emupowell

[emupowell]

Emily glanced over her shoulder at Kai as he spoke, the corners of her mouth twitching like she couldn’t decide whether to smirk or roll her eyes. She wanted to be mad at him—hell, she had been mad at him. Hurt, disappointed, unsure if she could even trust him the way she used to. But then he’d shown up with that awkward, hopeful look on his face when they spoke outside of the Asteroid Arcade. Now he was showing up with a bag full of nostalgia and favorites, and something in her chest softened.

"First of all," she said, grabbing a tub of popcorn from the bag and setting it aside, "I told you I was picking the first movie, and I’m starting with Practical Magic, so suck it up." She looked at him fully now, her expression gentler than her words. “Second of all… you really went all out, huh?”

Her fingers brushed the edge of the cookie tin, the same blue one his mom had used since they were kids. That alone nearly undid her. There was so much history and love here. Despite her anger and the hurt she felt, she knew she would forgive Kai especially when he was doing his best to make up for everything. He was her best friend.

Emily stepped into the adjoined living room grabbing the remote and flopped onto the couch, patting the spot beside her. “Now come sit down, shut up, and get emotionally wrecked by Sandra Bullock with me.”

Emily was such a big part of Kai's life, and he knew he'd done more than enough to warrant her never speaking to him again. But, she was a better person than that, and for that he was grateful. For as long as he could remember, she had been his rock, and more than anything he wanted them to get back to how things had been before. This was a small step, but it was a step, and that's what counted.

He walked inside and followed Emily to the kitchen. "I'll take whatever is on offer." He said, putting the bag of snacks down on the counter and started unpacking it. He'd gone more than a little overboard, getting all of Emily's favourites as well as a few of his own. He'd even stopped by his mom's house and got her to make some of the cookies she'd always made for the two of them when they were kids.

"So, what movies are we gonna watch? It's not all gonna be fucking chick flicks is it? Because I'm not sure I could handle that."

[emupowell]

Emily was relieved when Kai reached out about a movie night—she had missed him more than she cared to admit. Even during their rough patch, when things had been tense and uncertain, the absence of his presence had weighed on her. No matter what, he had always been a part of her life, and she was grateful they were finding their way back to that.

She could see he was doing better now, and knowing he was with her cousin brought an unexpected sense of comfort. If she couldn’t always be there for him, at least someone she trusted could.

At the sound of the knock, Emily opened the door, her smile easy and warm as she stepped aside to let him in. “No one’s ever going to complain about too many snacks,” she teased, shutting the door behind him.

She motioned for him to follow her into the kitchen, her tone light. “What do you want to drink?”

LOCATION: Emily's Place FOR: @emupowell

To say they had been through a rough patch would be an understatement. But, it felt like things between them were almost back on track. And, in an attempt to get that final push, Kai had decided that he and Emily were long overdue for a movie night. So, he'd pick up a bunch of their favourite snacks and made his way over to Emily's place.

He really missed Emily more than he could even put into words, so he'd been doing everything he could to make up for all of the things that he done, not just to her but to everyone he cared about. It had been a long road, but it was one he was determined to follow through.

Normally, Kai would've just let himself in, but this time he decided it was better to knock. So, he did just that, and waited for the door to open before stepping inside. "I come bearing snacks. Probably more snacks than we need, but better to have too much than not enough, right?"

[emupowell]

She glanced over at him as he answered, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling as if she could somehow see into his apartment—though, of course, she couldn’t. A faint hunger was beginning to creep in, even though she’d eaten just a few hours ago. When Kai suggested she could go upstairs and help herself, her eyes flicked back to him. "Is Sam up there?" she asked, knowing she was stalling.

The excuse was flimsy at best, but something about going upstairs felt too familiar, and she wasn’t sure why she was hesitating. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been up there a hundred times before. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe she wasn’t ready for things to go back to normal—if that was even possible. “I heard he’s been staying here a lot,” she added, as if that made a difference. As if that explained why she suddenly felt like a guest in a place that used to feel like a second home.

Had the store been bigger, Kai probably could've gotten away with avoiding Emily for a little longer. Things were still weird between them, and he was still at a loss as to how he could fix it. But, he figured avoiding her in a small space was probably not the way to do it, so he plucked up some courage and walked over to her. He wasn't sure what he was going to say, but as he stood near her, she spoke first. "I do actually, yeah." It was habit to keep a stock of his friends favourite snacks up in his apartment, and even though it had been a while since Emily had come over, he'd still made sure there was something there for her.

"You can go up and help yourself if you want." He offered, figuring she'd know exactly where to find the snacks. She'd been the one to help him figure out his snack storage system when he'd moved in, and he hadn't changed it since then. "Just don't let the others know."

[emupowell]

Emily’s stomach dropped. Two wolves in here—at least? Her eyes flicked over the room, scanning faces, trying to pick out who might already be feeling the pull of the full moon. It wasn’t like she had a sixth sense for werewolves, but she had grown up in this town long enough to have a good guess.

Her gaze snapped back to Kelly, noting the tension in her posture. Not just concern—anticipation. Emily had a feeling she wasn’t just worried about the others.

At the mention of mountain ash, she let out a slow breath, quickly running through her mental inventory of magic supplies. “I don’t know if Kai has some, but I might have a little in my car,” she murmured, pressing her lips together. “Not a lot, but enough to at least reinforce some kind of barrier if things go sideways.”

Her fingers curled at her sides, mind racing. If something did happen, if one of the wolves lost control—if Kelly lost control—Emily wasn’t sure what she could do alone. She wasn’t exactly an enforcer when it came to werewolf situations. “We should probably start figuring out a plan now,” she added, lowering her voice. “Because if anyone starts feeling twitchy, we might not have time to think later.”

Her gaze moved over to Kai, who was not paying attention to her, which was fine. "Will you do me a favor and ask Kai if he has any? I'm not sure going outside to search for my car is a good idea right now."

Kelly wanted to snicker at that . . . almost as much as she wanted to see them. “That would definitely be a thought. Though he might try to bribe us all into singing, and I’m not sure if that wouldn’t be worse than questionable taste.”

As Emily’s words broke off, Kelly slowly nodded. She made a sweeping glance around the room “We’ve got at least two wolves in here,” she murmured. Something she knew without question considering she and her dad were both here. And she could already feel the jitters for the coming night. She seriously needed to consider joining a pack or finding one. Her control was still iffy – sometimes she had it down pat, but other times, she woke up to a rabbit carcass or two that she really didn’t remember chasing. Biting her lip, Kelly considered the witches she knew in the store.

Then she drew in a breath and met Emily’s eyes. “Do you think anyone has some mountain ash?”

[emupowell]

Emily blinked at Jay, her brain short-circuiting for a second as she processed what he just said. Libido increases near the full moon? She stared at him, watching as he giggled like he’d just dropped the most scandalous gossip. “Excuse me? What?” she sputtered, hands flying up. “You’re telling me—” She broke off, suddenly recalling every weird interaction, every moody glance, every inexplicable tension leading up to full moons with Nathan. Her eyes widened. “Oh my god. That explains so much.”

She covered her face with her hands for a moment, groaning. “I mean, I knew werewolves got all restless and agitated, but I just assumed it was, you know, the impending transformation—not that.” She let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. Emily let Jay retreat into the kitchen while she tried to gather her composure, but the mental image of Nathan dealing with that issue had her feeling a certain way she couldn't really name.

When Jay pulled out the Cheez-It’s, she gave him an impressed look. “Look at you remembering us mere mortals must eat,” she teased, taking the box and popping a cracker into her mouth.

Then he started waving his imaginary wand around, and Emily nearly choked on the Cheez-It. She gasped, coughing out a laugh. “First of all, no, that’s the levitation spell. Lumos is for light, obviously.” She rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness in her voice. “And second of all, that’s not real magic.”

Still, she grinned, snapping her fingers and summoning a small, glowing orb of light above her palm. It flickered like a tiny star, casting a soft golden glow. “I can do this. But is this enough light for us?" She looked at Jay with a small smile. "I might be able to make a couple if I try hard enough.

It became clear to him, the longer Emily went on speaking about her friend’s behavior, that she was not aware of the effect the approaching full moon had on the species. Should he be the one to tell her? Jay battled with the question, amused at the turn the conversation had taken. He didn’t want to keep information from her if he didn’t have to, but he couldn’t help but feel like he would be betraying her friend’s secrets by telling her. Not that Jay knew him or anything, but the Wolfsongs were a large pack, and getting on their shit list, however dumb the reason may be, was something he should probably avoid. But then she mentioned Beau, and fighting, and images of him being a little too rough flashed in his mind. Jay felt an uncontrollable giggle start to bubble out of him as he thought of the bruises on his skin that had healed far too quickly.

“Emily!” Jay giggled. Whatever the consequences, he had made up his mind to tell her. “I don’t know why, but their libido increases near the full moon. Your friend’s just horny and needs to get laid.”

Jay walked further into the kitchen, shoulders still shaking with contained laughter. “… I didn’t,” he admitted, about offering Beau food. Jay hadn’t had a home, or guests, in decades. It had made him a terrible host. “Which reminds me,” he said, pulling the cabinet where she kept all her snacks. “Are you hungry? You’ve still got some Cheez-It’s in here.” He pulled the box out, checking its contents as he made his way over to her. “What, you don’t know a spell to make light? Like those wizards in the movie.” Jay hummed, trying to remember what it was. “Wingardium leviosa!” he said with flourish, waving an imaginary wand, and grinned. “Is that the one?”

[emupowell]

Emily watched Jay carefully as he took the glass, noticing the way he hesitated, how his gaze lingered on the drink like it held some kind of answer. She could tell he was overthinking—she recognized that look well. The weight of uncertainty, of wanting something so badly but fearing it might slip through his fingers. She smiled, nudging his arm lightly. “You are doing something different,” she assured him. “And for the record? I think you’re already kind of magical.”

Her expression softened as he ran a hand through his hair, sighing at its stubborn refusal to change. She got it. Wanting to be seen differently, to have control over that image. But she also knew Beau already adored him as he was, and she had no doubt that whatever Jay did, it wouldn’t change how much Beau loved him.

Still, she understood the desire to surprise him. To do something unexpected, to make the moment feel even more special. She grinned as Jay groaned about how lame it was, shaking her head. “It’s not lame, Jay. It’s sweet. And maybe a little dramatic, but, hey—we appreciate a little drama, don’t we?” She winked before leaning in slightly, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Besides, a little anticipation is good. Keeps things exciting.”

Her own excitement grew as Jay tugged her hand and led her toward his room, his enthusiasm infectious. She laughed, keeping pace with him. “Okay, okay, I’m coming! I feel like I’m being let in on some grand secret.”

She leaned against the dresser as he rummaged through his closet, watching with fond amusement as he carefully retrieved the box. He handled it like it was something precious, and that made her heart warm. When he handed her the mask, she held it delicately, tracing the glittering red pattern with her fingertips.

“It’s perfect,” she murmured, admiring the way the design caught the light. She imagined Beau’s matching one, the subtle difference making them unique but still connected. She looked up at Jay with a bright smile. “You two are gonna look incredible. And after I help you with your hair, he will be super surprised.” Emily handed the mask back to Jay. "But before I help, I have to paint my nails. Do you wanna hang out with me as I do that? We can finish a couple episodes of our show!"

Jay took the offered glass with a smile and a quiet thank you, though what he was thanking her for specifically, he couldn’t say. The drink? Her words? The compliments? Maybe all of the above, Jay thought, as he stared into the contents of his glass. She said she was proud of them, as if they were doing something brave. Were they? Jay did feel brave. And nervous. What if it went wrong? He took a sip from his glass and pushed the thoughts away, feeling stupid for thinking them in the first place. Everything was fine. His friends had told him so, and he wanted to believe it.

So he would.

“Thanks,” he said again. “I just want to do something different, you know? Some magic would come in handy.” He his fingers through his hair, the strands falling back into place easily, making him sigh. Nothing ever changed about his appearance. His work clothes were practical, his hairstyle the same… He wanted things to be different, even if it was only for one night.

“I know, I know!” Jay conceded, having no doubt about Beau’s feelings. He didn’t care what Jay looked like. “It’s just, I kind of want to surprise him?” he said lamely, and felt it, too. He groaned. “Is that lame? That’s so lame, but I mean! He knows everything that I’m wearing! He’s already said he can’t wait to see me in the suit—,” and take it off him, but that was private, “—so he knows what to expect and I hate that. I want him to be surprised.” Embarrassed, Jay spoke quickly, his words coming out rushed. The mention of his mask pulled an excited little smile out of him, however. “Yes! Come, let me show you.” He took her hand and guided her to his bedroom and laughed, giddy at the thought of dressing up for once. “I know! I’m excited, I can’t remember the last time I did something like this.” It was a long, long time ago. It was a shame he wouldn’t be able to see it.

He chased the thought away with another sip of his drink, then set it down on the dresser. “We got them a while ago, I put it away for safekeeping,” he explained, fetching the box out of a shelf in the closet. He took it out of the box carefully, like it was something precious, which it was, to him. The mask was black, the decoration on it a simple red glitter pattern. “Here.” Jay handed it over. “The pattern placement is different on Beau’s, but other than that it’s pretty much the same.”

[emupowell]

Emily searched his face, her breath catching in her throat. The difference between now and the start of the night was staggering. The easy smiles, the warmth—gone. Replaced by something hollow, something sad. Her stomach twisted. Had something happened while she wasn’t with him? Or worse—had she done this to him?

Then he was brushing her off, waving away her offer before she could even finish making it. She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already moving, already retreating.

“Nathan—”

He was gone before she could say anything more. Before she could process the sudden weight pressing against her ribs. She stood frozen, staring at the space where he had been, fists clenching at her sides. The throbbing in her hand was forgotten in the rush of realization. How much of the night had she actually spent with him?

Fifteen minutes. That was all.

She had arrived with Nathan, yet somehow, she had barely been with him. That truth hit her like ice water, jolting her into motion. Grabbing a fistful of her dress, she shoved through the crowd, pushing past bodies until she reached the door.

The cold slammed into her as she stepped outside, but she barely felt it. Her eyes locked onto Nathan, fumbling with his keys, frustration written in every tense line of his body.

“Nathan,” she called, striding toward him. “Would you just stop for a second?” He didn’t look at her right away, but she didn’t care. She exhaled sharply, bracing herself. “You’re in no condition to drive,” she said, her voice firm but not unkind. “And I’ve made a lot of mistakes tonight, but I’m not making this one.”

Her heart pounded wildly at the thought of what could happen if he got behind the wheel. She didn’t want that phone call. The very idea of it made her throat tighten, made her eyes sting. She sniffed, stepping closer, refusing to let him brush her off again. “Please,” she whispered, holding out her hand. “Let me drive you home.”

Her face lit up briefly, her smile vanishing at the sight of him, like she had been expecting someone else. Considering how the night had gone, Nathan figured she probably was. Kai, or Banks, or whoever else. She had made her disinterest obvious throughout the evening so it really shouldn’t have surprised him. It hit him like a punch in the gut anyway, but after a night filled with much of the same, it barely registered a change in his expression. His eyes were sad, his face tired, the alcohol in his blood keeping him mostly numb to it all.

“I’m good, don’t worry,” Nathan interjected quickly, waving a dismissive hand at her offer to drive him home. She was right, of course, but it was humiliating, and Nathan would sooner walk than take her up on it. He took a step back, already retreating even as she moved to stand. “No thanks,” he insisted, shaking his head at the continued offer as he stepped away from her. “It’s not that far, I’ll be fine. You stay and have fun. We’ll talk tomorrow, alright?” Nathan spoke fast, getting the words out before she could object. “Goodnight,” he said, trying for a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and turned away.

Nathan checked his pockets for his keys, making his way through the crowd and to the exit as quickly as his stumbling steps would carry him. He didn’t look back once for Emily, and if she called out to him, he didn’t hear it over the sound of the music and his own racing heart. He was embarrassed and he felt pathetic, because what had he been thinking? It was obvious to him now that she’d only come with him because she needed a ride. They got carried away, that was all. Swept up in the moment. Or maybe it had just been him. Viewing the events of the night through this new lens made him burn up with shame, the feeling tight in his chest.

But it was fine, he told himself, trying to stave off a panic. If she had noticed him acting off, she would have said something. The thought reassured him as he reached his car and struggled to get the key in the lock. Emily didn’t mince words. She was direct. If she’d noticed him acting weird, she would have told him to knock it off. So, she either hadn’t noticed or didn’t care, both of which were fine.

Absolutely fine. Nathan stopped what he was doing and did not for one moment consider the ache the thought left in his chest. It was all fine. Instead, he narrowed his eyes at his keys, finally noticing that he’d been trying to use his house key to unlock his car this entire time.

“Goddamnit,” he grumbled, sorting through his keyring for the right one. He was so stupid.

[emupowell]

Emily chuckled at Kelly’s remark about other people’s questionable music tastes. “We should try to convince your dad to perform some of the songs he used to play with mine.” A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. “I may or may not have found some old photos of their band.”

Her amusement faded the moment Kelly stepped closer, her question shifting the mood. Emily’s eyebrows lifted slightly before she answered, “Yes. I’m a witch. I have to put out my moon wat—” The words caught in her throat as realization struck. The full moon.

Tonight.

And they were stuck here.

Her pulse quickened. She didn’t know for certain who in the crowd was a werewolf, but growing up in Raven’s Peak, she had a pretty good idea. Her gaze swept over the room, lips pressing together as she tried to think, tried to come up with something. “Oh, this could be bad,” she muttered under her breath. She turned back to Kelly, urgency creeping into her voice. “Do you have any ideas?”

Kelly glanced around the store again, her gaze lingering for a moment on her father. At least someone with more experience than her, and someone with some first aid knowledge, was here. Plus, no alcohol. A big plus in her book.

“Which puts us in a good spot,” she nodded in response to Emily's words, though she could still hear the ticking of the clock in her head. How long until nightfall and the rise of the moon? Still, they were probably in better condition than some of the folks in town. “Now, as long as no one decides to put on some truly questionable music, everyone should be in a pretty good mood.”

At the question, Kelly rolled her shoulders again before offering Emily a wry smile. Both of them had grown up in Raven’s Peak, but she wasn’t sure how much the calendar ruled the younger woman’s life. After a moment’s thought, she stepped a half-step closer and dropped her voice. No reason to cause issues or panic if she could avoid it. “Did you happen to see the phase of the moon tonight?” she asked, pretty sure she wouldn’t have to spell it out.

[emupowell]

Being stuck in a friend’s music shop—especially one tied to a recovering friendship—wasn’t the worst situation Emily could imagine. At least Kai hadn’t tried to talk to her yet. He was too busy making sure everyone inside was calm and that no one was freezing to death. She could appreciate that. He had always been good at taking care of people, even if he wasn’t always great at taking care of himself.

She had left Jay browsing in a different section while she wandered over to the musicals, scanning the shelves with a small flicker of hope. She wasn’t sure if Kai carried many soundtracks, but Hairspray had to be in here somewhere, right? Something about the familiarity of searching for music soothed the restlessness creeping beneath her skin. Being snowed in wasn’t ideal, but she could make the best of it.

A voice cut through the low hum of conversation, calling her name. Emily looked up and broke into a smile when she saw Noah stepping inside, shaking off the cold like he’d just braved the worst of it. Snowflakes clung to his coat and hair, his cheeks pink from the bite of winter air.

Her eyes widened. “Were you just outside in that? Are you insane?” she asked, half-scolding, half-concerned. “Do you want something warm to drink? I think Kai might have tea or something upstairs.” Tilting her head slightly, she studied him, taking in his snow-dusted appearance. Despite the storm raging outside, he looked like he had handled it just fine, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to fuss a little.

“I’m okay, though,” she reassured him, crossing her arms as she leaned against the shelf. “Everyone’s staying pretty calm, and no one’s been super rude yet.” She smirked. “Though there’s still time for that to change.”

Closed @emupowell | Noah & Emily @ Rhythm Realm

Truly, Noah had not planned to step foot out in the storm while it raged on outside the windows. If people were foolish enough to get themselves caught up in the mess, then that was their own problem. But then he considered the fact that the moon was going to be full by the end of the evening, and the threat of the wolf caught in the midst of the storm could not be a good thing for the people of the town.

And he was at least somewhat responsible for the safety of the people who lived here. Or at least, he considered himself responsible. Raven's Peak had always been a town filled with magic, but what they had all hoped for was that it would also be a safe place for each of them to live in harmony. Perhaps it was a foolish dream.

He made an appearance on the sidewalk outside the music shop, little more than a flitting bat between the snowflakes moments prior. His hands tucked deep into the pockets of his coat to ward off the cold as his eyes shifted over the lights in the window in an otherwise darkened street corner. That had to be a good sign. He was about to move on further into town when a familiar face in the window grabbed his attention, and a moment later he was brushing snow from the darkened strands of his hair at the threshold of the stop.

"Emily," he greeted, giving her a brief once over. "Are you alright? Keeping safe from the elements?" As his eyes trailed over the other faces that had sought shelter from the elements, he supposed there were worse places to be waiting out the storm - but he could already smell it. That musty, mangy wolf smell. At least one inside the building with her, if not more.

[emupowell]

who: @kaixwinter

Emily hadn’t expected her day out with Jay to lead her here—of all places, Kai’s shop. Their plans had been simple: lunch, a bit of shopping, and maybe she’d nudge Jay toward the arcade for old times’ sake. But the weather had other ideas. As the snowstorm worsened, they ducked into the first open door they could find, which just so happened to be here.

The air inside was warm, but tension curled at the edges of her thoughts. Things with Kai were still… off. The weight of their last conversation, of everything that had happened, lingered between them like an unsettled storm of its own.

Emily stood by the record bins, flipping through them with little focus, more for the act of doing something than genuine interest. She barely registered the sound of footsteps approaching until someone stopped beside her. A glance to the side confirmed what she already knew—it was Kai.

She didn’t look at him for long, turning her attention back to the records as if they suddenly held all the secrets of the universe. Still, her voice was light when she spoke, an attempt at normalcy in the midst of all the unspoken things between them. “You don’t happen to have anything covered in cheese in that apartment upstairs, do you?”

[emupowell]

Emily stood next to Jay, arms hugging herself, not for warmth but as an anchor. The storm outside was relentless, but the tension inside felt just as biting. She could sense Jay’s unease—hell, she felt it herself. Her gaze flicked to Kai for the briefest of moments, then quickly darted away when she caught him glancing over. Being stuck here with him wasn’t exactly high on her list of ideal situations even if they were trying to make up, it was still weird.

When Jay spoke, she glanced sideways at him, catching the nervous edge in his tone. He wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all her. “Yeah, warm and awkward,” she muttered, her attempt at humor doing little to lift the weight in the room. “Better than being out there,” she agreed softly, staring out at the storm. Her voice lacked conviction, though. Emily wasn’t sure which felt more suffocating—the icy winds outside or the unresolved tension inside. She noticed Jay picking at his coat and sighed, her voice dropping to something quieter, more sincere. “Hey... we’ll get through this. It’s just a storm, right?” She tried to sound reassuring, though she wasn’t sure if she believed it herself.

Her gaze shifted briefly to Jensen, then back to Jay. There was something unspoken there, and Emily could feel it, like an undercurrent beneath the storm of emotions swirling around them all. She wasn’t going to pry, but she tucked the observation away for later, something to bring up if the walls closed in any tighter. For now, all she could do was wait, hope, and try not to let the simmering discomfort boil over. "Should I introduce you to some new music?"

The storm had picked up unexpectedly and that had them rushing through the nearest open door without a second thought. Now that they were here though, Jay wished they had braved the storm long enough to end up somewhere else. Anywhere else. Arms crossed over his chest, he stood beside Emily, who he was sure felt the same. Jay threw a glance at Kai, who appeared to be keeping his distance as well, but Jay couldn’t be sure. In his periphery, there was Jensen.

Jay snapped his gaze forward, to look out the window at the raging storm. He bit the inside of his cheek and picked anxiously at the fabric on the inner arm of his coat. It didn’t matter that he had fed as recently as the night before. He was still hyperaware of Jensen’s every movement and every breath. It wasn’t just that he had fed on him. It was the guilt of taking more than what was offered, and the shame of hiding from him ever since. Maybe he was a coward, but what the hell else was he supposed to do? How do you apologize for trying to kill someone?

“I’m sure we’ll be fine.” He tried for reassuring, but his nerves made him sound unconvincing. “At least we’re in here and not out there.” Except he was still sure they’d both rather be anywhere else. “At least it’s warm?” he tried again.

[emupowell]

Emily, sitting cross-legged a few feet away, gave Roman a raised brow at his question, the corners of her lips twitching into a faint smile despite herself. "That’s comforting," she said dryly, leaning back on her hands. "Cannibalism wasn’t on my bingo card for the night, but thanks for letting me know we’re not there yet."

Emily pulled her jacket tighter around herself, tapping her fingers idly against her arm. “Headline? How about: ‘Local Werewolf Dad Gets Stuck in Music Shop, Teaches Everyone the Art of Being Chill While Wet.’ Catchy, right?” She glanced at him with a smirk, but there was warmth behind it. Roman had always been a part of her life in some capacity, and seeing him like this—uncomfortable but still trying to bring some levity—was oddly grounding. She sighed, leaning forward slightly. “Seriously, though, you good? I mean, besides being, like, 80% snowman right now.” It was her way of checking in without making too much of a fuss.

Just had to have that one last…okay several last drinks before leaving the bar and finding his truck completely iced over and the roads sheeted in ice.  Somehow Roman managed to make his way through part of the town in hopes of getting home, but ended up at Rhythm Realm with a lot of people including his daughter. 

The man sat on the floor, his back against the wall as he curled up in his wet jacket. A good portion of his jacket and pants were soaked through from the snow, but thankfully he got that werewolf temperature giving him some warmth.  He was just more uncomfortable than anything as the fabrics stuck to his skin.

“What do you think the headline would be?”  Roman questioned with a smirk.  He knew Emily since she was a youngling, good friends with her dad for the most part.  “Don’t think we have to resort to cannibalism just yet.”

[emupowell]

Emily had been staring at the floor, lost in thought, when Arden’s voice broke through the tension in her mind. She looked up, catching the blonde perched on the counter with her casual grace, and offered a faint smile.

“Me? Oh, yeah, I’m good,” Emily said, though her voice carried an edge that hinted otherwise. She shrugged, glancing toward the window where the storm continued to rage. “Just thinking about how I didn’t expect this to be my Friday night. But, you know, nothing like a little chaos to keep things interesting, right?”

She tilted her head, studying Arden for a moment. “What about you? Bet this isn’t how you planned to spend your shift. You holding up okay? Because if not, I vote we raid Kai's fridge and make the best of this mess.” Emily’s tone was lighthearted, but there was a genuine concern in her eyes as she met Arden’s gaze.

status: open location: rhythm realm (before the storm causes the tree to fall)

Arden had been watching outside the store window's for a while now, a normal shift had taken a turn until the weather had other ideas. The snowfall was almost peaceful until it wasn't just snow, the shine of the layer of ice glaring back at her before she finally backed away. "Well this shift got longer than I thought it'd be when I got dressed this morning." She said though the blonde could list a few worse places to be stuck during a storm, at least if she got hungry she could dig into some of the snacks she kept handy. Arden walked over to the counter, hopping up on it before taking a look around the store. "Hey — sorry, I didn't think anyone would be approaching the counter. Are you holding up okay?"

[emupowell]

Emily looked up from where she’d been seated, her eyes meeting Kelly’s with a faint, wry smile tugging at her lips. She leaned back slightly, her arms crossed as if bracing against the storm’s weight, even from inside. “What can I say? I’ve always had a talent for uplifting commentary,” she quipped, though there was a flicker of tension behind her usual humor.

Her gaze drifted toward the window, the howling wind outside punctuating the uneasy silence. “But, hey, we’re resourceful. I mean, we’ve got snacks, music, and a roof over our heads.” Her tone softened a bit, a genuine edge of gratitude in her words despite the unease she felt.

Emily’s attention returned to Kelly, and she noted the subtle tension in her stance, the restless energy that seemed to ripple off her. “You okay?” she asked, her voice low and genuine. “You’ve got that look like the storm’s a little more personal for you tonight.” It wasn’t meant as a prod, just an invitation if Kelly wanted to share. If not, Emily was perfectly fine being a distraction.

Kelly rolled her shoulders, a hint of electricity skittering along her nerves as she listened to the wind outside the shop. Tonight would be a full moon, and somehow, she really didn’t think this would be the best place for a transformation. At the same time, she couldn’t just go running off into the winter when the folks here might need all available hands in the case of an emergency. How would her wolf even handle a night like tonight anyway? It certainly seemed like the kind of storm that would be too cold and dangerous even for someone with a fur coat.

A little too antsy to remain still, she wandered the edges of the store, glancing out the window with a cautious eye. She’d lived her entire life in Raven’s Peak, and she knew the dangers winter could bring . . . but this storm seemed ready to outdo past blizzards by half. As she paced past the countertop, the muttered words caught her attention, and she paused to cock an eyebrow at Emily. “Well, there’s a cheery thought,” she decided, then grimaced. “Likely not wrong either.”

[emupowell]

where: Rhythm Realm who: open to everyone for event purposes!

Emily stood near the front window of Rhythm Realm, arms wrapped tightly around herself despite the warmth inside. The sound of the storm howling outside was relentless, a constant reminder of just how bad things had gotten. She pressed her fingertips against the foggy glass, staring at the swirling snow and the barely visible outlines of cars buried beneath it. For a brief moment, the chaos outside mirrored the tension she could feel brewing in the room.

The shop was packed with more people than she’d expected—some familiar faces, some not. She’d already exchanged awkward pleasantries with Kai. Her gaze flickered to others, who seemed to be making the best of the situation chatting like they weren’t trapped in a music shop by a once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm.

Emily leaned back against the counter, picking at the edge of her sleeve. The muffled sound of a guitar strumming from somewhere in the shop barely cut through the tension hanging in the air. “Anyone else feel like we’re one tree branch away from becoming a headline?” she muttered to no one in particular, her voice light but tinged with nerves.

[emupowell]

Emily kept her arms crossed, her expression unreadable as Kai spoke. She listened in silence, but the flicker of emotions in her eyes betrayed the storm brewing beneath the surface. Apologizing to Asher first? Yeah, Asher deserved it, but hearing that she wasn’t even near the top of Kai’s list stung in a way she hadn’t anticipated. She wasn’t sure what hurt more—his actions or the fact that he hadn’t come to her sooner.

When he finished speaking, Emily let out a slow breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "You’re right, you should’ve come to me sooner." She paused, her gaze dropping for a moment before lifting back to his. "I get that you’re trying to fix things, but do you know what it felt like for me, Kai? Hearing about Asher in the hospital? Seeing Sam hurt because of a secret you decided to drop without thinking about what it would do to him—or to me?" Her voice wasn’t loud, but there was no mistaking the hurt behind it.

"I’ve always had your back, through everything. And when you pulled that stunt, it didn’t just feel like you betrayed them. It felt like you betrayed me too." She uncrossed her arms, her hands falling to her sides. "I missed you, okay? But you don’t just get to show up and say sorry like it’s gonna fix everything overnight."

There was a beat of silence before she added quietly, "I’m glad you apologized to Asher. He needed that. But I need it too." Her eyes softened slightly, though the tension in her shoulders remained. "I don’t want to lose you, Kai. You promised you wouldn't use your walls to close me out anymore and you did."

Kai knew that he should've gone to Emily sooner, but the longer he left it, the harder it had been to think about the conversation they needed to have. The last time they had seen each other, she had been so angry at him, and he couldn't blame her for that. The things that she had said to him the night of the masquerade had hurt, but he'd deserved them. And now? Now everything had changed. At least that's how it felt.

When Emily texted him and and suggested meeting up at the arcade, Kai had agreed, knowing it wasn't something that he could put off any longer. He missed Emily like crazy. She was his best friend, the person who knew him better than anyone else, and not having her around had left something of a hole in his life. Sure, it was his own doing, but it was time to own up to his shit.

As he walked up to the arcade, Kai could see Emily waiting for him outside. When she started talking, he stayed quiet, letting her say what she needed to say without interrupting. "Yeah, you did. I went to apologize." He said when Emily had finished. "I'm trying to fix the shit that I've fucked up lately. Asher got the worst of it, so he was my first stop. My apology tour is a long one, and you should've been one of the first, and I'm sorry you weren't."

[emupowell]

who: @kaixwinter where: asteroid arcade

The masquerade had not been kind to Emily and Kai’s friendship. The events that had unfolded still haunted her, especially the fact that she had punched him. She couldn't believe she'd done it, but part of her still felt like he deserved it. The way he treated Asher—someone who’d always had his back—was beyond frustrating. And the secret that had been kept for twenty years, the one he’d spilled, had caused a rift between her and Sam, her favorite cousin. The more she thought about it, the more it gnawed at her, each passing day only making her more upset.

She hadn’t heard from him in a while. The silence between them stung, and it only made her more angry, more confused. He’d always been someone she could count on, but lately, it felt like he was slipping further away. After much back and forth, she finally texted him, suggesting they meet up at the arcade—where they'd spent so many hours as kids, back when things were simpler. She had dragged him there, often more than he wanted to go, but now it felt like a place that might hold answers.

Standing outside the arcade, arms crossed, she waited for him to show. When she finally saw him walking toward her, a mix of emotions hit her. Part of her wanted to feel relief, to feel like maybe this was the first step toward fixing things, but there was a bitter edge that wouldn’t go away. She pushed herself off the building and stood her ground, her expression hardening.

"We need to talk," she said flatly, her gaze fixed on him. She paused, letting the weight of the silence sit between them. "Asher told me you went to his place and talked to him. I thought I made it clear to leave him alone." Her voice wavered with a mix of frustration and hurt, but there was also a sadness there. Why hadn’t he come to her first? Why was he keeping things from her? It stung more than she cared to admit.