looking down at his hands and then over to Giacomo once more. “I am sure Elsa would love to have a new person to show off to,” he teased. The woman was downright childish in her enthusiasm of her hobbies.
“Otherwise, I'm not really sure what everyone is up to,” he said. That wasn't entirely true, but he meant that he didn't think they had any other ‘family’ plans. Winter in a cold town laden with snow tended to make naturally cold vampires more scarce one way or another. Arturo didn't run his coven so strictly as some, preferring to encourage more community activities than any sort of competitiveness. Sporting events and board game nights aside.