#☽ . . . dp. ― replies.

[lunaetics]

well, don't you look like you could use a drink. [he offers a sympathetic smile.] first one's on the house, just don't tell jo. what's your posion?

[lunaetics]

━━━━━ 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞, he/him.

nickname(s): n/a. birthdate: december 24, 1989. medical issues: none. species: alpha werewolf. scent: vodka, beef jerky, and bleach. family members: none. occupation: bar owner. theme song: feel good inc. by gorillaz. ↳ love forever, love is free, let's turn forever, you and me.

[lunaetics]

close! nah, this job brings in a lot of people who need to get stuff off their chests. eventually, the advice just starts coming to you. and i don't mind at all. it's ... a bit of both. it all kind of blurred together when all was said and done. i tried to outrun all of it and make it less real, but that's not how it works.

i liked australia. i don't remember a lot of it anymore. i was young. but i remember that i was really happy there. and i've always thought egypt sounded nice. i don't assume you've had much chance to travel? where do you want to go?

do you moonlight as a psychologist when you aren't here? ...that was really good advice, and...really true. i keep thinking maybe i can outrun my past, outrun what happened, or reason it all away, but the truth is, it's a part of me, and wherever i go, there i am. it sounds like you're speaking from experience, though. do you mind if i ask...? if it has to do with your parents, or time spent in the system? i'm sorry if that's overstepping. please don't feel like you have to answer me, or even keep talking to me.

...where is your favorite place you've traveled? or where do you want to go next?

[lunaetics]

not obvious... a little obvious. [he flashes her a smile to let her know she's joking as he starts on her drink.] but most people who come here look like they could use a drink, as you might imagine. [he slides the old fashioned over to her.] want to talk about it?

is it that obvious? ...a, um, an old fashioned. thank you.

[lunaetics]

i mean, that's natural, isn't it? dissecting stuff is easy; dealing with how it makes you feel is a lot harder. especially if you're in a situation where you have to be objective about it⎯what good is it to get emotional then, right? thing is... it catches up eventually. and i hate to say it, but the longer you avoid it, the harder it hits when it does.

i wouldn't say they wanted to. they had some demons they were trying to escape back then, then they passed away. between that and being in the system... [he smiles at her, as if to say, "you get the gist."] i didn't hate it, though, i'll say that. i loved traveling. i still do, when i get the chance.

i think i will be, eventually. right now it's all still a little fresh. thank you. for asking. ...i'm still trying to unravel everything that happened there. partially because i need to, but part of me also wonders if i'm throwing myself into research to keep myself focused on the facts, rather than thinking about how i feel about it all.

wow. you've traveled a lot. [ivy smiles, thinking of what it must have been like to live in so many amazing places.] what made your parents want to live in so many different places?

[lunaetics]

new england. [he recognizes when he shouldn't push. some patrons want to be pressed until their secrets spill out, but some want to keep their stories close to their chest. he thinks she fits in the latter, so he doesn't force the issue.] that must have been a rough revelation. i can't imagine. are you alright?

not originally, no. i was born in portugal. folks moved to australia when i was three. moved to new jersey when i was ten. i didn't get to louisiana until i turned fourteen. then i moved to new orleans about five years ago.

that's really kind of you. ...yeah. i'm from new england. my complicated is... [ivy pauses. she isn't sure how to even begin explaining everything to a stranger, let alone a stranger who doesn't know about the supernatural. after a moment, she continues.] i grew up in a really tight-knit community; at least, i thought i did. then i found out that a lot of the people in my community weren't who they said they were. they believed in some really horrible things, and they used those beliefs as an excuse to justify doing some really horrible things. the decision to leave was really fast, but it was the right one. what about you? are you from the area?

[lunaetics]

i hear it all the time, yeah. that never makes it any less true. everyone's complicated is different. judging by your accent, you're not from down here. so your complicated is... type that made you move south?

[ivy smiles.] i guess it would be bad for business if they didn't. [she takes a sip.] thank you. i...it's complicated. which i'm sure you hear all of the time, too.