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?
Ferris laid on his couch for a long time staring up at the ceiling. Why the fuck had he said that? He knew what the text sounded like the moment he typed it out and he sent it anyway. After what he said last night. After what he hadn't said last night.
Why had he bothered saying anything at all? To her. To Cisco. He shouldn't have let the guy get under his skin and shouldn't have felt the need for release by texting Darcy. Ferris didn't need either of their support or interaction. He had planned to adult today. To go shopping and the bank and get his truck fixed (he still had a belt missing) and maybe eat out. But now he didn't want to do any of that. He could stay home and play video games and guitar and drink and avoid more human interaction.
Three hours later, he was still in his head about it and finally realized why. He sighed and reached over for his phone. Her reply still sat there unread but he doubted she believed him. Ferris hit the call button on her contact but even as it rang he had no idea what to say and if she answered, didn't say anything at first.
The day had been spent rather productively; she’d gone grocery shopping with a few pack members, helping them pick up a few larger purchases with her truck. She had even made time to take a call from her grandmother. Though, after the call she rather wished she had avoided it.
Darcy ran a hand through her mess of curls, twisting her hair up as she did. Trying to just turn it all off for a moment. She was running on a treadmill in the corner of her little bedroom, when her music was interrupted by her phone ringing. She tapped the screen to stop the machine and stepped off, taking a steadying breath in as she grabbed a hand towel to wipe down the sweat, she glanced down at the phone and gave a curious look as she picked up the device.
“Well hey you, what’s up?” Darcy asked, genuinely curious. This was the first time she’d received a phone call from the fire chief, and she couldn’t help but wonder if everything was ‘okay’ with him. She finished wiping the sweat from her face and grabbed a bottle of water from her fridge, leaning against the kitchen counter as she awaited his response.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 4:17:31 GMT
He could tell from the inflection in her voice she was confused. And a little out of breath. Was she working? Or maybe running in the forest? No, probably not if she had her phone on her.
"Hey, Darcy," he said belatedly. Why was he calling her? "Uh, sorry to bother you... I..." What was up? Nothing. Nothing was up. He had called her because he felt stupid about what he said. Which seemed silly. "I have no fucking idea," he admitted. That was a lie, he knew what was going on but he wasn't about to say it over the phone.
She glanced at the clock on the wall and then found herself nodding along as her stumbled through his responses, finding it quite endearing. “Oh, you’re not a bother Ferris.” She smiled, taking a drink from the bottle of water as he seemed to decide to invite her over.
“Sure, let me take a quick shower first… I can be there in about fifteen minutes.” She just needed to wash the sweat off, it wouldn’t take too long. “Want me to pick up anything on my way?” Darcy offered as she tossed a clean towel over the counter near the sink, turning on the water for her shower as she waited for him to respond. She pushed the button for speaker phone and began to remove her workout clothes.
last edited Dec 7, 2023 4:32:15 GMT by Darcy Vance
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 4:49:07 GMT
He doubted that, but he wasn’t about to tell her as much. He could tell he was interrupting something, at least. Texting back and forth was one thing but calling felt entirely another.
"It’s fine. You don’t need to rush," he said quickly, almost debating on changing his mind and telling her not to. But he’d already said it and he hated being indecisive. Sometimes, like today, he knew he couldn’t help it but still. "I need to go shopping anyway so take your time. Say…an hour?" That would be a little after 6pm. He should be able to grab what he needed in that time frame.
The question to pick up anything on her way also through him for a loop. His mind immediately went to the cinnamon rolls that he definitely did not need. He had meant to work out earlier. And eat. And had done neither of those things. He was starving and felt like shit. At least he had showered but still, that was it.
“Okay, I can be there then.” Appreciative of the extra time, since she’d be able to actually make herself a little more presentable. She picked the phone back up, turning it off speaker as she moved her dirty clothes into a hamper in the corner of the bathroom.
“Sounds like a plan, I’ll see you a little after 6.” Darcy said softly, pulling the hair tie loose so her curls could fall down before she showered. She smiled a little at his words, half tempted to still bring him something to eat. But he seemed determined for just her to show up. “…Alright. I can do that… I’ll see you soon.”
Darcy stepped into the shower after the call ended, taking her time washing her body and hair, and rinsing off the stress of her day. At least, for the most part. She spent the next half hour deciding what to wear, settling on a pair of black leggings, a dark grey t shirt and a burgundy knit sweater. Underneath the outfit, was the part that stressed her out. Was this a hang out or stress relief? Either way, she settled on another lace set, this time a deep emerald green.
Darcy ran a hand through her curls, giving them a toss as she slipped into a pair of ankle boots. She grabbed her keys and got into her truck.
last edited Dec 7, 2023 5:17:03 GMT by Darcy Vance
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 5:32:42 GMT
"See you soon," he echoed. It was more effort to get up and go downstairs to his truck that he wanted to admit. Especially when he got outside and realized it was snowing. Just barely, like that sort of rain that couldn’t decide if it was cold enough to be snow sort of snow. He didn’t have a coat or a jacket, just the basic long sleeve shirt he had been wearing. It was comfortable and textured and warm, but not that warm. Still, he wasn’t about to go back upstairs.
Ferris started his truck, wincing a little at the sound it made. But thankfully everywhere was close. He’d walk if it wasn’t so cold. At least that helped him feel awake.
Some milk, eggs, and miscellaneous food items later, he wasn’t sure why he was even bothering with food. He found a bottle of scotch, less to drink and more to have, and a case of hard cider because he wanted a drink but didn’t want to open anything that was more than a serving size.
He’d taken a bit longer than he meant to, parking back at the apartment complex at about the time he had told Darcy to meet him. And he’d hope to have time to smoke before she got here because he really needed one.
Okay, so she knew he told her not to worry about bringing anything, but she couldn’t help it. Something told her he needed a ‘pick-me-up’, and what served better than a giant baked goody? Sure he would likely scold her or tell her she shouldn’t have. But she’d take whatever scolding came her way.
Darcy slipped back into her truck, ignoring the dropping temperature and bit of snow flurries in the air. She drove around through the town until she pulled into the parking for the North Arbor Apartments. She took the allotted spot for a visitor, sitting in her truck for a moment. The conversation with her grandmother still replaying in her mind.
Darcy gave a soft sigh, grabbing the pastry bag and stepping out of her truck. Only bothering with locking it because there was a hand gun under the driver’s seat. She headed to his apartment door and knocked.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 6:33:56 GMT
Ferris noticed her truck in the lot and wasn’t surprised to see Darcy had beat him to his own front door. He was glad to see her even if he couldn’t manage to feel as excited as he had last night. "Hey," he said, shifting the bags in one hand to the other. "I’m a little behind, he admitted," awkwardly.
His expression turned into a frown as he saw she was holding a familiar looking paper bag. But he didn’t say anything, reaching into his pocket for his keys to unlock the door. Ferris leaned on it with his shoulder and stepped inside, holding it open for her to enter. "I thought I said to just bring yourself?" he chided, setting the bags on the table and pulling out anything that needed to go in the fridge. It wasn’t much.
"I have a case to grab still," he said, moving back outside and essentially surrendering his apartment to her. It looked about the same as it had before.
This time, he got out to his truck and beyond realizing he didn’t have a coat still, he realized he’d forgotten to pick up another pack of cigarettes before he got back. He inhaled slowly, pressing his hands to the cold metal siding above the truck door and then his forehead to that. Fine. he could get some later. He might have a pack somewhere. Maybe.
He grabbed the case of hard cider and walked back up to his apartment, closing the door and leaning on it for a moment just holding the case, gaze searching out the company he had invited over, though for what reason he had no idea.
Had she really been so lost in her thoughts that she completely missed him on the way from the parking lot? The feeling was just a touch unnerving for her, normally one to be caught off guard like that. She looked at the pastry bag in her hand as she followed him inside and set it on his counter. “I may have made the executive decision to get you the carbs and sugary goodness anyway. It’ll keep for at least two days, no rule saying you need to have it today.” She said with a slight shake of her head, then watched as he went back for something. She couldn’t help but feel that something was different with him today, and it was making the wolf in her restless.
Her grandmother had spent a good portion of the ‘conversation’ yelling at her, which wasn’t such a big deal. She was used to her being loud when she was annoyed, and Darcy annoyed her a lot. She looked up when Ferris returned and raised a brow. “Hey, are you okay?” The expression on her face mostly confused. She wanted to be happy to see him, but he looked like someone carrying the weight of the world on his shoulder. And that concerned her. Not to mention the ‘joke’ he’d made in text earlier. Something seemed different, and it concerned her.
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 7:08:50 GMT
Ferris didn't say anything further about the food. It wasn't a big deal. He just felt bad because he wasn't going to eat it. His stomach growling sort of betrayed him though. But just because he needed food didn't meant he needed the carbs and sugar. He still hadn't worked off the two deserts of the other night. "Thanks," was all he said instead.
Her words got him moving again, setting the case on the counter and finishing sorting out everything else. He added the scotch to it's friends already on his counter. "Uh, yeah," he said, brushing aside the question. "Tired mostly. Slept in late." Intentionally though because he had needed the sleep. "How are you?"
Could she tell he was lying without touching him? How sensitive was she to his heartbeat? That was his out and he didn't take it.
He finished clearing the counter of all but the paper bag, though he dared not open it. His finger strummed on the counter silently. He sighed, walking back around to the couch and flopping down. His TV was still on with the pause screen of the game. No sooner had he sat down then he got up again. "Would you like a drink? Or cinnamon roll?" He offered belatedly.
Whatever was going on with Ferris, was causing her to feel something she absolutely had no experience with. She had an idea, but that scared her more than anything else. Her eyes followed him as he seemed to busy himself around the apartment, putting things away and not really looking at her or acknowledging her quite fully.
Her brow furrowed slightly as she sighed a little. She could tell the change in his heart rate as he lied to her, and while part of her felt a little heated; she didn’t quite know how to address things with him right now. For starters, she didn’t like that he wouldn’t even look at her. If he didn’t want her here, why did he even bother calling? “I’m okay, talked to my grandmother today, nothing too exciting.” She admitted with a shrug, watching as he sat on the couch, but then was back up again.
No, she’d had enough of whatever this was from him. Darcy crossed the space to him more quickly than she had intended and found herself ignoring his offer of a drink or the pastry and just hugged him. Darcy didn’t care if he thought she was the one acting odd. He was not okay. The story his body language, scent and lacking eye contact told was not exactly a good one.
“Did you know, that a twenty second hug is scientifically proven to lower heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety and stress?” She finished out the lengthy hug, even if only to calm her own nerves, then pulled away slightly and cupped his face in her hands. “If you’re not going to eat the sugary carbs, what will you eat? I can hear your stomach growling before it’s fully audible.” She teased with a smile, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. “And if you don’t wanna talk about what’s eating at you, just say that. It’s not going to bother me if you don’t want to talk. But I’m going to ask every time.”
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 12:08:18 GMT
Darcy's arms wrapped around him and in that moment everything stopped. Physically and mentally it was like hitting a wall. Her hands on his back and her warmth pressed against him so that even he could feel her strong steady heartbeat through her chest. He was a second late to the memo but he did instinctively hug her back, if not as tightly as the werewolf squeezed him.
"Wha-" The vaguely formed word was cut off as she spoke. Ferris blinked and let out a log breath. As a firefighter, everything on her list was high, even on his day off. Twenty second like this felt like an eternity. Ferris really appreciated the twenty seconds of no external or internal expectations.
"That's a nice fact," he mumbled, all but forced to look at Darcy as she took his face in her hands. He shook his head faintly in the confines of her touch, but left his own arms loosely around her. Ferris frowned ever so slightly as she phrased his hunger as her own personal problem. He didn't want to eat anything but he supposed that audio harassment wasn't very polite of him. Making food was an effort even on a good day but that was why he tried to make leftovers intentionally. "I have left over chicken and rice," he said but didn't move, his hands stuck around her waist.
What was eating him was harder. "Nothing," he said lowly. Which was honest, even if he wasn't fine. "I am glad you are here, Darcy," he said because he knew it wasn't apparent. "I shouldn't have called you. This just..." He'd never actually told anyone he had a mental illness. He'd been diagnosed when it was just him. Filling out forms for insurance or work didn't count. He shrugged and pulled his hands away finally not sure what to say about it without it coming across as self pity. He turned to the kitchen and opened the fridge to find the plasticware with his dinner from two days ago and put it in the microwave. "I don’t...talk about this with people," he said mysteriously, looking back over at her. He'd called her so...part of him trusted her.
It was obvious she caught him off guard with the hug, but she was grateful that he did hug her back. It could prove to be a bit awkward to just intentionally be hugging someone for twenty seconds, but she counted it out in her head. Her own little feelings of anxiety and stress from the day already feeling less intense. It wasn’t just the lengthy hug though, being around Ferris seemed to give her peace in a way she couldn’t put to words.
Or rather; wouldn’t put to words. No, she’d much rather neglect to acknowledge what was taking place inside her, easier to play denial than to accept what her wolf had already decided for her.
The closeness to him was something she was loath to lose, and was pleasantly surprised he didn’t immediately pull away or move. Dark brown eyes searched his grey eyes as she held his face in her hands. She gave a soft smile, thumbs gently caressing his cheek as she spoke. “Sometimes I like to share from my collection of favorite facts.” Her usual playfulness returning to her tone, she quirked a brow up as he mentioned some food, that was at least a good start.
But there was still something else. He didn’t lie though, and she appreciated that. Darcy got a warm feeling in her cheeks when he admitted he was, in fact; glad she was there. Okay, so she could relax a little more as he seemed to be trying to find the words. He pulled away and she let him, dropping her hands and moving to lean against the counter to watch him as he retrieved his leftovers and began to reheat them.
Her eyes never leaving him as he spoke again, fixing her a look over his shoulder. She couldn’t fight the near magnetic pull that drew her back to him, though this time she just gently ran a hand up and down his back. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand… but I’d really like to know.” This time giving him a softer hug from behind, resting her head on his back and becoming very aware of how small she felt in comparison to him.
“I think there’s a part of you that wants to share whatever this is, with me… I doubt you’d have felt comfortable calling and inviting me over otherwise.” She paused, not wanting him to feel obligated to share, but rather; letting him know she was there whenever he was ready to talk about it. “Just know, I’m here when you do want to talk. You didn’t freak out and leave me wounded in the woods after the bear attack when you saw me change from a giant wolf to a female in the grass… I’m not going going to leave you when you need someone too.”
While part of her mind might try to convince her this was just trauma bonding, that’s all. Nothing more. Deep down she knew that wasn’t it at all. But she wasn’t ready to acknowledge that. Not now. Possibly not ever, if she could avoid it.
last edited Dec 7, 2023 14:12:56 GMT by Darcy Vance
Post by Ferris Felwinter on Dec 7, 2023 16:04:00 GMT
Ferris stayed facing the counter, palms on the granite top, watching the microwave rotate slowly. He hummed softly at her hands on his back, the casual contact much less awkward than the hug, if less drastically reassuring.
As much as he wanted to talk about it, he wasn't really keen on leveling with her until she hugged him again. When was the last time he had this much intentional human contact? Especially aimed at his comfort? Even he could feel himself calm as she held him again. The microwave beeped and he opened the door, pulling out his decent attempt at jasmine rice and some much better teriyaki chicken. He stirred it with a fork, tasted some and then put it back in for another minute.
Hearing her put his thought into words earned a faint smile. "Didn't know werewolves were mind readers too," he said flatly, though he knew it was just a logical inference. But it was what she said after that broke down the wall. He balled his left hand into a fist and swallowed hard.
"You...you don't know...I don't think anyone ever said that to me," he said quietly, pulling a breath and then reaching up to run his sleeve under his nose, glad for having just been outside in the cold so that maybe it wouldn't entirely look like he was barely keeping it together. It had been six years since the first love of his life walked out on him when things got tough and Ferris never thought he would hear anyone say such a thing to him.
He grit his teeth and then the microwave dinged again and he pulled the food out, setting it aside. Ferris still felt uncomfortable enough that he didn't want to look at her when he said it. Just in case. "I have major depression. Sometimes...a lot of times...life is a lot."