Can't Fight the Moonlight

Who would've thought?

Rangi's entire face flushed and she nodded dumbly, following the woman into the bar. It was still loud inside, but no one was up on the stage and there was music playing through the speakers, the DJ clearly on a break. She stumbled in after her, the warm atmosphere of the bar almost making her forget what she'd said in the first place, and of the chill that taking the woman's hand had sent through her. She was used to it, now, in this town. There weren't a lot of people untouched by death anymore. "I-- yeah. I'm a banshee. S-sorry. I know some people find it, um, off putting? I'm sorry. I can, like, keep my distance."

"Don't be crass," Lupe said, rolling her eyes at him. She kept her arms folded across her chest tightly, pursing her lips. "You're really giving yourself a lot of credit there." While Lupe had enjoyed their night together, she didn't think she'd describe it as her best night ever. She knew it was teasing, but with the way things were now, she wasn't willing to entertain it too much more. Even though she knew what had happened between them had nothing to do with her position now, that didn't mean others wouldn't assume things if given the chance. "My mother was a great woman, actually. You'd be blessed to have been her," she shot back with a smirk. "I'm going to fight for the whole town, you know. Make this place better for everyone." It's all she'd ever wanted to do, really. Protect people, make their lives better, the way her parents had.

The worry was evident. And normally, Leyla could whisper for him to hear her. He had spent years catching half-finished thoughts muttered without effort. Now, he found himself leaning in slightly, straining to hear what she was saying. He stared at her for a long moment, expression going strangely blank as his mind attempted and initially failed to catch on. "What?" It only took a few seconds for the implications to settle into place. Human. Of course. The thought hit him with startling clarity, and genuine shock crossed his features before he could smooth it away. This was a possibility they never had to consider. Then stillness gave way to action. He was on his feet immediately, reaching for his keys. "Do you need to grab your bag or anything? Let's go. Now."

"Yeah, but he's the actual Sheriff now so, technically, I'm still the only deputy sheriff you know," Lupe countered with a grin. She waggled her brows, grabbing her phone and standing as she started to lead Brie off towards the interrogation rooms. "Don't you have, like, a committed relationship?" Lupe teased, throwing a glance back at Brie over her shoulder. "Well, they're certainly not meant to be flattering, no. We'll be fine, they're not as scary as the TV shows make them out to be."

Dhruv felt the slight burn in his calves somewhere between one sprint and the next, the heaviness never really faded these days, but right now he didn't care all too much. A laugh escaped him breathlessly as he chased after the ball, cutting across the pitch as the noise of opponents and teammates alike surged around him. It had been far too easy to tie a blue bandana around his wrist, securing it tight so it didn't fall off as he ran. It took even less thought to sign up.

He loved football long before Lunar Cove had taught him loss. Before being a werewolf had become another thing to manage. Back when he was a kid chasing a ball down cramped apartment hallways until his mother shouted at him to stop breaking things. Back when university matches had left him exhausted, collapsing onto the sidelines with teammates with a grin. Mehta. 5. He was glad to dust off and don his old jersey again.

Grass beneath his boots. Adrenaline pumping through him. He felt alive. The familiar weight of movement was muscle memory older than most of the things that haunted him these days. He missed this. The ease. The way he could move without looking down at the ball, trusting it to stay exactly where it belonged. The small adjustments made on instinct rather than thought. The effortless glance over his shoulder before receiving a pass, already mapping the field and knowing exactly where to go.

for teammates:

The ball found him near the edge of the box, and Dhruv met it with the outside of his foot before it could bounce away, cushioning the speed as he felt two opposing members stepping in. He rolled the ball backward under his sole, pivoting neatly away from pressure, and looked up when he heard someone call out. "Easy," he replied with a nod.

A teammate had broken free down the middle with far more space and better odds than he saw himself having. Dhruv threaded the pass without hesitation sending it cleanly through the defender who committed too early. It had enough speed so that that his teammate could collect it easily. He wasn't looking to score anyway, never really had been, the setup was enough to tug a smile on his face. "Take the shot!"

for opponents:

He weathered a slight shove at his shoulder before falling back into his position. This suited him. Defence. Observation. Timing. He had those on lock. Tracking the opposing player as they moved, Dhruv read the subtle shift in posture before the pass had even been made. Exhaustion tugged at his limbs, body reminding him that coffee wasn't a substitute for sleep but anticipation and joy overpowered everything right now.

The pass came and Dhruv moved. "Mind?" It only took one clean step to cut across the runner's path, foot hooking around the ball with precision to steal possession smoothly. "Cheers!" Smile turned into a laugh at the protest that followed.

for spectators:

He couldn't remember the last time he'd gone this long without thinking about what everyone else thought. Out here, for ninety minutes, all he had to do was play. A quick touch forward. Another to shield it. Tried and tested, it worked every time.

"Gooaaaaal!" She exclaimed happily as she began to jog lightly back to her team's side of the field. It had been a while since Kiraz had played soccer. It used to be one of her favorite things to do when she was a kid. There was once a time when she used to be practically shoving her dad out the door so that he could drive her to one of her many matches. She used to run around the field with the brightest smile imaginable, and even after the game had wrapped, her whole team and her would be in a fit of giggles as they ate their orange slices, using the peels to make their smiles momentarily appear even wider as they crossed their eyes and flashed each other funny faces. But that was before her dad started to take the long way home. Before his motel visits and before Eda, now Leyla, had been driven out. After that, soccer never really seemed to matter much anymore. She still kept up with it, if only not to trouble her parents into thinking something was wrong and having an extracurricular didn't exactly hurt her chances of getting into college. But, the moment she turned eighteen, she had stopped.

She hadn't even touched a soccer ball since then, and now, being back on the field, she was reminded as to why. She felt nothing as she kicked that ball into the goal. Sure, she may have smiled and cheered, but as she watched the ball tear through the back of the net, she was reminded of just how different she was now from that little kid. Life had hollowed her out into nothing more than an empty shell, but the least the empty shell could do was win, and her team was taking the lead thanks to that goal, even if she may have cost them a few penalties earlier on by plowing into their opponents a 'little too hard'.

"Who knew you were such a soccer star, Mehta," Kiraz collided into Dhruv's shoulder, flashing him a teasing smirk as she gave the jersey he had been wearing a playful tug. She had been roasting him all day for having brought his own jersey out to play, making sure to use the word 'soccer' as much as she could rather than 'football' because she knew just how much he'd truly appreciate it. But she had stopped calling him her plethora of nicknames from 'gov'nor' to 'sex on the beach' a week or so back, so she figured it was a fair trade-off. And in truth, it was nice to see him smiling, even if it only further reminded her of just how broken she must be to play this game, she too used to love, and not feel a single thing. "So, where do we want to go to celebrate the win?"

"I have a full brain, thanks very much," Addie quipped back, even if her voice was still coming back to her, raspy and low like she was just getting over a cold. Her mouth felt dry and scratchy, too. There was a metallic taste still in the back of her throat, a tang that made her tongue sit uncomfortable inside. She furrowed her brow, moving closer to Kiraz as they started back towards the town. She always felt like there should be some sort of warning when she passed through the fucking mirage or whatever, but there never was. One minute they were outside of town, the next they were inside and her body felt like it could relax.

She glanced sideways over at the other woman, her eyes unashamedly running over her nude body. "I'm fine," she shrugged, comfortable in her own nudity, even with dirt and leaves sticking to her skin. The blood was the only unseemly part, but Kiraz didn't seem very bothered by it, either. "Would rather just find some water to wash off in." Her lips twitched up, almost a smirk. "I mean, wouldn't have to pretend, really."

"Eh, suit yourself," She shrugged, pulling the oversized t-shirt back over her head. "The river isn't too far ahead," She noted, given this wasn't the first time she had to take the werewolf walk of shame back into town. "Oh? Well, in that case, once we get to the river, you up for a little distraction?" She proposed. Her own lips twitched ever so slightly as she took the time to finally take in the other wolf who had surprisingly not flinched away at what she had just done.

The emergence of her fangs took him by visible surprise, despite his best efforts to quell it. He smiled with completely ordinary teeth. "You know, I haven't quite figured that out yet. They only seem to come down when I'm...thirsty."

He smiled. "Oh...well, then you might be just the person I was going to try and come see. Warwick Babcock. People call me Tripp. I'd shake your hand, but I'm a mess. Forgive me." He gestured down at himself. "I'm actually working on a few development project in-town, and it could be mutually beneficial for our offices to connect. Beyond all that, of course, is...certain new cravings. There's a card of some kind?"

"I could help with that," She mused. "And answer any vampiric questions you may have. It's a pleasure," Meena added as her eyes gave him a once-over, as he insisted that he was a mess. "And yes. It's one of the main reasons for the Clan's existence. If you'd like to join, all you'd need to do is sign this little consent form agreeing to never distribute clan privileges you receive to non-members. Pretty standard stuff. It keeps the Council, Hospitals, and Blood Banks happy. They and our lovely volunteers donate their blood that you can either drink directly from the source of or from any blood bags or blood-infused beverages and food around town. That is, if you become a Clan member. Clan members receive a number of perks, from easy access to food to a daylight ring- I can spell any kind of jewelry or ring really, and wearing it prevents you from burning up in the sun. Clan members also receive a VIP membership to the Country Club where our headquarters are, where you can lounge, enjoy our golf course, on-property masseuses, tennis courts, saunas, you name it, and, where you can learn how to retract your fangs, control your speed, strength, be able to perform magical spells and the likes. But genuinely, everything in the Clan is entirely optional. There are no mandatory meetings or requirements outside of that one form, and all I ask is that our members respect those of higher seniority than them and, if they end up finding themselves in any sort of trouble, they tell me before anyone else, so that I can handle it. I take it joining would be something you might be interested in?" She posed lifting a brow up at him as her lips lifted into a knowing grin. "If so, I can have the forms over to you by tonight, and you could be spending tomorrow out in the sun if you'd like, and then we can always talk about those few development projects you're working on at a later date. How does that sound?"

"Sure." From a garter just beneath the hem of her skirt Gia produced a cigarette case. Inside it was a row of pristinely rolled spliffs and matches. She lit one before offering the case to Meena should she prefer something a little stronger.

"Touché," Daniel smiled and held his hands up in faux defense. Meena had always been a natural in his eyes. The way she moved through space with grace was something he always admired. He pursed his lips in deep thought. There were many trinkets he had kept over time from loved ones. He was sentimental at heart, keeping every gift, no matter how small, from the people he loved most. "Now that you mention it." He pulled on the chain that was around his neck to reveal a small, delicate pendant. "My mother gave me this pendant on a chain that belonged to my father before I left home. I wear it all the time as is. Might as well enchant it?" He shook his head with a chuckle. "I don't think I could pull off earrings." Daniel smiled. "Thank you. I'm happy to finally be part of it."

"Still up for debate." The words came lightly, though she nodded at the sentiment that followed. "It does help, yes." Some situations became easier to bear that way. Of course, whatever thought might have followed was promptly interrupted by his next conclusion as Nyra fixed him with a look. "No, I do not secretly enjoy being perpetually damp. You are taking far too much pleasure in reminding me of it."

Meeting his gaze when the compliment came, she accepted it with an easy smile. "Thank you." Letting the moment linger felt right rather than rush to fill it, but teasing soon returned. "Sincerity of the simple choice is nice and more than adequate." Her smile grew. "But you spent all that time thinking, and that's the best you could come up with?"

"It really isn't, but oh look at that. A smile. How lucky I must be to be able to see such a sight," He hummed under his breath. "I meant that you secretly like me teasing you, but good to know your mind is still fixated on the whole damp thing," A deep laugh broke from his lips at the thought. 'You're welcome,' He mouthed back. "I disagree, and like I said, it's inadequate. I would actually go so far as to bet that there isn't one word in the entire dictionary that could possibly sum up how truly extraordinary you are in one breath."

He leaned back in his chair. "Lighting up a room and looking famous are important starts to business careers. People pretend they're not, but they are." He hummed with faux innocence. "But, ah....Shadow Lake has a lot of space not meeting its full potential. I'm thinking apartments. Luxury retail. Theatres. Parks. Schools. Downtown was going to spill out eventually. Why not get out in front of it?" Tripp shrugged. "Most people don't know what they want until it's explained to them. Believe me. I understand it. But sometimes things need to change. A lot of the buildings I'm looking at aren't even up to code. Someone'll have a tragedy on their hands." This seemed to be some kind of joke.

"Oh, I'm hurt. Truly." He pretend to clutch his wounded chest. "Is it a crime to be handsome and charming?" Tripp laughed. "Realtors sell. I buy. And between you and me, Sunny Harbor is overvalued. And underprepared for hurricanes. You don't want to buy beachfront unless you're on the very front. A tower will just go up and block your view."

"You say that, but I've met plenty of successful businessmen who look like shriveled old thumbs. So, I think those looks of yours might just be a you specific leg up, just sayin'," She mused as she tipped her glass back towards her lips. "Oh wow. I think you might end up runnin' out of town for all that, unless you're plannin' on tearin' down the theaters, parks and schools this place already has, but oh? So what you're sayin' is you want me to explain to you what you want then?" She teased, her eyes dipped playfully down to his lips and then back to him as she flashed him another careless smile.

"Sometimes," She answered, and though her tone might be teasing, her words were genuine. "I don't about that as someone lookin' to claim this specific piece of property sat right along the beachfront. But, I will give it to ya that you've gotta be careful as to what beachfront property you buy given how you are payin' for a view."

"I said we're friends, darling, not sordid exes," Rivkah jested, grinning over at the blonde. Her eyes sparkled a little at the rather obvious attempt of flirting. For a moment, her gaze flicked the other woman up and down, but Rivkah had lived most of her life in a discreet manner, and so she just shrugged. If the other woman caught it, then they'd go from there. "It'll be our little secret," she said, pretending to zip her lips up and throw out the key.

Her brow furrowed but she held her tongue for the moment, plucking a copy of Macbeth from the shelf as they talked, holding it out. "Well, considering they're two very different plays that center around two very different themes, I'd say that's probably the reason why. I doubt it has anything to do with the intelligence of your daughter. Either that, or it's a curriculum thing." She tilted her head. "Give or take what, exactly?"

"Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact they're still written by the same sordid white man. Come on, you of all people have gotta admit there are thousands of books out there written by brilliant minds with all different themes and perspectives. And yet, the school curricula always seem to stack their list with the same authors year after year. Seems a little lazy is all. And it's just a sayin'. You know, like pick whichever suits your fancy."