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 Ferris Felwinter on Dec 4, 2023 20:33:53 GMT
It took him a moment to figure out what she meant. Alone on a night run. "When you...shapeshift?" No matter what verb he used, it sounded ridiculous. Transform, change, mutate, he wasn't really sure how to describe what he had witnessed but none of those words did the act justice. He tried to imagine Darcy out here, running in that massive smokey gray wolf form of hers. It was a nice image, from a distance. "I think I'd run out here most nights too if I was a wolf."
Ferris grunted at her touch, but didn't twitch or pull away. "I'm alright," he said meaning both that he didn't need the coat and that he was only alright company. He glanced over at Darcy, noticing even in the darkness that she wasn't looking up at the sky when she talked about the view. He smiled. Her continued touch had him subconsciously holding his breath, more tense from the memory of the pain than any direct discomfort now. "Not really. Looks worse than it feels," he said, which was mostly true. If he pressed up against something, sure, but like this or after their fun in the truck, he was alright.
“Yeah, I typically seek out the trails where I won’t run into any campers, that way no one’s panicking at the sight of a giant grey wolf.” She chuckled a little, nodding her head with a deep exhale. She grinned at his next statement, it was nice being able to talk about this so casually with someone who was so very human. He didn’t make her feel like she shouldn’t or couldn’t talk about that aspect of herself, and Darcy appreciated that.
“Well that’s good.” her voice trailed off lightly as she leaned forward to place a few gentle kisses along the discolored bruising, then pulled herself close to him, easing her head down on his chest, enjoying the feel of his heart beating. Though she did turn her head up to look toward his face with a raised brow. “So, what’s your story Ferris? How’d you end up in Sweetwater?” As she spoke she let her fingers trace along his chest under his sweater, enjoying the feel of his skin. They both were transplants to the area, but he already knew bits of her tale, and now she wanted to hear from him.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 4, 2023 22:12:18 GMT
Darcy seemed perfectly suited to her job as a ranger. Like she was made for it, or it for her. Sometimes he forgot she had only been in Sweetwater for a few years. "Clever," he mused. "I imagine that's harder to do during a full moon. I'll have to stay indoors that night, eh?" Of all the questions he asked, he hadn't asked about that one. If it was true or not. Considering she hadn't denied it initially, he supposed in might. Honestly, the biggest myth of Hollywood werewolves that he was glad was busted was that none of them seemed to become mindless beasts when they changed. Or at least not when that change was voluntary.
Ferris chuckled as she kissed the injury as if that might make it go away. Twice now they had laid together and both times she found the same spot to snuggle up against him. She fit nicely against his side and chest, warming him up much more effectively than the pullover. He hummed softly as she ran her fingers against his skin. "You're asking that now? After we've fucked how many times?" he chides at first, shrugging the question off. "How does anyone else end up here when they weren't born here? I needed a change of scenery. Away from the world," he added vaguely with a shrug.
“It’s not the easiest, not when there are two wolf packs around town. And if you can avoid any sudden desires to go running through the woods during a full moon; that would be best…” She shrugged her shoulders a bit. “I’d appreciate it if you did. I can’t speak for the other pack, but my pack… younger wolves are more impulsive and don’t have the same level of control others do. We make sure they’re accompanied with an elder, but it can still be dangerous.” Her admission was honest and her tone more serious than it had been just moments before. “Full moons are the only time we can’t change back at will. Basically, we just have to be at the mercy of our wolf nature until the sunrise.”
That was probably her favorite part of a night running wild under the full moon; the shift back to her human form. While the change always carried a degree of pain, bones were breaking and changing afterall, there was a feeling of relief that washed over her as she’d stand back up and go find her clothes. This was why it was important to be aware of who was around during the full moon; they didn’t need to risk exposure or to run into any hunters. That happened more often than they liked.
His questioning her timing made her chuckle, pressing her face up into his neck to give him a playful bite. “Yes now, because I never do things in a ‘proper’ order.” She said, a little more laughter as she enjoyed their proximity.
“Okay, fair. But you know what I mean. People don’t end up here on purpose, it’s always an accident or they’re escaping something. Do you have any family?” She continued, her eyes looking up at the night sky above them, enjoying the steady sound of his heartbeat and breathing.
last edited Dec 5, 2023 0:35:25 GMT by Darcy Vance
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 4, 2023 23:05:40 GMT
From how Darcy spoke, there were a lot of werewolves in town. So far, Ferris hadn't tried to determine who else might be one. Some of those he was close to he had kept an eye on, but still wasn't really sure what he was looking for. He was keen to pay more attention to who went missing that evening. "If I am working, then I might not have a choice," he said with a shrug. But otherwise he doubted that would be a concern.
"You know, it wasn't until just now that you made it sound like a curse." Ferris had struggled to place her tone the other evening, but she had mostly just seemed exited to share. Now, however, she was much more somber. "Do you feel more comfortable like this or as a wolf?
Ferris reached up to mush her hair slightly as she pressed her teeth against him, making him shiver but this time not with cold. He grew quiet again as she pressed a bit further, suggesting he was here on accident or because he had run away from something. Because she wasn't wrong.
He shrugged and began running his hand over her back. "Parents I don't talk to. A sister who I can. Two nephews and a neice. I call sometimes." No nearly enough, as he was leaning. Ferris' gaze drifted from the woman at his side, down her moonlight side and hip and then up to the stars again.
“Of course, that’s understandable.” Was there a certain level of disappointment in her voice as she responded? Darcy cleared her throat a bit and moved a leg to sort of rest over his as she shrugged a little. No one had ever asked her that. She took a minute to formulate her response, feeling just a little self conscious. “For me personally, it’s not such a simple answer… I’m a born wolf, I’ve been told my whole life what to expect and how to handle things. And as a child and then teenager, I always felt like something was missing or wrong with me.” Darcy paused, trying to just find a way to put it to words that made sense. This was a different level of vulnerability, and surprisingly it didn’t make her want to get physically ill. That was a first. She exhaled softly and continued.
“The first time I ever turned into my wolf; was the single most painful experience of my life. I was scared and I didn’t have my parents there like my friends did. But when the pain stopped and I was lying there in my wolf form, it was like this other part of me came to life... For the first time ever; I wasn’t missing anything anymore.” A slight shiver ran up her spine as she recalled the feeling. “And I still get that feeling every time I change, but there’s a sort of peace and relief that comes only when I return to human form. I don’t think I could live life completely content as just a wolf.”
What was it about Ferris that gave her the comfortability to share so freely? She smiled as his messing with her hair, then only half frowned at his answers. They weren’t very telling, but at least he did respond. “I have a half brother out in the world somewhere. I’ve never met him, and I honestly don’t think I ever want to.” She gave a slight shrug, letting her fingers trace along his abs.
“Okay, if you’re just giving the CliffsNotes version on family; how about that favorite tattoo of yours? What’s the story behind it?”
last edited Dec 5, 2023 0:39:06 GMT by Darcy Vance
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 5, 2023 1:38:45 GMT
In the grand scheme of things, Ferris hadn't hung out with Darcy all that much. He'd gathered she was a talker in general. Certainly, far more than he was, not that that was a high bar. She seemed desperate for someone to talk to though. Even about all the personal things that she hadn't originally wanted to talk about. But he was glad she broke that rule over and over again because he liked listening to her.
Ferris smiled, pulling her a bit closer in encouragement and perhaps even distant pride that she had figured out some small part of her life, even years ago. "See, that's the point. You're more than just a wolf. And you're more than just a human. I'm still pretty jealous, except about the hunger thing."
He mention of a brother she wanted nothing to do with got a more active tone than his standard serious one. "Really? Why not?" It was evident from his tone that he found her statement sad. "I have actively met all my family members and want nothing to do with some of them and I still wish that wasn't case." He said seriously, much more passionate about family than his solo act let on. "What if you both have the same favorite film? What if he's a Chris Stapleton fan?" He paused and propped himself up to face Darcy in the dark and tap her chest. "What if he is Chris Stapleton?" Okay, so that was unlikely, but his point stood.
Ferris grimaced. He'd expected another attempt to dig at information about his family, that the tattoo non-sequitur caught him off balance. "Uh, which favorite?" He remember her catching him in the lie the other night, claiming not to have a favorite. But he still was pretty sure he had never answered before they fell asleep. He had more than one tattoo after all, she was more than capable of locating them and asking.
She liked the way he managed to pull her closer, while actively listening. And actually responding to the conversation being had with more than just a single word response. It was quite an attractive quality. She the little blush that took to her cheeks as thankfully hidden in the dark of the night. “The hunger thing can be a real bitch, especially if I’ve not kept up with my appetite for the day. If you think human females are bad when they’re hangry, you don’t want to run into a hangry shewolf.” She was only mostly teasing, though she did get snippy herself if she didn’t eat a good amount through the day.
Darcy appreciated his advocation on the matter, and she could absolutely see the point he made, but this was something she hadn’t voiced aloud until this moment. “Because if I meet him, and he’s great and we have a bunch in common… then that would mean I’m more like my dad. I don’t think I could ever find a healthy way to accept.” She didn’t look at him as she spoke, letting her gaze stay on the stars.
“I know it’s not his fault, but being a four year old, waking up to being told you were in a car accident, your mom died, and your dad ran off with the woman he loved after finding out she was pregnant. Which was also the reason your dad arranged the car accident, and the only reason you’re alive is because a wolf nearby heard the accident and was able to pull you from the wreckage before the car went up in flames.” Clearly she had some pretty strong opinions and feelings surrounding the issue. It also didn’t help that everyone she grew up around only ever had the worst things to say about her dad.
Her eyes turned back to him, reaching her hand up to run her fingers through his hair. “If memory serves me, you mentioned a hockey mask and crossbones… said it was a heavy conversation.”
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 5, 2023 3:47:35 GMT
"He's not your father. And neither are you. You are none of you responsible for carrying the burden of what he did," he said with conviction. He had to believe that personally. While he hated his own father, Ferris wasn't all that worried about being like the man. They had made their differences pretty clear. But he left the rest of what Darcy said alone. If she didn't want to do something, she didn't have to. And from the sound of it, her half-brother wasn't in the area or trying to reach her so it was all a bit of a moot point.
Ferris let her talk. She'd told him the gist of her family drama before, though not so poignantly. He knew enough to know she blamed her father for a lot more than just the car accident. But that wasn't his to judge. Ferris leaned over to kiss her forehead. "Seems to me you've had quite the difficult journey, Darcy Vance. I'm glad you made it," he said sincerely. Okay, so some of this stuff he had clearly heard before, if said in different ways. He didn't want to pressure her into more sharing since clearly it made her uncomfortable, but he did hope it helped her to get it out.
He laid back on the sleeping bag. "Did I say that?" He honestly didn't remember. But she couldn't just know that. And that she had asked again...well...maybe sharing wasn't so terrible. He took in a long breath and then let it out softly, starting up at the stars. He wished he could see them like some people did, claiming people they loved and lost were the stars, looking out for them down below. But he was too much of a realist for fantasy like that. "I never got into a real fight until the first day of high school. I saw some older boys picking on this scrawny kid next to my locker. I'd never met him, but something just...snapped inside. I beat the shit out of one of them, scared the others off. Made a reputation for myself as a tough guy in high school. And made aa best friend." He started out slowly. "Garrett and I got into all kinds of shit together. But mostly we played hockey. A lot. School, travel leagues, all of it. He wanted to play pro. Was nearly good enough for it. I wasn't so much," he forced a laugh at himself.
"He was going to college and I wasn't. Back then I didn't know what, but I figured some sort of military. So, when we turned eighteen, we got matching tattoos. His was a little different. Regular mask and sticks instead of a goalie's, for the positions we played. And well, he got his on his arm like a normal idiot." Ferris had always planned to do some kind of sleeve or back piece, just not what back then. "Gotta say, this hurt a little for my first time," he said, pressing a hand to his left chest where the tattoo was. "But the ribs are the worst," he joked.
Part of her winced internally, not because she didn’t like what he was saying, but because she wasn’t used to someone speaking so honestly with her. “You make a fair point.” She said with a slow exhale, feeling as if she was a million miles away in this moment. She’s be lying if she said she wasn’t curious, it was an odd thing to know she had a half brother somewhere out in the world. She was brought back to the present by the feel of his lips on her forehead. It was such a comforting action, she couldn’t help but smile and inhale softly.
“Spoken like a man who’s had his own share of difficulties.” Her hand moved from his hair to gently stroke his cheek. When he laid back against the sleeping bag, she moved to rest her head back against his chest. She listened intently, appreciating the fact that he didn’t brush it off and was opening up. It was nice to hear him recount what sounded like entertaining and fun tales from his younger days. She couldn’t help but smile as he did.
“Sound like you guys were close… can I ask what happened?” She raised a brow, though she doubted he could make out the details of her face in the moment.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 5, 2023 5:45:48 GMT
Ferris frowned, not exactly pleased he let himself caught out like that, but she was right. He'd been through a lot. But with her talking about how her father arranged to have her and her mother killed, it didn't really seem applicable. He shrugged. "There's always something," he said vaguely. His weren't ones he liked to share, and he meant it more than she had meant her rule about no serious personal stuff.
"Yeah, we were..." he trailed off even at simply repeating the word she had used. That past tense ached. It shouldn't be that way. When he mentioned his best friend to someone, they should say 'Wow, sounds like you guys are close.' Ferris had never stopped being friends with Garrett. He never would.
Ferris cleared his throat, her question still hanging in the space between them and the stars. "We grew apart for a while, but that's life. Course we talked. Met up when we could. Wasn't til I finally got out of the air force, was living back near home, we were getting close again and...I guess I wasn't the friend he needed me to be. He..." He stopped again, setting his jaw and realizing he still wasn't ready to talk about it. Not all of it. "He took his own life," he said simply, tasting ash as he said it.
"I guess...I carry him around with me too. Like how you carry your mother." He wrapped up rather than go any further down that rabbit hole. The letter Garret left, the coming out, the way his folks handled it, how Ferris' folks handled it, Ferris' own failed attempts to cope...all of that still weighed on him silently, but Garrett's death would always hurt the most. Nothing anyone else could do to him, including himself, would ever hurt so much.
The tone of conversation had most definitely turned heavy, and it was typically at these times Darcy found herself so unbearably uncomfortable that she’d rather be caught streaking through town in the middle of the day. But that feeling didn’t come. And that was almost more unnerving than anything else. Why? Where was the awkward pit in her stomach that made her clam up and keep things to herself?
Thankfully, Ferris was sharing with her as well, so any odd feelings melted away as she listened. Darcy couldn’t help but find herself hugging him tighter, though being careful not to press directly against his bruises. She wasn’t normally the comforting type. Feelings like these generally made her so uncomfortable she wanted to light her skin on fire… and yet; the feeling never came. The pinprick of panic at the vulnerability never showed. Deep inside, Darcy felt such security and dare she say, relief; from sharing with Ferris. It confused her… and even slightly worried her. Listening to him, her heart broke a little. She had never lost someone to a battle against their own demons, so she couldn’t quite find the right words.
“Ferris, I’m so sorry; I truly don’t know what to say… I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for you, and still is.” Her tone was much softer now. She dared not try to relate, because she couldn’t. Losing someone was hard, but losing someone who chose to remove themselves… she didn’t have the words. Instead, she hugged him, pulling him as close against her as she could without hurting him. Only loosening her grip to reach up and affectionately brush her thumb along his cheek.
“But what you said about not being the friend he needed… please don’t blame yourself. I might not have ever met Garret, but I don’t think he’d want you to blame yourself. Tending to one’s mental health is so important, and it’s largely neglected.” She sighed softly against his chest.
“Society treats mental illness so different than what they deserve. You’d never tell someone struggling with cancer to just ‘focus on the good things in life’, or someone who’s broken their leg to just ‘chose to be happy’. Instead we’re seeing people treat mental health like a choice, like they’re simply ‘choosing’ to be ‘down’. It’s not called an ‘illness’ for nothing, ya know?” Clearly this was a subject she had many opinions on, but namely because she liked to listen. And typically, people had such antipathy for those struggling with mental illness.
“You can tell me to fuck off, but if you’re ever feeling the need to reminisce or want to just talk about him, I’d be more than happy to listen.” now she let her hand return to his chest, just enjoying the steady beating of his heart.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 5, 2023 20:19:22 GMT
Ferris didn't need her to relate or empathize or even really sympathize. At least that's what he told himself. But while he was a bit surprised to be dragged into a hug, he didn't fight it. Hugs were nice sometimes, he'd admit it. Plus, it was one of those things anyone could offer to someone else who was down without having to worry about words.
He grunted softly as she exposed her inner therapist. "It was seven years ago. You'd think I'd be...more used to it by now," he said quietly with a small shrug, though his heart wasn't in the words. It was better than admitting the truth though. To reveal exactly how much he had taken that blame to heart to the point he'd given up hope too. Unfortunately, or rather, fortunately, he was too much of an idiot to go about it the right way.
"I'm not gonna tell you that," he said softly. "I...appreciate the sentiment." Which was a polite way to say he wasn't inclined to take her up on the offer. He didn't feel the need for a pity party, nor did he feel the need to burden anyone else. "I've managed to deal with my major depression mostly on my own, but stuff like this is...it helps." He would admit that much, even if he really shouldn't be managing anything solo. Probably best to not admit not how close he had been to drinking himself stupid until she knocked on his door that night.
“Grief doesn’t get smaller and go away, we grow and live our lives in such a way that it stops being the focal point of everything.” Okay, so her grandparents may have insisted that she go to grief counseling and therapy when she was younger. They didn’t know how to help her, and as a girl she struggled with insomnia and night terrors when she did sleep. It didn’t help that all the adults around her had a lot of opinions on everything and seemed to not posses the necessary tact to avoid sharing those opinions around her.
Darcy couldn’t help but feel this overwhelming need to try and help ease his pain. What was going on? She’d need to make a phone call, because something was definitely going on with her. But for now, in this moment; all she wanted was to try and make sure Ferris knew he wasn’t alone, and didn’t have to be unless he wanted to be.
“Would I be pushing or prying too much if I were to ask how you prefer to manage it?” Darcy didn’t want him to close up from her, but she couldn’t help it. For the first time, she actually cared about the deep and serious stuff. And that scared her… but also did something else. Something she couldn’t quite place.
“Drinking copious amounts of alcohol is my vice and coping mechanism, what’s yours?”
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 5, 2023 23:55:06 GMT
Darcy's philosophy on handling grief was a good one. But he got the feeling she was just repeating something she had been told. He couldn't imagine someone who took something like that well adjusted growth from grief to heart would drink as much as she did. "Guess I've been doing things wrong for those seven years," he said, forcing a chuckle. Because losing Garrett had been a massive focal point of his life. It still was because of all the interconnected strings to everything else.
He was quiet at her question. It was pushing, but was it too much? It shouldn't be. Even still he wasn't sure he had much of a means of coping. Ferris didn't get the feeling she was judging him, it seemed an honest enough ask. But he couldn't shake the feeling that if he told Darcy the truth, then she would look at him differently. He had learned his lesson about lying to her while in physical contact though. It made him more defensive in what was otherwise an open vulnerable moment.
He pulled his gaze from the stars finally and looked at her with an appreciative smirk as she lessened the barrier to entry with sharing her own. Even if he knew it already, it helped. "It's not. But...I don't," he admitted with a sigh.
Ferris sighed, twisting so he could sit up and hold her, loath to give up the contact despite. He ran his hand over her hair gently. "Darcy I know you just want to help. But I'm...still not ready for that." Ferris doubted he ever would be ready. That didn't meant she was wrong to ask. To keep asking. Clearly he worried her. He worried himself.
"Smoking is definitely one if my vices and it helps, but it’s just a bandaid, I know. It doesn't relieve anything." It arguably made them worse.