daniel kim

Who: Open Starter.

Did no one really notice anything suspicious? Some creepy guy who was watching your every move, or the girl who smiled too sweetly and whose good morning sounded like she was saying, I’m going to stab you in the neck ? Either Natalie had too much experience with people who had committed any crime, or her previous job had led her to see everyone as a potential murderer. Or both. It doesn't matter. Either way, a woman was murdered, her bones scattered under everyone's noses, and the only one who noticed was a dog who decided to feast on a forearm and hand bone, which could prove crucial to the case.

How embarrassing.

He didn’t really have a destination in mind—okay, yes he did, but he took his time getting there, walking down the streets of Port Carroll like he was a resident there, out for an afternoon stroll. Although he had yet to see another person outside in the entire time he’d been wandering the street.

That woman was the first person he had seen. The one asking about a dog. Daniel considered walking past without acknowledging her but, “I haven’t, no,” Daniel responded. If there was a lost dog, he had to help. “Is he yours? When was the last time you saw him?”

Bianca didn't care that other people weren't as excited that they were out here announcing their connection to the band. All that mattered was just how proud Bianca and Ivan were of their son and if that meant telling everyone then so be it. She just knew that when Banks was around she had to show she was proud, she always tried to show just how much she loved him. Even if it could be a bit embarrassing in the long run.

"Yeah catching him afterwards sounds like a good idea. That way he knows we're here." They always tried to be good parents to their children but especially when they had hobbies they could support like this. As soon as Ivan pulled out his phone, Bianca quickly leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek as he took the photo. "Sorry I couldn't resist it. You look so handsome tonight."

“And now he’ll know we’re definitely here,” he said, switching from the camera to his text messages. He searched for the family chat and attached the picture, waiting for the okay from Bianca before he hit send. Ivan was sure his kids had the chat on mute, but he pretended not to know that.

The season was changing, and that was always something Atlas enjoyed. The way the leaves changed colours, the coolness in the air, it always made him feel at home wherever he was. The difference this time was that he actually was home. It had been a long time since he'd been in Raven's Peak at this time of year, so he planned on making the most of it.

As he walked through Nightshade Park, he took in the feeling of it all. He wasn't sure how long he had been walking, but he decided it was time to sit down and just enjoy the scenery. Walking up to the nearest bench, he looked at the man who was already sitting there. "You mind if I join you?" He asked, motioning to the seat. "Great time of year, don't you think?"

Stupid eBay, Ivan grumbled to himself and drank from his coffee cup. It was supposed to be a dying platform, why were so many people on here bidding on this particular cabinet? Losers, he thought, and bid on it again.

“Oh!” He looked up, surprised when the other addressed him. “Not at all, go right ahead!” He scooched over on the bench to make extra room. “It is, isn’t it? The weather is perfect.” He drank another sip of coffee. “What brings you out here?”

Helping wipe down the tables after the last customers left for the night, Caryn Moreau smothered a laugh at the thought of what her parents would think about her current situation. They’d have been horrified to find her working as a ‘servant’ in a public restaurant, even one so classy as the Nouveau. It would have been below her as the daughter of royal blood.

But working here gave her the chance to overhead many conversations – as she’d long ago found that people tended to ignore and overlook the ‘help’.

With a few final farewells to her coworkers, Caryn slipped out the front door and began strolling down the street towards home. The atmosphere of this town had a weight to it, a different feel to the air, and she could feel her instincts poking her to keep her attention focused on her surroundings. She missed the easy feel of New Orleans and the lovely slow pace of speech and life, but if Lincoln wanted to be here for now, then here she would be.

The sound of footsteps behind her drew a hint of a smile to her lips as she continued to stroll along. “And do you plan to continue following me?” she asked, a sweet tone in her voice. “Or did you want to say hello?”

Ivan had meant to stay an hour, maybe two after closing, but as was usual of him when he was absorbed in his projects, he had lost track of time. Now it was late, and Bianca would be worried. Or upset! Ivan hated the thought.

He hurried down the street, shooting his wife a quick text explaining his whereabouts. Times like this made him wonder if he really should move his workshop from the backroom of Asteroid Arcade to the basement of their home, as inconvenient as it may be. They would have to move a lot of boxes around, maybe get rid of some things, and transporting the cabinets to and from the arcade would be a pain, but at least his wife wouldn’t have to worry about it.

It was something to think about, anyway. Ivan shared his location and pocketed his phone, coming to an abrupt halt when the young lady spoke to him. “What?” He glanced behind him, but there was no one else around. “I’m not following you. I’m trying to get home.”

Luca still wasn't sure what had brought him here. Sure, he wanted answers, but who was to say he would find them here? Sure he had a hunch but he had been wrong before. Even then having to leave his family behind left a dull ache in his body. While he was used to being independent maybe he could find a new 'family'. here.

Or not, either way it doesn't hurt to try right?

He stood behind the counter of Cup O' Joy as he prepared for the day ahead of him. He always enjoyed coffee in his human life, not that he really needed it these days he found some joy in preparing the drink. He still avoided going by the police station, reminders of the life he left behind, the life he never got to have.

Luca glanced up as the door opened smiling as he cleaned a coffee cup, "Hi, how can I help you?"

Oh well! There was nothing to be done about it. The people needed their treats.

A sheepish look came upon his face as he walked into the establishment. Whose day was he about to ruin, he wondered? A voice he didn’t recognize greeted him, Ivan blinking as he looked over at him. Someone new? What a terrible first impression he was about to make.

“Hi!” Ivan greeted, approaching the counter. “Oh god, okay, I’ve got a list here…” He started reading off the list. There were two cappuccinos and two lattes, one of each with caramel syrup. There was an iced something-something with whipped cream, and a plain black coffee. All medium. “I also need six slices of the pumpkin loaf.” Ivan looked at him with an embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry, I know it’s a lot.”

Boy, did he want a drink. For weeks now, the man had to grapple with this urge. Any time he passed the Mini Mart, or The Lone Wolf, or Jukebox Junction... That pull was there, to flush seven years sobriety down the toilet and honestly, he had full intentions on doing so, as soon as he was finished setting his affairs in order. Vicente had every plan to march into one of these establishments and not leave until he was two sheets to the wind. None of that progress mattered anymore. His entire cover -- fifteen years -- blown overnight, over one insane decision. Might as well numb himself to everything, have a decent glow and no wits about him on the way out.

Now, here he was, pacing past Sugar & Spice Frozen Delights for who knew how many times now -- he kept circling the block. Anxious, as his gaze passed over every person he walked by, the paranoia that one of them might just know who exactly he is, and not care they were in public. Was Vicente scared? He supposed he was, but the hunter had always known this day would come. He wouldn't turn coward and run now. Even if he tried... If these creatures didn't find him, other hunters would, to rid themselves of this liability. As the man came to stroll by the ice cream shop another time, his steps slowed once more to peer inside briefly at the pretty blonde who opened it not long ago. An old friend asked Vicente to keep tabs on her and his daughter, but the man's recent exploits had him pulling double duty of it, almost. Because now this burden would need to be passed to someone else. Valentino, perhaps?

It shouldn’t have. Ivan never knew a goddamn thing that happened in this town until it was too late anyway. He sometimes wondered if his wife shielded him from a lot of it. He had never asked, and she had never said, but even that wouldn’t surprise him. That would make sense. His witch wife secretly protecting him from whatever went on in town? It made sense.

But Vicente, secretly being a hunter the entire time Ivan had known him? Maybe that made sense too, but it had surprised him. It surprised him because he thought he’d known the guy. He thought the man a friend, but Vicente had lied, probably about everything, the entire time they had known each other. What a fucking shock that had been. It felt like a betrayal, finding out about it. It hurt, too, knowing that their friendship was a lie. Ivan had wondered what the point of it was, if Vicente had been fishing for information or something. Had he endangered Bianca, his friends, by striking a friendship with this man?

The thought had bothered him for a long time, but ultimately Ivan convinced himself that wasn’t it. Vicente had never asked any leading questions, had never tried to pry information out of him about anyone, or anything like that. So he must have struck up a friendship to keep up appearances. It made Ivan sick to think he had helped a hunter in any way, as inconsequential as his part in the charade may have been.

Ivan hadn’t sought out Vicente since finding out the truth about him. He was sure his temper would get the best of him, and then what?

Even now, the only acknowledgement he gave the man was a nod hello as he walked past him. There was nothing to say—or so he thought.

“Come again?” Was that a threat? It sounded like a threat.

She definitely had too much wine. Mollie kept bumping into people and she had this wonderful floaty feeling. Or that might have been because she had Marisol's hand in hers the majority of the night. Either way she really needed to watch where she was going. "Oh Ivan," she grinned at him and kissed his cheek back just as enthusiastically, "Thank you so much. You look wonderful as well. Are you and Bianca matching?"

Bianca was excited for the masquerade, she so rarely had an excuse to dress up that she made sure she was going to go all out for it. But it got to the point where when she was getting ready she suddenly worried that she was doing too much. So when Ivan kept reassuring her how pretty she looked, she started relaxing and giving just as many kisses back to him.

It was exciting to be able to see Banks play like this and she wasn't going to miss it for the world. Bianca grinned as Ivan handed her a drink. "They're amazing! I'm so proud of Banks and I can't wait to tell him how great he's doing." She said as she took a sip of the drink Ivan handed her. "He knows we're here right? I want him to know we aren't missing it but don't want to be obnoxious and embarrass him. It's hard being a proud parent."

Ivan sipped from his glass—just Sprite for him tonight—and glanced back at the stage. He bobbed his head to the music, considering Bianca’s question as he watched Banks play. Banks didn’t seem to be aware of their presence at all. If he had spotted them in the crowd, he hadn’t bothered to make it known. It was no different from all the other shows Ivan had attended, but that was fine. He wasn’t here to be acknowledged, he was here to support his son. “I’m sure he does! Maybe we’ll catch him after the first set and we can tell him how great they sound tonight, but until then…” Ivan pulled out his phone and switched it to the front-facing camera, turning his back to the stage. “Selfie! Get in here.”

When he arrived, he was not sure what to do first.  There was someone he wanted to ask to dance with.  Before he could search the premises, he was greeted by a dear and near friend.  “Ivan,” as Ivan drew him in, he decided to give in and hug the man back.  After all, it was Ivan that helped him through a lot over the years after his wife’s passing.  The man remained by his side, despite Roman’s insufferable personality shifts..  “My friend, how are you?  Where is your beautiful wife?”  Roman nodded, “honestly.  Wasn’t expecting to show up.  It's kind of just a last minute thing.”  The wolf rolled his eyes, “thanks man, not too shabby yourself.  Seriously though, you look great man.  Gotta give me that secret to looking young.”

“Last minute or no, I’m glad you changed your mind!” Although with alcohol so readily available, the Mirage wasn’t the best place for them to be. Still, Roman would’ve been drinking anyway, and at least this way he wouldn’t be alone, and Ivan… Ivan would do his best. Temptation was everywhere tonight, but luckily his wife was the most tempting of all. He glanced over at her again just as she had a sip of her champagne.

He would do his very best.

“Thanks! I’ve already told you my secret, you just don’t want to believe what a daily multivitamin and proper hydration can do for a guy.” Ivan laughed. “Anyway, don’t let me keep you all night, cause I will. You know where Bianca and I will be.” He waved in the direction of their table. “So come join us later if you want, alright?”