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 Nook wasn’t particularly busy this afternoon when Gemma decided to stop in and pick up another book. She’d recently been told that they were finally about to get in a copy of a book she’d been waiting on. So after picking up The Comfort Book by Matt Haig, she began to browse through books in criminal justice section. Not quite finding one that struck her fancy, she continued to just casually stroll down the rows of books.
Not quite finding anything that really called to her today, Gemma paid for her book and got a coffee. She took a seat in one of the upstairs’ chairs, responding to a few work emails and texts before cracking open the book. This one on a list of books her father had recommended to her as just a solid, enjoyable read. Nothing too heavy, and easy to pause and pick back up. Which could be nice to have on hand if she was having a busier day at work. Her long blonde hair in a slightly messy ponytail, a pair of sunglasses sitting atop her head. She wore a black button up shirt tucked into a pair of high-waisted jeans, with a sort of burnt orange leather jacket keeping her from being too cold while out and about. Gemma sipped on her coffee, smiling softly at the book in her hand.
Ostensibly, West was here for some course reading and writing project. Why else would the Vanderson family embarrassment be at a bookstore? He nearly failed basic high school English. Could he even read?
Except he liked books. A lot. Just not all that hand-picked boring-ass, narrow-minded crap on school reading lists. The only projects he did well in were the ones he got to select his own reading material and even then, he only just put in the effort to avoid flunking. He'd learned quick that he didn't want to do the whole school rodeo more than once, but no amount of talks with the dean or school councilor would convince him to give them any more of his attention than they were already wasting. Here he'd hoped college might be better, getting to pick his own classes. But that was a joke too.
The only good thing about college was that he had an excuse to be in the bookstore without someone getting any funny ideas that he was smart. West liked coating as well as the next guy, but sometimes...sometimes there were books he wanted to read too. Classic science-fiction, like Starship Troopers, Dune, Foundation, the Martian Trilogy, The Invincible. Not that The Nook had most of those titles besides the obvious two, but he'd order the rest.
He sat down at one of the tables on the upper floor, ideally away from most people who might bother him. He glanced next to him, attention caught by the red jacket, and recognized Deputy Tramell easily enough. West had never been arrested(thanks to his parents) but he'd had a few run ins with the local cops. He gave the cover of her book a once over, decided it sounded lame, and started with Starship Troopers, flipping to the about the author section first.
While the book was by no means a page turner, it was absolutely delightful so far. The author was clever and had a lovely way with words and she found herself grinning with amusement. She could see why her father recommended it. Movement caught Gemma’s attention, eyes glancing up from the page and spotting one of the Vandersons, West if she wasn’t mistaken. She breathed in slightly, it was definitely West. Having grown up in this town, it was easy to come to recognize the distinct scents of people she saw more frequently than others, the joys of being a werewolf. While he had managed to avoid any serious issues, she wasn’t a stranger to the younger man.
Her brow raised slightly as she peered at the book in his hands and she couldn’t help but be a little impressed. She wouldn’t have pegged West as a science fiction reader, but then again; she didn’t know the young man on a personal level. “If you enjoy Heinlein, I recommend giving The Moon is a Harsh Mistress a read, though I’ll deny ever recommending it.” She decided to strike up conversation. After all, it wasn’t everyday she actually got the opportunity to discuss books. “Can’t have anyone thinking I’m encouraging reading books with sexism and polygamy.” a soft smile pulled as her lips as she gently shook her head, casually flipping to the next page in her own book.
West nearly jumped out of his chair when the woman spoke. His feet, which had been propped on the chair across from him, hit the ground with a thud. He slammed the book shut, pressing it to the table with his palm over the cover, as if he could retroactively make her forget the cover after she'd already seen it. The young man glared at her out of the corner of narrowed eyes.
He was silent a moment, debating what her angle in even speaking to him might be. Trying to get him to admit to something he shouldn't, probably. Why else would she suggest a book with controversial themes like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (it was, in fact, one he had already read) and then say she would deny ever bringing it up. And what was with the smile? Cops didn't smile, not at him, anyway.
"I think it's on the reading list," he said vaguely, watching her turn her attention back to her book. She sure seemed pleased with herself and West didn't like what that was about one bit. He waited a beat as if to ensure she was no longer paying attention to him before opening the book again, though he kept glancing over at Deputy Tramell more than the words.
Although she hadn’t planned to started him, it was clear he wasn’t expecting to be interrupted. And for that Gemma did feel bad, able to hear how his heartbeat sped up as he slapped his hand down over the cover of the book. One dark blond eyebrow quirked up slightly, eyes studying him curiously for a moment. And then it struck her. Either was there for school and just lost in the book for the moment, or he secretly enjoyed books and didn’t want that to be known. Either way, the fact the he was startled wasn’t lost on her. “Bit jumpy Mr. Vanderson, I promise I don’t bite.”
Much. The final thought being kept to herself, quite entertaining to Gemma as she was a werewolf and in fact had a wicked bite. She sat up a little better in her seat. Her position as an officer likely being part of the reason West seemed a bit less at ease, especially after she so rudely interrupted him. She gave a nod to his statement about the reading list. “Sorry, to have startled you. Just recognized the title and it reminded me of a few personal favorites.”
So what if he was a bit jumpy around a cop? Seemed to him that was common sense, what with her and others like her sticking their nose in business that had nothing to do with them. Which seemed only more evident as she used his name. She knew who he was, knew what he was about. And what he was about was certainly not enjoying books.
West rolled his eyes at her note about biting. Weird kinky shit the woman could keep to herself. Oh, he could tell she was sorry from that smile. She thought he couldn't see through her charade. Sure, maybe their meeting was happenstance, but nothing about a cop speaking to West Vanderson was casual conversation. "Can we go back to the 'reading silently' thing, Deputy Tramell?" he challenged, finding the nerve to look the woman in her face. Such was his desire to read right now, rather than deal with the hassle of walking downstairs to his bike and finding somewhere else.
While she was used to the ‘trouble makers’ around town having similar reactions to her, it always made her curious as to why. But then again, she’d been a young adult before. And while she had generally been the sort to steer clear of trouble, she Harland and Sookie had enjoyed their fair share of fun. Gemma simply shrugged. She was off-duty and just trying to enjoy her down time.
“That sounds perfectly agreeable.” Gemma’s tone level and disinterested as she lifted her own book back up, eyes immediately finding the place she’d left off and back onto the words of Matt Haig. She wasn’t going to force the boy to have a conversation with her, and she was more than content to sit in the quiet and read. Pausing only to bring her cup to take a drink of the warm liquid. The coffee being just the right level of hot caffeine to get her cozy without being sleepy.
Post by West Vanderson on Dec 5, 2023 20:00:04 GMT
West nodded firmly, glad Gemma agreed with him. He still kept any eye on her for a moment, ensuring she was in fact going to abide by the rules. Then he opened Heinlen back up, this time at the beginning, propping his feet back up on the chair across the way. Finally.