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 Arturo Diaz de Frontera on Sept 11, 2024 23:11:03 GMT
The vampire shrugged casually, lifting his hands a bit with the gesture before setting them back down on the table. While he kept tight lipped about his various "investments" his expression made it very clear there was quite a bit of story there. Old money, ancient gifts, plundered artifacts, buried treasure, perhaps a rich American land owner's stolen fortune, and of course, plenty of stock market rises and falls. He'd made more money in real investments, be it in companies or people or products than he had ever stolen. Even accounting for inflations. Even right now, enjoying a key lime pie in a dinner in a town in the middle of nowhere, he was making money. And to think he used to jump through all kinds of hoops just to make a quick dollar. But he'd needed that money to get started. Meaning that all of it was just a bit tainted. Not that he cared, considering what he was.
Arturo smiled. "Who ever said it was peaceful?" He asked playfully. Certainly not him. He forgot she was still very new to Sweetwater, but the hellhounds, the plague, the missing girls...that wasn't where it all started. Sleepy as the village was, Sweetwater did not know what the word "peace" meant.
He didn't answer immediately, didn't need to. Not when he could very obviously turn the question on her and they both knew she would be found just as wanting for an answer. It was much more fun if she had to figure it out.
"It's true, I have homes elsewhere. Nothing so grand as here though, The Villa is for mi familia." Elsewhere, he had more private homes. Often rented out these days, but little retreats if he needed to get away. Somewhere warm. Somewhere tropical, somewhere cold, somewhere in the middle of the city. He had his bases covered. They were useful to, for family to borrow, or as places to go should things become too heated here. Or for a few decades until people forgot his face again. "Sweetwater has been my home only a short while," he explained. Not even a century, which might seem a large comparison number for a human or even a werewolf, but not for him, who could live forever. He leaned in to take another bite of pie, ever so slowly pulling the fork from his lips, watching the werewolf. "Perhaps I simply found a good real estate deal? Would that disappoint you?"
Darcy gave him a knowing smile, leaning back in her chair as if she wasn’t even remotely surprised by his vague yet telling response. "Oh, come on now, Arturo. We both know you're not the type to settle for something just because it's a 'good deal’.” She emphasized the words with air quotes, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "There’s always more to the story."
She crossed her arms, watching as he slowly savored his pie, every movement deliberate. "But maybe that's part of what makes you so damn intriguing. All those years, all those secrets. I bet you’ve got a stash of stories locked away that would make the Wild West seem tame." Her tone remained light, playful even, but there was a hint of curiosity under the surface.
His mention of Sweetwater being home for only a short while made her raise an eyebrow. "A short while, huh? Guess that’s all relative when you’ve got nothing but time." She tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "Sweetwater doesn’t exactly scream 'forever home,' but I suppose it has its... charms." Her voice carried a subtle edge, acknowledging the town's darker undercurrents.
"Still, you can’t fool me into thinking you’re here for the real estate market," Darcy added, her smirk widening. "Nah, you’ve got bigger reasons for sticking around." She leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with him. "So, what is it? Family ties? Something... or someone... keeping you anchored here?"
She let the question hang in the air, fully expecting Arturo to dodge it like he always did. But that was the fun, wasn’t it? Trying to dig just a little deeper into the mystery that was Arturo, knowing full well he’d only give her crumbs in return.
Post by Arturo Diaz de Frontera on Sept 14, 2024 16:18:53 GMT
Darcy immediately shot down he supposed answer. So perhaps he had said it in a very leading way to suggest it was not, in fact, the truth of the matter. However, neither was it untrue. His purchase of the space and the construction had been more than worth the price.
The man knew some about the origins of the town and what lurked beneath the surface. But even he was not prepared to put it into words. Besides, he owed the woman nothing as far as information and, by his estimation, it was a topic best left alone by all of them.
His eyes sparkled as she mentioned stories and the Wild West. She would have a much easier time getting him to open up about his older life experiences. Not here, not so publicly, but elsewhere. He did have quite the collection, but not all of them were secrets, not if one was the right person. He did especially enjoy his days in the American West, roping and riding and in many cases robbing. That nostalgia, more than anything, had been what drew him to settle in the western United States. Much more than the terrible health care system or the freedom of speech. It was not because he had fought for this country's freedom (he had very much dodged that particular draft, among others) but in it's younger days, he had fallen in love with the American spirit. Especially out here, in the mountains.
"I enjoy the countryside," he admitted to her question about what kept him here. Perhaps it sounded a bit silly and just as hard to believe as his market deal, especially when he said it in the same tone. "Open spaces. Fresh air. Mountains. Wild horses and elk, wolves and bears. The blue sky and that bite on the air at the top of the cliffs." Arturo lifted a hand to his chest. "I know I hardly look the outdoorsy type," he expressed with a smile. Especially beside a ranger and a werewolf to boot. "But it calls to me as much as anywhere else." Then he pointed down, finger on the table, leaning in as if to share a secret. "A lot of my blood, sweat and tears are in this countryside," he said softly, meaning it generally. "A lot of people I care about. A lot of memories. Perhaps, another time, I can share a few with you," he finished.
The vampire picked up his fork again and took another bite as he leaned back, savoring it as he pulled his wallet from his pocket and fished out a large bill. He set down his fork and tucked the Benjamin under the plate as he extracted himself from the seat. "Enjoy the pie, Darcy." he said with a parting smile.
Darcy watched him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism, though her smile never faltered. "The countryside, huh?" She mused, raising an eyebrow. "You paint a pretty picture, I'll give you that. But I've learned you don't stay somewhere just for the fresh air and mountain views. You’ve got deeper roots here than you're letting on, whether you admit it or not."
Her eyes flicked to the bill he casually placed under the plate, and she let out a soft laugh, leaning back in her seat. "Big spender tonight, aren’t you? Trying to buy my silence, or is this a bribe for the next round of questions?" There was a teasing lilt to her voice, but her gaze remained sharp. She wasn’t fooled by his smooth words or the nonchalant way he sidestepped any real answers.
"Blood, sweat, and tears in the land..." Darcy repeated, letting the words hang in the air. "Sounds like there’s a hell of a story there, Arturo. And I’m gonna hold you to that 'another time.' You don’t get to drop a line like that and then just walk off without explaining." She smirked, but there was an intensity behind her words, a promise that she wouldn’t let him off the hook so easily.
As he stood to leave, she tilted her head, eyes following him. "Oh, I’ll enjoy the pie… thank-you." She replied, her tone light as she watched him, unable to help the way her curiosity was piqued.
[END OF THREAD]
last edited Sept 15, 2024 18:07:27 GMT by Darcy Vance
