#thread: xander and fallon

[lovesspell]

Location: Old Mill Diner in the evening Starter for @cagedbrd

Xander was a man who liked to stick to his routine and nights at Old Mill Diner had become pretty routine when he didn't want to cook for himself or when calls when late and he had missed out on the fresh meal at the firehouse. It helped that Xander felt like it was a way to be around people without necessarily having to be with other people. In his early months in Cardinal Hill, his visits to the diner had been a way for him to get a feel for the town and it's people. It also helped that the staff was friendly, starting with the woman he smiled at as soon as he came in. "Ms. Cooper, I have to say, you are going to be very proud of me."

Xander took his usual seat at the counter and waved at another regular. He grabbed a menu despite how much he ordered the same thing but his eyes were still on Fallon. "I finally listened to that album you suggested. I mean you know non rock is usually not my thing but I think the pop is growing on me." He flipped the menu over and hummed one of the tunes for her just to prove it. "I will take a coffee and a story about your day as soon as you get the chance."

[merrock]

event: Volunteer Week

location: around Merrcok

ic timeline: April 24 - 28

ooc timeline: April 22 - 30

Merrock's a town known for giving back… which is why we're spending an entire week doing just that! We have some suggestions for places that you can spend time volunteering, but you're not completely limited to these if you have some ideas of things around town that you would like to do yourself!

cityview park -- spend some time cleaning around the historic park in downtown Merrock.

hospital center -- dedicate your time to doing whatever it is that the staff might need your help with.

merrock railway -- do some clean up along our very own rail system in town, keeping it sparkly and new. ish.

aquatic conservatory -- help the conservatory staff out with feeding and looking after the many wonderful sea creatures.

the lighthouse -- spend some time volunteering to help clean up the area surrounding the lighthouse.

the marina -- help boat owners with tours and cleaning up around the docks.

the swimming beach -- every beach is always in need of a little bit of cleaning!

aster playground -- that playground equipment might need some work, get repairs done, clean up the flower beds!

community center -- there are always a million things to do at the center to help out.

memorial library -- help our team of librarians with whatever they need.

new haven daycare -- visit the youngest kids and volunteer to help with their needs!

ruff around park -- do a little tidying and cleaning up and play with puppies!

school district -- help out with various tasks that need done around the elementary, middle or high school.

animal sanctuary -- help our workers with the animals that need them the most.

harmony ranch -- spend time embracing your inner cowboy… or cleaning out some stalls!

lake malory -- keeping our lake clean and pristine is a big goal for this year… go ahead and help out!

paradise gardens -- help take care of the many, many plants in our own botanical garden, and learn something along the way.

state park -- there's always something to do around the state park to help out!

And! If you hop under the cut right now, you will find the pair-offs that you're looking for. A thread must be started sometime during the duration of the event with your partner. Check it out.

A thread must be started between April 22nd and April 28th of some character combination planting a tree, anywhere in Merrock! The thread does not need to be completed during that time frame -- you can continue writing it after the event has ended, but we do ask that you guys please not just drop the thread, or only do one or two replies before giving up. Plant your tree! If a player plays multiple characters, you are welcome to choose any pairing, but try to make it unique (in other words, if you've written before, avoid that pairing).

If you are assigned to someone who is inactive, or does not reply to you within a couple of days, please reach out to the admin team. We'll work with you!

Steph (Katherine, Thalia) & Nani (Diana)

Grace (Rosalie) & Myr (Amanda)

Mags (Cassidy) & Nikki (Ember)

Chayya (Marlow) & Anna (Sylvia, Reyna, Jayla, Alec, Wes, Cori, Cathy, Espie)

Frankie (Deacon, Ravi) & Erin (Lara, Mandy, Bryan, Jamie, Vince, Mekelah, Joella, Alice)

Jen (Tommy) & Nessa (Mateo, Zoey, Chloe, Yesenia, Libby, Xander, Jennifer)

Maria (Vitus) & Bri (Cordelia, Eliza, Fallon, Spencer, Emeline, Marquis, Vivienne, Ramsey)

MOD NOTE: as you may notice, admin Katie and admin Lindsey are not on the list. The reason for this is that we know things happen: players need to take a hiatus, someone goes inactive, emergencies crop up, life happens sometimes! We are on stand-by to step in and replace anyone who can not participate. With both of us playing eight characters, there's a very good chance we have not written with you in one way or another, and we are happy to step up and help! But we will also be doing plot/thread calls and/or open starters, so we will be just as involved as you, promise! xx

[echobcrn]

updated to-do. ( updated from )

starters —

as far as I know, all starters have been posted or will be posted with my replies.

replies — ( 9 )

eightholyterrors — spencer & benjamin, isaac & samantha. mistakenxidentityx — noah & mia ( anniversary, meeting the parents, punishment fuck, missed school, rebah notice, planned punishment ). mysatiisfaction — anika & ricky ( both threads ; low muse for her so I don’t know when this will be done tbh )

other —

the 218 inbox things I have yet to answer wow. update test muses page with new muses update main muse pages get my shit together lmfao

what’s in my queue / finished — ( 24 )

abadxname — noah & ella. nottobecrossed — noah & charlee. killshct — josie & zachary. manymusescherry — noah & eloise. mistakenxidentityx — vincent & rowan, hunter & emma, tristant & remy ( both the new starter & current thread ), bread & kat ( starter & snap thread ), xander & aurora, alasdair & emma, oliver & nicasia, blaise & aria, jasper & cass. stcrbcys — devin & gabriel ( both threads ). mysatiisfaction — fallon, peyton, & ricky. thcblackrosc — isabel & alexandre plaisirwrites — jasper & carmen thcblackrosc — blaise & lia.

[merrock]

Hi guys! I was wondering if there was a list of members where we can see who is using Beta, just so I know who to switch threads over for? I know I saw a few on Katie’s OOC post, but I just don’t want anyone to feel left out if I don’t switch their thread over. Thank you!

Hey, Nessa!

We don't have a list yet, but... let's create one! While we want everyone to switch over by Monday, if you have switched over to the Beta Editor already and are currently using it, please comment on this post! Under the cut will be a list of players/characters who either have commented (here or in the OOC) or I have spoken to who I know are using beta editor at this time, or will be when they next do replies.

It's okay if you haven't switched over yet! We're just getting a jump start to get used to it as early as possible. If it makes it easier on everyone, feel free to bookmark this ask so that you can refer back to see who is using the new/beta editor! xx

Ana (Dane, Valentina)

Anna (Sylvia, Reyna, Jayla, Alec, Wesley, Espie)

Bri (Cordelia, Fallon, Spencer, Vivienne, Ramsey)

Erin (Lara, Vera, Miranda, Bryan, Jamie, Vincent, Alice)

Nessa (Zoey, Chloe, Yesenia, Libby, Xander)

Katie (Ryder, Rafael, Stelly, Nari, Livvy, Josh, Cage, Darrius)

Kay (Lincoln)

Lindsey (Aleja, Chetan, Greyson, Kellan, Elise, Trey, Iris, Amina)

May (Devika)

[lovesspell]

The touch of her hand in his made him feel both grounded and like he was lifting off of the floor at the same time. He felt himself blush again, laughing as he held up his hands to show his innocence. "What can I say, you woke up the party guy in me, I put him into retirement about a decade ago," he joked but it was pretty much the truth. It was part of why he barely had more than two drinks if it was liquor, anything beyond that and he knew that motor would turn on like a superhero putting on their mask. "But you know, I'm also kind of an acoustic guy," he admitted. The diner was still empty and Xander felt like he and Fallon were in their own world, despite the staff still very much there in the kitchen. He walked over to the jukebox and glanced over the choices before he found there right one.

In a few seconds, the opening note of the song he had picked started to fill the space. The sound of the guitar always hit him right in his chest, making him feel a wave of nostalgia. He hummed softly to the melody, swaying by himself for a moment before he held out his hand to her. "May I have this dance Ms. Cooper? I promise I don't have two left feet."

⋆⋆ ★ ⋆⋆

Fallon's features scrunched at the idea, imagining her in that gaudy yellow showed clearly on her face. It twisted in uncertainty but she tried to put on a semblance of a smile for Xander. Not everyone had the same ability to look good in that attire the way he did. In fact, she might've even argued that he looked attractive in his bunker gear. That wasn't attire that suited everyone and Fallon would rope herself into that category too. "Maybe I'll stick to the singin' and you stick to the savin'." That was what they seemed to be better at, not that anyone except her shower heard her voice as of late. It used to be something that defined her and now she'd forget if it weren't for the encouragement of her mother. Even though it was the woman's illness that kept her daughter planted in Cardinal Hill, Fallon was often requested to serenade her with the encouragement to one day sing for the masses, if it were only that simple.

This performance was needed, maybe even more than she knew. Something felt right when she danced around the diner without a care. That was where the world couldn't hurt her. When Xander joined her the blonde was quick to reach out for his hand, moving his arm as if to loosen up rusty bolts. The final note brought his praise to which she bowed theatrically before motioning for him to do the same, Fallon taking over the clapping. "I didn't know you had that in you," the girl replied with an arched eyebrow. "What else are you hidin' from me?" A joke but curiosity unlocked after seeing him begin to let loose.

[lovesspell]

"Well that's a shame. Think the people deserve to hear you sing," he told her. Though he understood what it was like to have a past life, to end up in a place like Cardinal Hill felt like phasing into a different realm, a different version of himself. He wondered if Fallon felt that way but that felt like too deep of a conversation for now. Or ever. "I think it sounds like to me that you should come down to the firehouse one day and learn some tricks in the trade. Show you some of the easy ropes, I think you'd be great at it. Plus, I have a feeling you'd look great in reflective yellow," he told her with a wink.

As the song changed and Fallon started to sing, it was like he was in a trance as his eyes focused on her, almost forgetting where he was for a moment. He found himself mouthing the words along, not sure he'd known them at first but then suddenly he thought about how much his sisters had played this on their boomboxes as they got ready for a night out. Before he could stop himself, he got up from his seat, confident in how empty the diner was and he started to dance with her as the song broke into it's most upbeat part. And before he knew it, he was singing with her, the glimpse of party boy he had buried away coming to the surface. He could feel the tension that had wrapped itself around his mind and his nervous system starting to loosen as he showed off some of his dance moves, acting as if he was one of Fallon's backup dancer and as the song came to it's close he was grinning and laughing like a fool. He started clapping and cheering encore. "Now that was a show!"

⋆⋆ ★ ⋆⋆

"Hand me one of those spoons, will ya?" She looked over his broad shoulder towards the plastic containers that held the silverware she needed to return to their spot before the end of her shift. The next two songs had been picked for a reason, not only thinking he might enjoy them but her guiltiest of pleasures. It started with Come on Eileen and would start her theatrics during Like a Prayer. "Too bad, you came in here knowin' good and well that I was expecting nothin' less than you enjoying yourself," Fallon said giving him a knowing glance. A harmless flirt wouldn't hurt, even if he was a customer. "You know, I used to be a singer back in my day, but now it's strictly reserved for my shower and car." No one had really heard her outside of the occasional karaoke but the blonde didn't know what she'd do if the love grew again. She couldn't, and wouldn't leave now to fulfill a dream that needed to be left behind. Her words never saw the light of day yet moments like these made her feel a little lighter either way.

"If we swapped for a day I don't think I'd make it," she half-joked, knowing she didn't stand a chance. Between her short stature and general lack of athletics, she preferred being behind the counter. "It's the good ones that make it worth it, like you." That she meant wholeheartedly. Before she could gush on him further the next song began and with a spoon in hand she used the empty dining area as a stage to sing along for him, even giving a few sways to the rhythm to really sell it.

[lovesspell]

"I mean, I won't say no to a good show, especially with my newfound love for pop music. I'd be honored if you'd make an exception." Xander could feel himself smiling wider than he usually did and he almost covered his face to remind himself to act more chill. He looked up again as she hummed, blushing as he met her eyes. He looked over his shoulder, unable to help it as he glanced to see if anyone was looking at him. Then he hummed right along with her, bopping his head along to the music a bit. "Alright, alright, maybe I am swayed by the good feeling of pop music. Maybe," he told her, laughing into his mug before he took another few sips of coffee. "You're not allowed to have me enjoying myself this much this late in the day. Kind of ruining my mysterious energy," he joked, a bit of honesty and his best way of being vulnerable. "You know that humming sounds a little bit like you might have a set of pipes on you. But I'm no expert."

"Are you kidding? You deal with all sorts of people all of the time. I mean I can run into fires yeah but no way I could handle balancing those plates or serving a group of teenagers and managing to not see the place on fire." And he believed that to be true. "Of course they don't, no one's taught them to tip or they just have barely enough cash on them. Unless it's rich kids, then they're just little shits. I don't know, make it dramatic, either way I'm gonna enjoy it," he assured her.

⋆⋆ ★ ⋆⋆

She was shining. Music was where her real passion lay, and if she could get anyone listening then it was considered a great success. Xander had been a hard sell at first. He didn't think her pop music was anything special as she played it loudly during her night shifts alone. When she worked the graveyard it was rare to get more than a few customers but she could count on a few, Xander's occupation making him a perfect candidate. That also meant he would be forced to listen to her rants on lyricism and how the pop genre should be more appreciated as real music. Fallon had yet to reveal her own creative side but if he continued to find an interest maybe she'd have to bring her songbook out. Before he had even replied the blonde had made her first steps over to the machine to queue up a few of her favorites. "Oh, so you want a show? I usually perform for bigger audiences but I guess this once I could," she joked as the decided track started to roll. Fallon was always prepared to sing a few bars, especially if he was for a handsome gentleman at her bar. The female hummed out a few bars for him on her way back to side work with a quick glance over to catch his eye.

"You're joking. That sounds like a lot more interesting than anything I do around here," she mused with a laugh bookending her words. Xander always told good stories. His work was exciting unlike filling up a mug for the umpteenth time. The blonde's gentle laugh had taken flight into a cackle by the end of his tale. "That's vile, kids these days are brutal. I can barely serve 'em here without them makin' a mess. You know all the high school kids never tip either?" Her had shook in disappointment though smile still in place from her obvious amusement. "Now how am I supposed to follow that?"

[lovesspell]

"It is catchy. Almost too catchy. But it grew on me. Even listened to it on the way into work. Had to turn it off before I got there cause the other guys of the station would have gotten jealous of how much fun I was having," he joked, knowing well that was not at all the reason he had turned it off before he got there. He followed her line of sight towards the jukebox and smiled. "Only if you promise to sing along with me. I mean this place is pretty dead right now, might as well liven it up. God bless, thank you very much," he told her, letting out a content sigh the moment he wrapped his hands around the mug. It wasn't even the best coffee around but it was familiar and it reminded him of Sunday mornings breakfast with his family after church. A memory that seemed so distant and that he swallowed a way with his first sip of coffee.

"Not unless you want to hear about the group of kids I had to pull out of an air vent today because they were trying to sneak into the staff lounge at school," he replied with his own raised eyebrow before smiling. "Just because you made a fresh pot, I'll give you my story first. We get a call saying a teacher thought she heard animals in the vents and then one kid just falls through the ceiling, other two are stuck because they took a wrong turn through the vents and miscalculated. So we gotta get these kids out without breaking more of the ceiling or anything else. I'm up there trying to wiggle these kids out and I kid you not, Fallon, this kid just farts..right in my face. Absolutely horrendous. Just says sorry and starts cracking up. I started seriously re-considering my life choices at that point."

⋆⋆ ★ ⋆⋆

Her regulars were arguably Fallon's favorites. Not that she meant to pick favorites, but some had taken hold of her heart beyond just the diner menu. They were her friends as far as she was concerned. When a familiar face came through the door, the blonde brightened from behind the counter she wiped down and waved him inside. "Hi there, darlin'," she greeted promptly. His spot was filled, and Fallon tossed the rag aside to put her attention on the man who took a spot at the counter. She glanced down at the menu he took, knowing full well that he would get the thing he always did. "Is that so?"

Moments later, he explained where the comment had come from, and her smile curled into that of a smirk. "I knew it! I told you that you'd like it if you gave it a chance," the blonde replied, giving a soft tap to the counter in amusement. "It's catchy, right? You know I could pop a few into the jukebox." Her eyes slid over to the music machine in the corner before going back to meet Xanders. After the shift she had, his company wasn't only welcome but appreciated. The blonde was already filling a mug for him when he made his request, sliding it across to him once it was full. "Just made a fresh pot," she added before moving across the room to put a few songs on for their mutual enjoyment. "My day? Oh, come on, you don't want to hear about the table of ten I had earlier that nearly left their baby behind, do you?" An eyebrow arched curiously, looking over her shoulder back to his spot at the counter, already knowing the answer to her question.