the cryptid keep.

Letting out a soft sigh, Denny shrugged. "Look, if I could erase my existence from people's minds, I would. I would much rather you be noticed than me. I'd love to be mistaken for literally anyone else most days." He crossed his arms over his chest, but it was more a protective movement than a defensive one. Denny was not much of a fighter. "I'm sorry. That sounds like it really sucks. I was a vlogger before all this, so unfortunately, people that liked that kind of stuff, they know who I am. But I can do what I can. What's your name, anyway? I can't just say the angry blond isn't me."

❝whoa dude, let's not go that far.❞ remi held both hands up slightly pushing the air between them. ❝i didn't say i wanted to get noticed more, I'm not graduating to lead vocals. i just don't want to be someone i'm not either.❞ there was some deeper realization that he didn't really know who he was and if he actually wanted to be someone people recognized or not. probably didn't matter anymore and it sure as hell wasn't denny's problem. ❝got it, my bad.❞ it was a half-assed attempt at an apology but there was only so much remi was capable of. ❝my name's remington but most people call me remi. i play the guitar, used to be in a band and we toured all over and shit but, yeah, guess i'm here now. i'd take angry blonde, though. sounds like a decent stage name.❞ he let out a quick laugh.

"You're way more drunk than I am," Cosima was pouting a little over this fact. "I know we've drank a lot of shit in our time, but I don't think there is anything worse than moonshine. Why does it taste like that?" She had to admit though, it was fantastic for fucking you up. "Wanna go grab another drink? I could stand to stretch my legs a little bit." While she'd never outwardly said s he blamed Nixon for this.... she did. She had been a little standoffish towards him since they arrived, but it's not like he was fairing any better than the rest of them. "Or have you forgotten how to use your legs?"

❝y'need to catch up with me then,❞ nixon laughed and bumped his shoulder into hers. he was feeling a little tipsy but he also knew there was plenty of room to further his normal spiral into complete intoxication. ❝i think if we find something that has a super strong flavor to counteract, it might be decent.❞ though he couldn't imagine what that would be. it didn't matter, he was just glad cosima wasn't dissmissing him right away. ❝pfft, of course i can use my legs. where's one of our big strong blondes to help me up? isn't that what you pay them for?❞ joking of course, nixon shakily started to get up.

for a moment, talon's scowl deepened but it changed to a smile, that didn't meet his eyes and he stepped forward. ❝are ye threatin' me? it sounds like a threat.❞ he wasn't phased, honestly if the mayor wanted to string him up on some charges there was hardly any proof of he'd deal with it. so far, he'd managed to be peaceful but there was always the plan b of going out in a flaming blaze of glory and bring as many people as he could along with him. ❝the way i see it, neither of us are shit here. the power we had out there doesn't matter anymore. i've turned over a new leaf, maybe ye should look at doin' t' same. ain't like a badge makes ye any type o' saint, no?❞

❝yeah! that's it! i tried to keep up with as much of it as i could.❞ when he wasn't doing his own investigations and research, that is. ❝my brother and i were going to start filming some of the stuff out in colorado when i got back but, well...❞ he motioned around them.❝i got myself stuck here and to think, all I wanted was a chance to checkout point pleasant and maybe get a peek at ol' mothman.❞ lando shrugged. ❝ay least this place is like a paranormal mecca, right?❞

❝thanks, boss.❞ he smiled and sat down with malakai, setting him under the umbrella as instructed. ❝word. well we're just chillin' out so if we get annoying or you need us to go away just let me know.❞ jett shook a teething ring in front of malakai to grab and sighed with relief when he did. ❝he was in the best mood and then i think he got warm and his teeth hurt or something. i don't know. how's your day going?❞

"Whoo!!" Opal exclaimed, clapping for him and grinning as he popped back up out of the water. "I'd give that a ten-ten!" she said, holding up all ten fingers once and then twice. "I don't think I could do it like that! I'd probably just flop over!" She laughed, shaking her head as she kicked her feet back and forth in the water from where she sat on the floating dock.

❝thanks!❞ rocky exclaimed happily. had to indulge in the little wins of life and that one felt good. ❝i bet you could do it. it's not that hard, i think the biggest thing you have to worry about is fear.❞ though he was sure he'd flopped on his face more than once when he'd first tried it. ❝i could try to teach you?❞ he swam over and pulled himself up to sit next to her on the dock. rocky whipped his wet hair back to get it out of his face.

"I got one of the mushroom burgers!" Opal said, waving her own plate and nearly losing her burger to the ground. She fumbled for a moment before catching everything with a sheepish grin. "Caught it! It's fine. We're fine. We should definitely nab some food for later, though. Have you had this corn on the cob? It's so good."

❝those looked good! i got a hamburger with grilled onions on it. reminds me of a patty melt.❞ rained briefly wondered if they made patty melts at one of the restaurants there. she supposed she could make them, too. nothing would match her mother's though. ❝good save,❞ she laughed. ❝i got my bag with me, we could totally load it up. oo, not yet.❞ she took a bite of hers just to try it. ❝holy heck that's good. are we living our best lives right now or what?❞

"I know; it feels like a lifetime ago." Sometimes, Sasha missed her old life; but more the things that came with it than the way she was often kept at home and not involved. She was actually about to have a life once she got out of it all, and she rarely mentioned anything from her past, for her own safety as well as Rio's. "Though personally, I think I would rock a poodle skirt, or one of those nice pin up dresses. Or, no. I don't know if that's what they're called. Anyway." She followed them to the check out, grinning widely. "Any chance I get to drive this time? It's such a short distance."

it did feel like a lifetime ago, rio had started to feel older by the second and the past few months were more like years. without sasha with her, she might've gone completely mad by then. ❝you would look good in anything, nenita.❞ they grinned. ❝or nothing.❞ rio added with a wink. truly, they were positive she could wear a trash bag and still look amazing in it. heading out to the car she turned with a raised brow. ❝i suppose,❞ they teased and tossed her the keys. ❝try not to aim for the lake, though. by the way, you planning on gettin' in the water later?❞

closed starter for: @cryptidkeepp (jude)

"i'm starting to think we have the literal shittiest luck to ever exist." jem was lounged out on a chair in the garden, her face turned towards the sun like the flowers surrounding her. she'd been at the lake when a giant fucking tentacle flew out of it, and she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it since. neither she nor her brother were injured in the incident, but she was beginning to think she was the reason they kept running into terrible situations. after all, she'd been the reason they ended up here in the first place.

huntsville certainly wasn't the place he would've picked to be stuck in for the foreseeable future. the thomas twins thrived in urban environments. places they could fade into the background and find easy targets to make some money off of. now jude had no idea what they were going to do. for now, he took it as a good opportunity to relax and enjoy how freakishly quiet it was outside. ❝it's not like we had the greatest track record to begin with.❞ he spoke slowly, finishing the page of the book he was reading at the same time before clapping it shut. to give jem his full attention, which he knew she would want.

❝if it makes you feel any better, it doesn't seem like anyone else has a good explanation for it either. did you know there's portals? i don't know how they work or what that means in the grand scheme of—❞ jude motioned his hand in a circle in front of him. ❝all of this. but it is interesting, i suppose.❞ perhaps he still hasn't let it all sink in. ❝you've already said that and i already told you i'm not mad. there was no way you could've known jem.❞ he didn't blame her, it was better that she was safe anyways. ❝silver lining, there's lots of material to write about now.❞

❝is it? how long have you been in town?❞ jude had only been around about a month, but for the first time ever he felt like a fish out of water. ❝please, that would be great. maybe you can try some out, too and give me some tips on surviving this place, darlin'.❞

"Oh, no, it's not," Ana Maria said, looking up from her book. She gestured to the spot next to her. "Feel free to sit. I'm just reading." She tilted her head slightly. "Not a big swimmer?"

❝thanks, i'm jude by the way.❞ jude's face split into a smile and he took a seat next to her. ❝no, no, i don't mind it once and awhile i suppose but i wouldn't call it my favorite activity. especially alone.❞ having a counterpart since birth made him rarely want to do anything alone if he was honest with himself. ❝what are you reading?❞

aaron was.. not really listening, honestly he got lost around driver's license since he had no idea what that meant. he was a little zoned out until the question was asked, looking back at elias. "sorry what?" he admitted. "my bad, i'd say i was listening but that'd be a lie."

❝nevermind, it wasn't anything important anyways.❞ truth is elias was just filling the air with words and random annotations to avoid thinking or worrying. it wasn't aaron's problem and he also wasn't keen to talk about it in general. ❝what're you thinking about?❞

"Elias!" Declan brightened when he saw his old teammate and friend. He'd really missed the guy while he was away and was happy to have him back in his life, though it sucked that he was stuck here now too. "I think they do got ice cream and stuff, we should totally go check it out." He grinned, grabbing Elias's hand and pulling him toward the refreshments. "Did you have to save anyone's life in the water?"

an easy grin spread across elias' features when declan greeted him. he gave his long-time friend a quick hug. ❝i could use some ice cream after that shift,❞ he laughed when he was pulled toward the food area. this was just one of the many reasons elias loved declan. it was hard not to smile when he was around. ❝nah, just had to warn a couple people to stop trying to go past the roped off area. what have you been up to so far?❞