lunadefresa

[lunadefresa]

""I think that's it," They'd just made it up, so it didn't much matter. That sounded better, even. "It's more accurate, no?" They huffed a laugh, "Small businesses - you're smart," That was one way to make day drinking seem like a good deed. "That sounds...nice. Is there a season for that, before it's too cold?" Dev wasn't so sure they'd even know how to swim in the ocean, much less surf. "Dramatic, yeah. But it's a good drink, if they get the ratios right," It wasn't hard, but some people were very skilled in getting things wrong regardless. They narrowed their eyes - "No...but if it's followed with something else? Tequila is a great idea," A blatant lie, but if they were looking for good ideas, a bar wasn't it. A therapist, maybe. "An old fashioned," They suggested - "They never get that wrong," She'd taken to drinking it whenever she stopped at the actual bar long enough for a drink. "I can't say I run or hike - but destroying things wasn't the worst option - have you tried that?"

·✥·

Nico thought hard, his brow furrowing deeply. "Misery loves... a drinking buddy?" He shrugged and leaned back. "Not the original but it sounds about right." As he scanned the full bar, recognizing faces here and there, he nodded. "Can't really blame them. At least our coping mechanisms support local small businesses," he added, grasping that silver lining as hard as he could. "Though my go-to for stress relief is usually more outdoors than this—running or hiking, that sort of thing. Surfing with my sorrows, not drowning them." He picked up a drinks menu, something he'd never actually before done in this bar since he often just left it up to Poppy to grab them whatever she felt like, and scanned it skeptically. "What'll you have? I'm thinking of branching out from my usual." He wanted something more interesting than beer, but that wouldn't make the bartender hate him for ordering it, which was a hard line to walk when he didn't know shit about making drinks. "Dark and stormy... sounds dramatic..." His eyes narrowed at the complicated list before him, then he glanced over to his companion. Every instinct in him told him overthinking was his enemy, but he didn't want to make a bad impression on a new acquaintance. "Straight tequila is probably a bad idea, right?"

[lunadefresa]

Option A - PALOMA Activity: Hedge Maze She sat on a bale of hay in near tears - her phone whipped out and raised in the air, muttering about the lack of signal. "Why would they build this in the middle of so many dead zones?" Paloma sniffled, hopping up suddenly when she heard footsteps. "Oh, thank god! Can you help me? I've literally been here for hours and I can't get out -" It had been thirty minutes max, but exaggeration was necessary in life or death situations. "I think I've seen that same scarecrow, like - fifty times, and it keeps looking at me."

Option B - FRANKIE Activity: Puppy Run

"Whoa, whoa-" She quickly jogged forward, reached down and scooped up a sneaky husky with one arm, before he could slip out the gate. "Be careful with Balto - he gives you those eyes, but he's guilting you so you let your guard down," she chuckled, quickly walking the dog back in a ways and setting him down. "We've had to chase him down this block twice today. He tried to stage a breakout last month," She cleared her throat - "But - he is a very good dog - very smart," He needed a home - though possibly with someone with a very good security system. She grinned down at another excitable little dog that approached the other, circling their legs - "I think Egg likes you," Frankie gestured and reached down to scratch behind the dog's ears. "Has anyone convinced you to take them home yet?" She asked, with an encouraging grin.

Option C - DEVRIM Activity: Pumpkin Carving

They weren't sure how they got there - one second, they were walking by the loud, raucous event space. And the next, they were convinced by an enthusiastic volunteer to carve one of their own. The crude, generic jack o lantern they were trying to quickly carve out so they could go home, was only half finished. Before they'd even managed to carve a smile, an unaccompanied child was struggling to cut open their pumpkin - and of course, they couldn't just watch them hack at it with the 'kid-safe' saw. Before they knew it, Dev's sleeves were rolled up and their hand was covered in pumpkin guts. Three pumpkins later, and they were wondering why they weren't charging the onlooking parents for impromptu babysitting services. "Excuse me?" They quickly waved to a passerby who - they hoped - might be a volunteer. "Do you know where I could get paper towels?" They held up their orange-tinged hands. "Who gave these kids weapons?" They added under their breath, eyeing a ten year old that just gashed eyes into their pumpkin - it wasn't actually that terrible.

[lunadefresa]

"It looks perfect -" she grinned, brushing her fingers over the tiara. "I know-" She didn't, not at first, but that was besides the point. "Pink glitter, like - do you remember when I tried to make that cake?" It was a very short lived attempt at baking. And the glitter was slightly flammable - apparently edible glitter and cosmetic glitter were very different. "Does it make your lips shine?" She asked, an excited gleam in her eyes as the bartender prepared the drinks.

Her expression was even brighter as she took the glass, not deterred at all by the completely unnatural color. If anything, it drew her in more. Sometimes the best tasting things usually looked slightly radioactive. "Thank you! Dilan - I can totally get it, it's your birthday - you should relax..." She'd already asked for her anyway - but Paloma made a point of grabbing her own second glass. "Yeah, I'm having so much fun-" Her eyes scanned the room - "This drink's the best one, actually - it's good they named it after you," She took another sip, lips pursed as the concoction sat on her tongue. "I know you're not supposed to say what you wish for on your candle, or your wish will get stolen - but do you have a wish this year?" There were a lot of serious things going on that would warrant a wish, but she was trying to keep from thinking of all that.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Dilan gave a soft laugh as Paloma fixed the crown on her head, she let Paloma fix it to perfection. “Is it good now?” She asked softly. “I know, but it was a joke Paloma.” She teased with a laugh. Hooking her arm over Paloma’s as she lead her towards the bartender. “It’s Vodka, Sprite, pink glitter, and pink food coloring from what they told me.” She explained with a reassuring voice. “They do have good taste.” Walking over to the bartender and she signaled for two Dilan drinks. 

“Oh you wanted neon pink? Like Barbie pink? Because the girls—“ She started then stopped when the two very pink Dilan drinks appeared. “Okay, then I’ll drink these.” Taking both drinks off the table, she started to sip out of one of them. Figuring that for once she could indulge and have fun, especially since it was her birthday. “Can we also get a coconut water?” She asked the bartender. “I am having a lot of fun actually. What about you? Are you having fun?”

[lunadefresa]

The urge to reach out and soothe her was there - but they pushed it back instinctively. "Raising the dead, no. But I can't say I'm a saint, Jasmine - just because I don't," They both knew Jasmine may never have risen a single soul in her life had she not been pushed to it. "It was the right choice in the moment." She knew that she contributed to that choice - one of the many voices that wanted her back - and for what? It was unclear if either Poppy or Jasmine were happy with that choice. Alyssa was gone. What was the point if nobody was happy with the outcome? "It wasn't a choice you made alone. If you're shouldering that guilt..." Their brows knit, the way she held herself reminded them of the girl she knew once upon a time. The kid she thought of as the little sister she never had - "Do you..." They cleared their throat - "Would it be out of place to offer you a hug?" Their eyes drifted, as if it was embarrassing to ask, something they didn't always know how to do, despite wanting to offer. "Or lunch - " There was no real protocol for consoling a friend after a resurrection - they'd never figured out a worthy one, anyway.

"I'm aware. Still doesn't make it funny," Jas countered. Though at Dev's apology, Jas simply shrugged. "It's fine," She hummed quietly out as she moved to wrap her arms tighter around herself. "Yeah, well at least you don't go around killing people and raising the dead, right?" She mumbled out. "And yeah, not really. But, there's not really anything I can do about it now, can I? What's done is done. Alyssa is dead. Poppy's not and I'm left to wonder if I made the right choice doing what I did..."

[lunadefresa]

"It's a metaphor, JC..." She shook her head with a laugh, "...were you this wolf?" She deadpanned, lips pursed. Truly, it could have been any of their pack - sometimes they just made stupid decisions under a moon - herself included. "I think we all want nothing to do with bugs for a while," The thought of a swarm of bees was even more of a threat than it would normally seem. "You realize that would not help your image, making yourself wolf of the month?" She chuckled - "You would put your own portrait on the wall there?" She gestured to the entry hall, picturing a cheesy store portrait. "Is medieval a different time than the renaissance, now? Aren't they all...princesses, knights, and dragons? ...mm, they don't drill you on history to cut hair," That was pretty evident, at least they were both in the same boat. She nodded, more serious, "Well, we have the place - but they just need to realize they have somewhere safe here," Somehow, it was proving to be a difficult feat, "Something else?" She balked - "They make us look bad, twist up the facts, and then pretend they've made up something new?" It wasn't all that surprising - humans had free reign to make up what they'd like, it wasn't as if any of them could correct the nonsense.

"We should talk about winning lottery tickets, I would like to see those pushed to us," She leaned back against the wall - slowly migrated to sit on the arm of some furniture, intrigued and on the verge of a laugh. "Not the beat...?" Wasn't the point of dancing to go by the beat? Her brows rose as he shifted from one dance to another - ones she was more familiar with. She followed his movements with a surprised grin - "Ah...so you can dance," She didn't bother holding back a laugh, standing to get a better view of the screen. "What are they - what is that?" She imitated the expression - hoped none of the wolves would walk in, costing her any credibility she'd built in the town for her life. "...keep doing that, I'm sure they'll be lining up soon," She squinted at the phone - "...are you going to do that?" She smirked, wondering what was so appealing about rolling their eyes like that. "...do you think it would take long, learning these?"

"Well, maybe no bees." JC furrowed up his features, and while he had been trying to remain ecologically-minded about the creatures used for destruction, he really had had enough of wasps to last him a few months. "There was this new wolf, not naming names, few years ago, got his muzzle all up in a hive. Learned his lesson." Shaking his head at then, JC raised his brow. "Hey! Wolf of the month isn't bad. We could have a wall of fame. And I'm really not above nominating myself if folks are slacking," he joked with some genuine good humor. "I really don't know. Was any of it really Renaissance? Knights and jousting feel kind of medieval to me. To tell you the truth, I wasn't really as great of a student as I should have been. Stay in school." He gave a very serious nod at that before offering a gentle, empathetic smile. He did not really sit still well either. "Well, that's what wolfhood is all about. Always having some place to go," he said. "But thank you. That's a big help. I don't even think they were werewolves in Twilight. Someone told me they were something else. The shit humans come up with." He rolled his eyes as if he had not been human half his life.

Nodding along, then, JC wrinkled up his nose. "One time, someone lost the TV remote in here. Again. And I said something about it out loud, and then all of a sudden, I'm getting remote control ads everywhere." The internet was a conundrum. Now, JC was, in some ways, a creator at heart, a choreographer for the ice, but the digital landscape lacked the physicality to which he was accustomed. And he did not know enough about SEO to properly target their hypothetical videos. "I mean, this is how they dance now. You just sort of...shift around the lyrics, not the beat," he retorted, breaking into a laugh. "I can samba. I can tango." Moving his feet, then, JC broke into a better display, moving his feet with ease and revealing he did actually have rhythm. Humming, then, he picked up his phone and searched the word 'dance,' pulling up the first video to reveal two members of Generation Z popping their shoulders and doing a tongue thing. JC imitated it but was having a hard time keeping a straight face.

[lunadefresa]

She grimaced as the scene unfolded in front of her. Silently, she grabbed the holder of sugar packets and slid it toward her. She was probably one of the last people Bri wanted to see. "I'm assuming it would be a bad idea to ask how you're doing..." She started, lips pursed, cautious. "In which case, it might be a bad time to apologize..." Bri didn't scare her in a physical sense - but she didn't like the fact that she'd hurt her, even if it was in a dream that they all had little to no control over. "A life without death and destruction sounds pleasant..." She added, a slightly somber expression on as she slid the container of coffee stirrers toward her. Being born or simply living in Lunar Cove had taken that chance from many of them, at least in recent years.

@lunarcovestarters

Option A:

Meena let out a deep breath. To say she was not okay was an understatement of a lifetime. But, she had spent enough time curled up in a ball in bed writhing in pain from the sire bond breaking and now she was in desperate need of clearing any trace of Theo from her house. She had once upon a time, been known for her lavish house parties, but over the past year she had hardly invited anyone over to the manor and that little fact ended today. Swinging her front door open after a prolonged moment, her signature smirk found its way back to her lips. "Welcome! Come in, make yourself comfortable, help yourself to a sledgehammer and a hard hat," She offered up, motioning to the long line of destructive tools and safety gear that lined the far wall. "Feel free to destroy or take anything in the West Wing. I want everything but the structure gone," She explained, having already roped off her side of the house that would remain untouched. "Designer clothes, furniture, light fixtures- you want it, its yours, and before you ask, there is all you can eat food and drinks too."

Option B:

"Boo," Jas said, rolling her jet black eyes over, the temporary consequence from the necromancy, as she watched the kid run away from her screaming. Bringing her arms into her chest, Jas moved to wrap them around herself. It had been less than a day since everything at the Pendulum had gone down and she could feel the dark magic still there, just beneath a skin. A reminder of exactly what she had done, bringing her own sister back from the dead and killing someone in the process. A fact she was hoping the Council would let slide given that two other people had taken lives that night too. But, even if they didn't, she had plenty enough on her plate to focus on. She could practically feel the town's eyes on her as she forced herself to leave her place, wanting nothing more to retreat back inside, but unfortunately, she was out of coffee and groceries for that matter. So, here she was fending off the looks as best she could as she made her way towards the Caffeine Crypt. "Can I help you with something?" She finally asked, followed by an irritated huff as she turned towards the person to her left who had been watching her all this time. She knew she currently looked like she was possessed, but the stares were really starting to grow tiring.

Option C:

"No, I am not having a good day. Do you know how many flambéd rats and insects are in the Pendulum right now? The top of the stage? Completely burnt. A light fixture fell and put a dent in it. Doors were exploded to smithereens. Oh and after spending the entire day on the phone with the insurance company, I had to go to the doctor and get tested for rabies," She exclaimed with an exasperated sigh. "I want a life redo. Preferably one that doesn't involve so much death and destruction. Now, can you please pass the sugar?" She asked as she clenched her hands tightly around her currently bitter coffee in its styrofoam cup.

[lunadefresa]

The put-on half smile fell. Their sense of humor sometimes missed the mark by a mile. It didn't help that they had a twisted understanding of when deflection with humor didn't sit well. It wasn't such a good time to test it out. "...that wasn't what I meant, Jasmine. It's a line..." Regardless, it was a bad time to use the line. They really should have thought about that one. A beat - "I'm sorry." Lately she'd been even more shit at communicating than usual - that was saying something, really. "No - I really was just checking in..." They answered, discomfort overtaking them. It was easy to play a part, when they wouldn't see someone again in their life. Getting over the hurdles of upsetting someone they cared about? That was something they still couldn't seem to grapple with. "No jokes. But I tend to scare people around here when I don't make any..." And that in itself wasn't her cracking a joke - the deadpan delivery said as much. "I was going to ask how you've been doing. I can't pretend to know what you're feeling right now. But - I know that shit isn't easy on you, Jas." They looked away, in case she needed a second to not react to them bringing it up. "But we don't have to talk about it." They gave her an out.

"Not funny," Jas told Devrim point blank. She knew Dev was just joking around, but she wasn't exactly in the mood for anyone to reference how different she looked right now, jokingly or otherwise. Especially not when Dev, of all people, knew the weight of what the dark magic swirling around her irises meant. Devrim may have been used to it, having stuck around with Silas for far longer than Jas had. But, for Jas, she had sworn to herself after the death of her mother, that she would never, ever, perform that spell again. And yet, here she was, once again, breaking her own promises and killing someone else in the process. "And yeah it kinda is. But, what's up? You want to crack some more jokes or?"

[lunadefresa]

Was it offensive to find the way she downed the blood-infused coffee attractive, as a human? She would have to ask someone later. She made a mental note to get her that coffee order more often. "Sorry, I thought the sticker would - nevermind, next time I'll like - let you know first?" Her brows knit together, concern drawn across her features. "You are?" She pouted - not because she didn't want Bri to leave there. It was just worrying, that maybe she was so upset that she didn't ever want to go back. "Yeah...it doesn't hurt to be safe," She nodded seriously - people could die from rabies, she was pretty sure. "Oh my god - a new venture? Really?" Her eyes practically twinkled with delight, the little gasp immediate - but she quickly schooled her features. Or so she thought - it was pretty obvious the idea excited her. Not just an investment, but the specific venture of a cabaret. But Bri had just gone through something really terrible, and she didn't want to seem too eager. "...a cabaret. Like, with dancers? Like Moulin Rouge?" Maybe that was actually burlesque - she would have to look that up later. "If you need funding, we know that's not a problem..." she started, "A cabaret would be so cute, Bri. You'd need help with interior design, right? Picking little furniture? And getting costumes and stuff?" An entire cabaret's worth of seating and infrastructure was hardly little furniture, but she wasn't an architect or something. "I can totally help - I had my own business y'know? I mean - it wasn't, like, a place. But still-" The questionable business that had to be shut down and gave her PR team the nightmare of a century, but that was neither here nor there.

"Thanks, Lo," Bri mumbled out, taking the cup from the other and bringing it up to her lips to take a sip. Only the moment the taste of blood touched her lips, Bri's gaze snapped towards the cup, downing back the contents in one go. Barely even flinching at how hot the liquid still was as she lapped it back. And, if it wasn't for how deranged she'd likely look, the vampire would have slammed the now empty styrofoam cup down on the table and demanded more. Only, because they were in public and she had a reputation to protect, did Bri carefully place the cup back down on the table, dabbing at her lips with a napkin as she tried to slow her breathing. Attempting to focus on anything else besides the sudden desire to feed. "What? Sorry, I just... wasn't expecting it to have blood in it is all," She mumbled out. "And no that's okay. It would help, but likely more with Rohan than with myself? I'm actually thinking about leaving the Pendulum?" She admitted. Only for her eyes to widen at Paloma's rabies question. The thought erasing any lingering desires for blood from her mind as she exclaimed, "I'm not sure, but it's better safe than sorry right? And thanks, Lo. Seriously," She said, reaching across the table and resting her hand lightly upon the others before she gave her the smallest of shrugs. "But, honestly, if you want to help, maybe you could help me think of and invest in my next venture? I've actually be considered opening up my own Cabaret style speakeasy or something like that?"

[lunadefresa]

"Why can't it be both?" She answered easily - it wasn't some philosophical challenge. It just literally didn't seem like something so impossible. "You can have a super fun life, and tons of people remember you after," They could easily go hand in hand. In fact, most of the people they knew about from history were the ones with interesting stories.

"Yeah - like, they're not gone for us. We can still see them," She sighed, thoughtful, "You should write songs," Paloma commented, just slightly tipsy enough that even the few things she might usually not let slip unbidden from her lips weren't held back. She just was talking and saying a lot of words that sounded nice together. Except those - "Jimmy Fallon?" She wrinkled her nose - "That's literally the only thing you've ever said that is just - so wrong" Even though she'd known her for all of eight minutes, maybe - "People get famous for a lot of reasons. Money...to feel important..to make people like them...money..." Paloma could go on and on. She'd met so many people that had all different reasons. She'd just been born into it - but that kind of didn't deter her from wanting to stay in the public eye. "Famous people do love free stuff, though."

She pouted, disappointed that she'd gotten it wrong. "But I was close?" Quickly, her spirits lifted - she was basically right, then. Though - "No, I don't. I knew somebody with that name, though-" She tilted her head, eyes narrowed in thought. Her eyes followed - she still didn't really see any specific pattern. Besides the Big Dipper - if that's even what she saw there. "What's the story?" She asked, glancing back at her new friend.

Aiyla's eyes sparkled with intrigue as she listened to the stranger's response. There was a certain wisdom in their perspective, one that she hadn't fully considered before. The idea that stars continued to shine and be remembered long after they were gone resonated with her in a new light. "I've thought of that a few times. I think I'd rather have a brilliant, bright life than the sort that is admired after I'm gone." She was no stranger to death, to remembrance. The pieces of her own past lives were little strings connecting her throughout history. Some she could catch glimpses of- others were knotted and tangled too much for her to even attempt to make sense of it all. She'd give anything to remember them all. Even if it meant one life full of passion and purpose rather than the potential for forever.

"It's a beautiful way to look at it—like leaving a lasting mark on the universe. Not just forgotten, but remembered in the night sky." She added thoughtfully, her shoulder shrugging as she looked up to the sky, "I thought people got famous for the free merch and the chance of meeting Jimmy Fallon." She joked with a warm smile.

As the stranger guessed "Leo," Aiyla couldn't help but chuckle softly. She had given it her best guess without much to go on, and their response added a touch of playfulness to their exchange. "Close, but not quite," she replied with a coy smile. "It's actually Cassiopeia, the boastful Queen. Do you know the story?" Her eyes flickered upwards to the stars, a silent invitation to share in the wonder of the night sky.

[lunadefresa]

They flinched, the tiniest shift in demeanor as her voice bellowed between them. “Don’t be sorry,” they shook their head - raising her voice was hardly the worst she could do. Considering the circumstances, it was likely nothing compared to how she might respond to the rest of their story. They nodded. “I’m not questioning you…it just - doesn’t seem right. That they would have no loyalty to you. Or understanding.” Sure, they knew blindly following a leader was dangerous, to say the least. But ousting someone that genuinely seemed to have their coven’s best interests in mind? It didn’t sit right with them. They only hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Though really, that wasn’t their place - soon, it likely wouldn’t be helpful for them to have an opinion at all. 

“I know that, Poppy. You’re more than capable. But things were so complicated…” They sighed - averted their eyes. “I was a kid. How I died - that isn’t so important - but it was someone I knew. Looked up to. The why…” They couldn’t quite get into it. How much did Poppy know? How easy would it be to piece together the facts? Their life was inexorably tied to Jasmine’s in more ways than one - and the last thing they wanted was to tell her story for her. 

“I wanted to, Poppy. I know - I saw - that you were doing good things for the witches here. But - people don’t just leave that coven. I had to know what would happen before I did something rash…” If something would go awry - if Silas would know somehow, that they’d joined under another Supreme. If he would know which Supreme it was - possibilities and fears they built in their head. It wasn’t a coincidence that they never learned about such things. Why would Silas want his coven to potentially have the knowledge that they could break away from his loyalty with no consequences? But their faltering, their fear - when they did have their answers, it was too late. Poppy’s voice was no louder than it had been - but being told she’d been made into a liar stung, anyway. But was she wrong? Dev couldn’t fault her for it. They didn’t know what to say - how to explain. Their instinct was to shut down - to leave. “It’s not bullshit, Poppy…my reasoning might have been - stupid, misguided - wrong -  but it’s the truth.” They blanched at the accusation - the suggestion - that they could have left. Their stomach dropped - the familiar cold chill went down their spine. “It wasn’t so simple, Poppy. How could I have left? Any money, documentation - everything I had was tied to that place. I hardly had a real education - I couldn’t go to college and live a normal life. I didn’t have someone to pull me out-“ And for Jasmine, she never got the opportunity to grow up with the mother she still had, that gave her the chance to escape. That loved her enough to risk it all. It hurt - that Poppy would deny that it was all an act. That nothing between them meant something to her. It was clear that she was lashing out -  “You don’t mean that…” they rasped - but it didn’t matter. If Poppy was lying or not - it was clear she was done. Devrim couldn’t - and wouldn’t - say anything to convince her otherwise. She was protecting herself. Dev knew what that looked like. And moreover, she had no reason not to. Her trust was broken, betrayed. They weren't blind to that. “When did I ever imply that I only cared about that? You were never just a good fuck to me, Poppy - you know that. My emotions were my own. I never leveraged them - they were never a tool to distract or to hurt you.” 

She jumped back, her whole body tense as the pans clattered against the wall, the clang of metal reverberating in their head. It took everything they had to stay despite the chaos, to answer her. Their hands shook - but they curled into fists, steadied them. Their face as calm as they could manage, despite the sting in their eyes. A practiced response - they unfurled their fingers, steady. “I’m sorry…” They knew no apologies would undo it - could fix it. Never seeing her again - it was a fear that gripped them the moment they’d realized their feelings for her had grown. It was the bed they’d made - they could only blame themself. So they didn’t argue - not even with the cruel suggestion that they return to the man that had upended their life in the first place. Poppy was only reacting to the hurt they’d caused her. “That’s not what this was about, Poppy - I’m not some-“ They shook their head, finding it almost futile to explain. “You don’t have to believe me. That’s your prerogative - I don't fault you for it. You can hate me. But this was never about fucking you or hiding the truth for the rest of our lives for something so trivial - you know how I feel about you. Of course I would have told you, Poppy. I’ve thought about nothing else for years. Joining the coven, telling you the truth, breaking the ties and putting the rest behind me. I wanted to do things right. But there was never a right way, Poppy. I realized that too late…and that’s my fault. I hurt you…and if it’s easier for you to believe something to make that hurt less - it’s not my place to argue. You didn’t deserve to be lied to. And I’ve told you my piece.” They grabbed their jacket, the door clearly open for them to go. “If you want me to go, I will. I won’t bother you again. I’m sorry, Poppy.” 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“What the fuck is that suppose to mean?” Poppy questioned at Devrim’s words, she crossed her arms over her chest. Instinctively putting her guard back up around the other. It wasn’t that she wanted too as much as needed to, especially right now. She couldn’t break down around those who loved her, those who wanted her back. 

“I don’t know Devrim!” She shouted back, but collected herself a second later. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.” She apologized softly. It wasn’t that she was mad at Devri’m, she was just angery at the coven and the world. Everyone needed so much of her right now that she couldn’t continue on like this— being the thing that everyone needed. “I honestly don’t know anything. This all just happened and it’s never happened before so you know as much as I do right now.” She didn’t know if her resurrection would eventually cost her supreme or the fact that they’d all voted her back counted for something. A part of her hoped that it would, that she’d get to the position that she’d fallen in love with. Giving a nod to Devrim when she noticed them inching closer, but her actions stopped a second later. Raising an eyebrow at Devrim’s words before she put out a hand to stop them from reaching her. “I don’t need nor did I ask for you or anyone to protect me.” She hated that people thought they needed to save her, granted she had died. “I know I technically—“ Died. She still couldn’t choke out the word as much as she tried, instead she chose to skip it and pretend none of this had happened. “But I’m not some helpless witch. I thank you for helping me before, but we’ve been over this, the person you met isn’t the one I am now. I train now and have better control of my magic than I ever have.” 

“I’m sorry but what?” Eyes widening in shock at Devrim’s words and while they tried to brush off the subject Poppy wasn’t about to just let it drop. “When? How? Why?” Asking in a demanding tone as she tried to figure out what had happened to Devrim. For a moment they wanted to reach out and hug Devrim to comfort them, but that feeling was fleeting as Devrim continued to talk. Narrowing her blue icy eyes at Devrim while she took a step closer. “How did you know who I was?” Wanting that question answered immediately. Little did she know that the answer and more was coming. 

Shutting up for once as she listened to Devrim’s words, realized that they’d been spying on her for god knows how long and it was their job at that. Filling with rage as the other continued to talk, but rather than talk she stayed silent letting the other finish getting out what they needed too. “So that’s why you never joined the coven.” Finally giving a bitter laugh as she kept her arms crossed. While Poppy felt bad about Devrim’s parents the anger that was building inside trumped any sympathy that she had. Devrim had been lying to her for years and on top of that knowingly entered into a relationship with her while she was blind to all of this. “What a liar?” She shot back with venom in her voice. “Silas is a lot of things I’m sure, but you can’t blame him for your actions.” Giving no sympathy as the candles around her lit from the anger she was feeling inside. “Bullshit Devrim!” She yelled at the other before closing the gap between them. “You could have told me and this could have been handled appropriately. Yet you’ve said nothing this whole time in what the name of protecting me? I call bullshit on that too.” Trying to center herself to keep her powers from escalating but as things started to move around the room she knew she was doing a shit job. “You could have left at any time. Jasmine clearly did, so don’t pretend you didn’t have a choice in this.” Giving a laugh at Devrim’s words before she started to clap and she turned to walk back to where she was before. “What can I say I have an act and you’re just another sucker who fell for it.” A part of her had fallen back for Devrim, but with time and now this those feelings were pushed down. “Oh you mean you’ve diverted attention by sleeping with me knowing the whole time you were lying to me. Glad to know I was at least a good fuck.” Rolling her eyes at Devrim’s words while she put her hand on her hip. 

Letting Devrim finish out their words as her eyes turned darker and the flames burned brighter around them. She wanted more than anything to continue to call bullshit on Devrim’s words. “You’re right to not ask for forgiveness because you’re not getting it.” Feeling the rage inside of her continue to bubble up. “You’ve had years Devrim and now you want to tell me? Now? Right after I fucking died?” Sending the pans flying off the rack against the wall near her with a bang. “You’re right there’s no excuses for it, but you certainly made many.” She replied with a snarl of her nose. “You know what I want Devrim? I want to never see you again is what I want. Go back to daddy dearest why don’t you?” Opening the door with her telekinesis and it slammed against the wall. “I can’t even believe anything you say because fuck if I hadn’t died would you have ever been honest? Or would you just continue to lie so you could bed me?” Asking the other point blank. 

[lunadefresa]

"...well, my mother says you catch more bees..." she trailed off - everyone knew that little proverb. It was likely more easily said than done, though. She couldn't help but laugh at the suggestion - "Gold stars?" She shook her head - "...a wolf of the month? Moon stickers could have more influence than stars, maybe," They had devolved into kindergarten solutions, then. "Were there plagues in the renaissance?" Her brow knit, wracking her brain for that information - she wasn't going to find it, history was certainly not her best subject. She took his word for it - and it only made the whole thing that much more irritating. A better way to view it than terrifying anyway. "This is part of my 'time to myself', if I'm honest - I don't sit still well," she admitted - even going for a wolf-run was preferable to sitting in her thoughts for the day. "Twilight-" she groaned at the mere thought - "That must have set all of us back fifty years," or longer, really. "I'll put you in contact with them - I'm sure they will have some good ideas. They've kept my website from looking outdated," She chuckled, making a mental note to send off that email.

"I've found myself in hours of surfing content, I tried to buy a new leash on Amazon one time and it seemed to read my mind. I've never strayed from the shop since," She shook her head - "but it is useful in some ways..." Granted, her grasp on the younger end of it was only so up to date. She stepped back, arms crossed as she watched him set up the phone. "I'm sure there are ways to keep it discreet - lead people to the information," How was that possible? She had no clue. "What is that?" She gestured vaguely at his arms - not even teasing, just curious if he was being serious. "You can copy something they have on there..." she suggested, pushing away from the wall to pull out her phone. "What is it they're doing right now...?" She didn't know where to look in the first place - what hash tags to search.

JC laughed, rolling his eyes as he put his hands on his hips and looked around the room. "Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I don't positively affirm enough. You know, my skaters, they always say I'm tough. Fair. But tough. I'm going to get us one of those teacher boards. This way I can hand out gold star stickers for good wolf days." And in truth, most days were good wolf days; there were times, though, where he did miss the prior Alpha and the sense of utter order she could inspire. He sighed, offering up a grimace. "It was a little on the nose. Renaissance Faire. Plague. Whatever," he replied, knitting his brow. "I feel that, though. I hope you manage to get some time to yourself. Unwind and all that. But that would actually be great. We've talked with a few designers, but...it ends up going pretty Twilight when they don't get it." Advertising a wolf pack could only go so many ways. JC's eyes widened for a beat.

"...One of the kids got me on TikTok. I mean, I watch it sometimes, but...do you think? Do you think people would go for it? I mean, I understand we need to maintain a degree of privacy around here, now more than ever, but the right people, committed people, looking for community and purpose should have a way to find us." There were also turned wolves out there in the world, already affected by hunters; lighting a path for them was not out of the question. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, then, JC propped it up on a table as if to record. "I think you're supposed to dance." He did a few joking moves with his arms, but he did actually know how to move, ice dancer he had been.

[lunadefresa]

It wasn't often that she drank alone at a place like this, but she'd found herself at the bar anyway, pouting at a too-sweet drink that somehow didn't make her feel buzzy like it usually did. The sudden question caught her off guard - and she instinctively plucked and held out a wad of napkins for the damp little mark on her top. "Nope - I don't think it's sad. We get to see them still for like - millions of years? Tons of people wish they'd still be remembered even after they're dead, right? Why else are people famous?," That definitely wasn't the only reason - but she could see the appeal in shining bright for people way after you were gone. Dying was something she really didn't want to be thinking about anymore, though. Anyway - it wasn't as if she needed help buying the drinks - but it didn't hurt to try. It was fun to do things with no stakes. "Mm...it's Leo?" She literally had no idea what the jumble of stars was - hell, she didn't even know exactly which constellation she was pointing at. But it was her star sign, so it was her first guess, really.

Option A Broken record

Growing up her home was full of music. Her mother had favored the piano, a talent Aiyla herself never quite picked up beyond playing party songs in the uncharacteristic melodies. When she ran away she left it all behind- every cd, record and beloved song in her past. Part of her thought she would never see them again. She'd barely resigned with the fact that some things in life remain lost to us. Acceptance was difficult so as her fingers flipped through records she suddenly paused when her fingers slipped over a familiar album. Her heart thumped a bitter-sweet ache as she gingerly grabbed the album, Aerial by Kate Bush. She could still hear Defne singing King of the Mountain while getting ready for a night out. Aiyla spun to the internal music clutching the record, "Can we put it on?" She asked eagerly waiting for the melodies to fill the store. "I'm gonna get it and more." She smiled, moving to the melody and singing the lyrics to herself as she piled a few more records into her arms oblivious to those around her.

Option B Starlight Bar

Aiyla rattled the ice in her empty cup not noticing it empty until she attempted to take a sip and ice fell down her chest. Wipping the cook water away she sets the empty glass down, barely taking her eyes off the sky, "Do you think it's sad or promising?" She asked with a tilt of her head, "We're told the light we see is from already gone stars." She dropped her gaze her thoughts tipsy and warm, she smiled to her neighbor, "I'll buy the rest of the drinks for the night if you can tell me what constellation that is." She enticed tracing the outline of the grouping of stars.

[lunadefresa]

"Shoo, you're bothering her," Paloma flicked her wrist as if they were a very irritating mosquito. She wondered briefly if vampires could have high blood pressure - was that a thing? Busting a blood vessel? Either way, Bri didn't look like she needed the stress. "Are you sure you don't want another one?" She frowned, pointing to the cup that looked like it might bust at any second. Besides - it didn't look that good - "Here..." she just so happened to have two cups - one with a convenient little red heart sticker courtesy of herself - she wasn't about to make the mistake of drinking blood. "If you don't want the special coffee, you can have mine," She added, unsure. "...do you want my lawyers to help with the insurance people? They know who to talk to," Or, they knew how to use all the right words and names to pressure people. Maybe it wasn't easy to deal with a horrifying bug rat demon guy head on, but when it came to stupid things like red tape and laws, Paloma and her family could help. "...can you get rabies?" She whispered - immediately regretting the question. "Actually nevermind - um - if you need help with literally any of that stuff? I can totally jump in. I mean - I can ask Aslan to help with some of it, too?" Namely anything that involved boring logistics she didn't like dealing with. The rest, she could hire people for. "I heard somebody's about to donate a lot of money to the community for repairs and renovations, so - does that help a little?"

@lunarcovestarters

Option A:

Meena let out a deep breath. To say she was not okay was an understatement of a lifetime. But, she had spent enough time curled up in a ball in bed writhing in pain from the sire bond breaking and now she was in desperate need of clearing any trace of Theo from her house. She had once upon a time, been known for her lavish house parties, but over the past year she had hardly invited anyone over to the manor and that little fact ended today. Swinging her front door open after a prolonged moment, her signature smirk found its way back to her lips. "Welcome! Come in, make yourself comfortable, help yourself to a sledgehammer and a hard hat," She offered up, motioning to the long line of destructive tools and safety gear that lined the far wall. "Feel free to destroy or take anything in the West Wing. I want everything but the structure gone," She explained, having already roped off her side of the house that would remain untouched. "Designer clothes, furniture, light fixtures- you want it, its yours, and before you ask, there is all you can eat food and drinks too."

Option B:

"Boo," Jas said, rolling her jet black eyes over, the temporary consequence from the necromancy, as she watched the kid run away from her screaming. Bringing her arms into her chest, Jas moved to wrap them around herself. It had been less than a day since everything at the Pendulum had gone down and she could feel the dark magic still there, just beneath a skin. A reminder of exactly what she had done, bringing her own sister back from the dead and killing someone in the process. A fact she was hoping the Council would let slide given that two other people had taken lives that night too. But, even if they didn't, she had plenty enough on her plate to focus on. She could practically feel the town's eyes on her as she forced herself to leave her place, wanting nothing more to retreat back inside, but unfortunately, she was out of coffee and groceries for that matter. So, here she was fending off the looks as best she could as she made her way towards the Caffeine Crypt. "Can I help you with something?" She finally asked, followed by an irritated huff as she turned towards the person to her left who had been watching her all this time. She knew she currently looked like she was possessed, but the stares were really starting to grow tiring.

Option C:

"No, I am not having a good day. Do you know how many flambéd rats and insects are in the Pendulum right now? The top of the stage? Completely burnt. A light fixture fell and put a dent in it. Doors were exploded to smithereens. Oh and after spending the entire day on the phone with the insurance company, I had to go to the doctor and get tested for rabies," She exclaimed with an exasperated sigh. "I want a life redo. Preferably one that doesn't involve so much death and destruction. Now, can you please pass the sugar?" She asked as she clenched her hands tightly around her currently bitter coffee in its styrofoam cup.

[lunadefresa]

She sighed at the reminder, something she was still trying to process. They didn't exactly have greetings cards apologizing to someone for killing them in an induced hallucinatory nightmare. "Sucked is one word for it. I don't think anyone's dreams that night didn't turn out to be nightmares," Her brow furrowed - though she wasn't exactly surprised. For bitten wolves, it was no doubt one of many things that could be held over as a recurring nightmare on a normal basis. She'd never been bitten, herself - but it was far more difficult for the ones that didn't have generations' worth of wolves to look to for information and advice. "You were bitten in your dream? And by Kitty-" At least, she seemed to watch over the girl after the fact - or that's what it looked like. "I would think being turned once was enough...?" She'd long since embraced her 'birthright' - for the most part - but it was rare not to have some baggage with the turn. Especially making it through that first change, still wet behind the ears. "I might not, but I would like to hear it, regardless. I don't have any influence, first hand - but as a member of the pack and a friend to those that do..." She flashed a reassuring smile - she didn't even have to mention it. But as a pack wolf by nature and ingrained by family, she always had that urge to contribute to it. "Of course she can - you can both take something with you," she added with a grin, sipping at her drink. "Do you have any restrictions...?" Vegetarian wolves were rare, but they did exist - "either of you? I promise I don't only cook for a wolf's palate," a terrible joke, that could hardly pass for one anyway

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“I’m guessing your dreams also sucked?” Safiye asked with a raised eyebrow. “Funny enough I’ve been bitten two times now. Once when turning into a wolf and then by Kitty in our dreams.” Shaking off the thoughts of the dreams, she rubbed her nose. “I don’t have a problem answering your question if you want to know the answer, but you might not like it.” She explained softly, with a caution in her voice. Taking her drink from the counter as well as she moved towards a table and gestured for Frankie to follow her. “Thank you for that compliment. Although I’m not sure I did anything that well besides accepting that I was a wolf.” She ha gotten out of the dream by accepting what she truly was, in turn had gotten Mason out safely. “Thank you again for that. I appreciate it.” Biting her bottom lip before she nodded softly at Frankie’s words. “Well— that’s certainly a great offer. Do you think I could bring my sister with me?”

[lunadefresa]

They sighed - they'd been meaning to meet with her, but the timing was off - like their timing had been for a while now. "Doesn't seem like it," she answered, shaking her head at the question. It was a bit awkward to be alone with someone she mostly sort of knew through Jasmine. But he was good people - and they found that they were becoming more and more accustomed to company. That they had possibly started to enjoy company - frustratingly the realization came at a time that they were lacking in it more than ever. "No, I don't mind. What do they say, about misery and drinking?" That wasn't the line at all, but it had a nicer ring to it. "You don't strike me as an annoying person." It wasn't an empty compliment - Dev could become easily irritated at times, but if Jasmine could tolerate a person - well, she trusted her judgment. Besides, a leader of anything was likely well adjusted. "It's busy most days, but this..." they commented, vaguely referring to the higher congestion than usual. Plenty of them seemed to have the same idea about how to approach the aftermath yet another devil of the month.

closed starter for @lunadefresa where: Starlight Bar

·✥·

Starlight on a summer evening was one of his favorite places in town, hands down, but it's proprietor had been poorly masking the effects of her recent resurrection. He didn't blame her, but his shoulders tensed like he was bracing to push through something painful as he walked in, nonetheless. But neither Poppy nor one of her duplicates stood behind the bar tonight. Curiously, he glanced around, and caught sight of Devrim. He raised a tentative hand, and moved to sit near them. They'd never exchanged more than a few words in passing, he realized. "Poppy's not here, I take it," he said, filling the empty space between them. They only had one or two friends in common he thought, though she might've been in the Coven, so maybe there were actually more? Curiosity pushed him to add, on the spur of the moment but with a friendly smile, "Uh, mind if I join you? I don't really want to get trapped making small talk with people tonight. But I promise not to be too annoying, and I'll buy us a round, if you're in."

[lunadefresa]

"The witches -" She needed to know more about things before trying to use them as points of reference. "Shakespeare sounds like an ass." Sabrina was one of the few witches - besides those other three sisters or Wendy - that got a good wrap in anything. "I've never worked in an office, but if any show I've seen is right, nobody likes them," they chuckled - their expression slightly more somber when he spoke to the photo. That sort of took some of the humor from all of it - but it added a different - something. They weren't the best with words. "Why did you just...?" They gestured to the photo. "You have never thrown a single - really?" She narrowed her eyes at him. How many times had she been told that material possessions could be something that weighed a person down? Granted - they also kept the few photos they could tuck away from their childhood. Maybe he had a point. "...you cried? You cried-" He truly wasn't exaggerating about his sentimentality. "You've never had a breakup and set fire to everything they gave you?" The question was completely serious - another running trope they'd seen time and again. "Did you think that maybe you would get more out of - making something - than destroying things? Is this helping you at all, or making you feel worse?" Their tone wasn't judgmental - slightly softer than they normally were, if anything.

Rohan offered a light laugh, shaking his head. "I mean, you're not supposed to say the name of the play in a theater. But yeah, there's these three witches that kind of just bubble and boil throughout the show. Though, I suppose they don't cause Macbeth's downfall. Just kind of cackle about it." He sighed, but really, so many fictional portrayals of witches had never been the most flattering. He supposed that was why humans feared them. "I've been once or twice. Some old theater props ended up here, but...most of the rat things went in the trash," he said this as if he needed to reassure someone about it. A shiver rolled through him, but he managed a smile. "Hey! Maybe some people like office jobs. Maybe they were just...gaga for Microsoft Excel," he suggested, but raising the bat, he took another swing at the monitor. It did feel good. Looking at the photo, though, Rohan grimaced. Knitting his brow, he spoke at the photograph. "I release you. Whatever turn of events brought you here, I unbind you from them," he suggested before swinging the bat and smashing the glass. "I've never thrown away a photo in my life. It must have been a rough breakup. One time, I found someone's wedding picture at the thrift store, and I cried about it."

[lunadefresa]

She nodded - indicated that she could gloss over that bit. For many people it was easier not to dwell on the traumatic events that were happening more and more frequently. "As well as we all can be," gave a one-shoulder shrug, "I wasn't bitten by anything, at least," It wasn't even a joke - even if she was vaccinated, rabies was a serious problem. "Is there a specific reason, you prefer it?" She asked, tone light - "Don't feel pressured to answer. We just wonder sometimes, what might hold people back from joining," She grabbed her drink as it was placed on the counter, leaned back to wait with her. "It's good to have a buddy, regardless. You did well, with Kitty," It wasn't her place to comment really, but she could appreciate seeing wolves sticking together, watching after one another. "Pack or not, if you ever have questions, need anything..." She flashed a gentle smile. "Including dinner, I seem to always cook enough for a pack at home, I only have so many friends and neighbors to share," she joked.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Giving a slight laugh at Frankie’s words even though she wasn’t sure what she meant by the tap here not working, but she didn’t question it further. “Good to know I got the right person.” She was pleased that she’d remembered the other woman and her connections to the leader. At the mention of last night she tensed up slightly, she couldn’t force herself to smile as she thought about her loved ones and the pain they were in. While she was okay no one else around her was okay. “I’m okay— just—“ It was a shitshow to say the least and she’d watched a number of people around her die. “How are you?” She asked curiously with a sad expression still. “Thanks, I prefer not being recruited. I think I’m okay being a lone wolf. I mean I have Caleb to help me.”