Wolfsmädchen

The Wolfgirl - Esmée Rivera

Age: 33 Gender: cis-female Pronouns: she/her Species: werewolf Face claim: Aimee Carrero Affiliation: Reid Pack Length of stay in Holloway: she moved to Holloway 9 months ago Occupation: Archivar at the Museum of Holloway

“Books are easily burnt.” He responded quickly, he had seen it over and over as knowledge led to the world in flames. He tilted his head. “I bother you.” he stated again, his dark eyes looking over her. “I am just trying to decide if you feel personally or professionally threatened.” He smiled, moving towards the door. “What makes you think she’s in town?”

Esmée’s brows furrowed even further as she listened to him, stopping in her tracks once more. Professionally or personally threatened? What was that supposed to mean? Her wolf instincts slowly began to kick in and she noticed that strange scent again. It reminded her of something... “I am not threatened”, Esmée stated, trying her best to seem neither small nor worried by his words, “At least not by you, if that’s what you are going for. My colleague disappearing? That worries me. But there’s no reason to feel threatened just yet. This is about her, not me” She watched him as he stepped through the door, trailing that scent after him and Esmée longed for fresh air, anticipating the moment he left the building. “Why should she not be in town? It’s a 50/50 chance, is it not?”  

Jose chuckled. “Isn’t that a special word for a librarian?” He joked, folding his arms. He knew that he was supposed to play nice. But he couldn’t help it. “Ah yes, you’re right. Knowing the dewey decimal system qualifies you for this job. I’d recommend looking under D.” 

"Have you seen the Mummy? Being a librarian ain't a bad thing", she scoffed at him. The urge to growl her anger out at him was growing stronger with every thing he said. But the closer he stood, the more her instincts told her to turn around and run. Maybe she should get a good sniff... "Listen", Esmèe took a step back, finally having enough of this conversation, "If you want to talk to someone in charge of the museum itself I can bring you to the right office, if you don't have anything helpful to tell me about my co-worker I can also escort you towards the exit, but I guess there is nothing else to do here for you. We have a great exhibit on polar expedictions coming up next week though." And with that she turned, motioning towards the exit. 

Jose’s head tilted naturally, although there was very little natural about any of his movements. Every gesture, tone and word was copied from what he knew the humans had come to expect from him over the years. Warm and sensitive made more friends then the man he could be, he knew that. He raised a brow. “Find your missing colleague? The last time i checked, you were a museum guide. Not a detective. Should you not leave that to the people who get paid for it?” The last thing he wanted were people sniffing around. 

“I am an archivist”, she said between gritted teeth, her eyes now glaring at him. “I am paid to find what others deem lost. And besides, with people I care about being in danger it is no longer a question of should and shouldn’t but of having to.” She knew that the guides were doing a great job, at least in this place, but her training had been special - magical artifacts and supernatural reports were not always something easy to handle. Esmée even went to Europe, to a more than esteemed institute in London, to finish her training. She was no guide. Already talking herself into a rage mentaly she quickly shook her head. This was not what was important right now. “The detectives had a week to find Adrienne, they did not do it. I at least need to help” And she was a wolf. Her nose was better than any police dogs, no reason to tell him that though. Besides, he was giving off a rather strange scent. 

Jose shrugged his shoulder, his eyes on the young woman. It was a small town, it was not beyond reason that he had heard of the trouble that had befallen the museum during Halloween. “I’m a simple enthusiast of your institution, believe me i listen with nothing but good intentions.” That wasn’t strictly true. But then as you began to age, morality became a lot muddier. “I was…” Of course, he wasn’t about to share that his reason for attending was that he was trying to assess the quietest parts of town. “I assure you, I know nothing. But i do know. a thing or two about running a museum. Call it an instinct from a past life.” 

Esmée did not truly care about running the museum itself. Her realm were the archives. Right now she cared a lot more about finding out what had happened to Adrienne and, hopefully, being able to help that girl. Even if they had never been friends to begin with. It simply felt right to worry. “An instinct from a past life? one of her eyebrows rose up. In a town like this such a sentence was not too unusual. But right now? She had no time for games. “I can show you the way to the director’s office, if that is what you need. I am sure she will be more than happy about any help in that regard. I for one will focus all my efforts in finding my missing colleague. So if you can’t help me with that-”, she shrugged to keep herself from being rude. Please don’t waste my time.

Jose chuckled, the child had played exactly into his hands. It had given him an in, into the very building in town he had been trying to get his cold shoes into for weeks. “Please… do not worry. I have heard something of the stresses you have been enduring since Halloween. I was wondering whether perhaps i could help… relieve the pressure.” 

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, giving him a once over. "You heard of my stresses?", she did ask around town for help so it was no surprise that the rumours had gone through this small city faster than the wind itself. "I would appreciate some help, yes. I think it's a shame that not most of the city is already on their feet, searching" she huffed, the anger clearly on her face. Esmée had thought that in a place like Holloway a disappereance would have made more waves. But the way he worded his sentences... it made her wrinkle her nose. "So do you actually know something? Where she went? And who are you? I don't think we have met before..." Then suddenly she remembered, "You were at the ghost tour on Halloween, were you not?" 

“I am simply tired of people acting as if I am completely overreacting! It has been an entire week and there is no sign of half my department, so could you please-” Esmée saw the face her superior made and so she simply sighed and stopped herself. “Or I shall continue to do it myself, thanks for nothing I guess”, she stood from her desk and left her office without looking back. Right in front of it she stopped, realising someone else was in the hallway. “I am sorry you had to overhear that”, a forced smile crossed her lips, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“do you ever feel like you had no say in what you want?”

"Sometimes", she shrugged her shoulders, moving her back from one side to the other, "But the best thing you can do against that is step back and figure out what you truly and really want. And then it takes some courage, that is the hard part."

Emma smiled brightly. “That’s the one.” She moved towards the woman, trying to forget her fear. “You’re probably on the right tracks there, i joined one of those hiking groups they advertise in the coffee shop.” She took a deep breath. She continued to walk looking up to the sky. “Maybe i’ll wait until it gets warmer before i start hiking again. Although i don’t expect you have that problem?” She glanced over the girl, she’d assumed she was a wolf. But you could never be sure these days.

"Ah yes, I read about those", Esmée burried her hands in her pockets as she began walking down the path, keeping her distance to the stranger, "It seems a little odd to me though that they simply left you behind. Maybe they should hire a better guide, one that does not lose members of the group" She scoffed but as she heard the woman's question she could not help but turn a little red in her cheeks. She was never really open about her wolf-nature, but she also saw no reason in lying. This city was way more open about such things than any place Esmée had visited before. "Well, summer has its own beauty, but so do all seasons, in my humble opinion. And yes, I do not mind the cold, though I am a little more on the thin-skinned side of things, in comparison to others, you know. I am sure there's a bunch of other things that they advertise in the coffee shop that will not get you lost in the woods though. Why did you chose hiking of all things?"

“I love Halloween. I am that girl. I have a drink, the vibes are eerie. I am having fun. I am here for it all. Come in the maze with me?” she grinned. “I’m only a little tipsy, I swear.” Her excitement was bubbling. She could feel the magic around her. “Have you been on any rides yet?”

"Oh, I just arrived. I did not have time to check out the rides", Esmèe gave the girl a smile, only a little confused that she had been approached so openly. Being tipsy did that to people after all. "I was working late, doing the ghost tours", she had no clue why she told the other this, but she was tired and being more open was kind of the reason she was here, was it not? "The maze? Are you sure we will find our way out it again? Like... Do they search for us if we do not get out by a certain time? Or will I be forced to stay stuck in there all night?" She wrapped her coat around her frame a little tighter, unsure if she should really enter the maze. Of course her wolfish nose would make it easier to find the way out, but Esmée was not looking forward to getting stuck in there in the first place. "I am sorry but, this Halloween thing is still new to me”

José glanced over, once again his warm coat was just for show. As a human, he had been superstitious on a night like tonight. But as a vampire, he was the predator in the dark. HIs eyes smiled as the young woman approached him. “Yes.. forgive me i wasn’t paying attention. It’s been a long day.” And he had yet to eat. “So… what are your thoughts? Is this town haunted?” 

"Well, I work in a museum so I am supposed to be a woman of science, am I not?", she teased, not really wanting to answer his question honestly. After all it was her job to convince them all how cursed this town really was. "But if you come along on our little tour, I can show you all the places that supposedly are indeed cursed. I am no witch though, so I cannot promise you that it will be safe" She moved her eyebrows up and down, underlining her words with a tiny hint of sarcasm. She was more nervous about speaking in front of people than about meeting ghosts, but the fact that she was easily spooked herself was surely not to her advantage. "The museum does this tour every year, have you joined one before?" Finally Esmée slipped out of her sales pitch and gave him an honest smile.

Drew shrugged as he handed the coffee over, seeing the look of confusion come across Esmée’s face. A part of him considered adding an explanation for his second cup, though with or without it, it was clear she wasn’t going to turn down free coffee. Drew hadn’t ever been the smoothest of individuals, social awkwardness seemed to follow him through his interactions and relationships with others. While he was aware of the fact, it hadn’t ever been anything he’d felt the need to address, though part of him worried the entire interaction might look strange. Really, it came down to the fact that these days, the only people he even began to feel a sense of kinship with were his packmates. Having always been a bit of a loner, especially given the circumstances he’d fallen into in the times he’d gone against his nature and opened himself up to others, it wasn’t something that had ever bothered him. Though, belonging to a group, and for as long as he had, seemed to have shifted those feelings ever so slightly. “No problem.” He replied, adding no additional flourish to his response. 

Nodding at her comments regarding the weather, he turned his eyes skyward momentarily before refocusing on the woman in front of him. “Yeah, well, that does tend to happen. We’re almost in November, so it’s all downhill from here. On the plus side, it doesn’t snow every year, so maybe we’ll have a mild winter again.” Naturally he heard Esmée’s protest when he handed her his jacket, though the action was already done, and not something he would’ve thought twice about had she not mentioned it. Despite his gruff appearance, once anyone managed to get to the core of him, it was no secret that Drew had a heart of gold. He simply had a hard time conveying that to the rest of the world. “It’s not a problem. I don’t need it.” It was the truth, he didn’t. Even before he’d been turned, he’d always been hot-blooded, often times not bothering with a coat or jacket at all, even in the winter months. 

“Don’t mention it.” Drew slipped his free hand into his pocket before taking a sip of his own coffee. “I’m glad you think so. And, glad I could help.” Words clearly weren’t his strong suit, a fact he was sure of. Though, still not a fact that bothered him. “There’s nothing wrong with being prepared, even when you aren’t new. It shows dedication. I’d say that’s an important quality to have, no matter your position.” The question regarding his own early-rising reasoning, and he hesitated for a moment before replying. “I’m usually up early, I just usually haven’t left my house yet, by this point. But, I thought I’d stop for coffee today, instead of making it. I’m just on my way to the shop.” He said, gesturing in the direction of the auto mechanics shop where he’d worked since his arrival in Holloway. “No one else is there yet, but I thought I’d get a jump on some work I didn’t finish last night.” Pausing briefly, he glanced at the otherwise empty street around them. “It’s almost Halloween. Have any big plans?”

"Really? That's a shame", Esmée pouted a little but then quickly smiled at him, "I happen to love snow, though I totally understand that it is not for everyone and you are happy without it", she raised her hand to swat at her own words, not wanting to seem rude or to brush of his opinion. "And I totally get why snow can be terrible for people that need to drive far, it's really exhausting when all your car does is ice skating" Esmée caught herself rambling and before she could make it even worse by starting an explanation of what a terrible driver she was she stopped herself and took another sip of her coffee instead. "I grew up in New York. And each year for the winter holidays my dad took us halfway across the entire continent to the mountains. He loved the winter there, the crisp snow, the wide landscapes. I felt isolated sometimes but for him it was like coming home, finally being able to rest and just... you know, connected with his roots." A wolf being free with no shakles to bind him, her father had always dreamed of that even if the rest of the family called him silly for it. But now that she was here, in this new town, with this new pack, trying to find her footing, Esmée caught herself fleeing to the silent landscapes of the wild more and more, too. Sometimes only in thoughts, often through her visits to the forest. So maybe she finally understood her father and his sense of displacement, of alienation. 

She nodded at his words, grateful for the change of topic. "Yes, dedication. I am definitely dedicated, but I can't say it is particularly hard to be. I enjoy my job too much to do it only halfway", another smile and then she stayed quiet, listening to his words and his explanation. Eventhough they were in the same pack and had seen each other many times before, Esmée did not really feel like she knew Drew, the real him. She understood the hesitation to share, after all no one in this town knew the real her, either, but she enjoyed this glimpse, this chance of talking to him eye to eye. Only the two of them, and the rest of town still asleep.

"So you are a man of preparation and dedication, too. Nice to know I am not the only early riser in this town that fills the first hours of the day with work", Esmée's gaze travelled down the street to where he was mentioning and she made a mental note to herself to ask him, should her car act up this winter - like it almost always did when the temperature was dropping. "Halloween? Well...", with her nose scrunched a little Esmée took another sip from her cup, feeling the warmth and the coffeine already doing their work inside her stomach. She forced herself to smile again, not wanting him to think that she almost downed the whole cup because she wanted to flee this conversation it was just... "My brother's always made a huge fuss out of Halloween but I like to spend it calmer. I have been spooked by them too many times as a kid. I am not really one for ghosts and such. Which is why this year my plans are really throwing me out of my comfort zone. I was supposed to take a security shift at the museum, apparently that's a thing here since some teenagers decided to break into the building on Halloween a couple of years ago.", Esmée rolled her eyes. She had looked forward to it, actually, a quiet night at the archives, "But my colleague Nicole is sick. She was supposed to do this years Ghost Tour, which was so not in my previous job description. But since I am the last to come in, I am the one who has to fill her spot" And that was indeed something she did not look forward to at all. "So if ghosts are your thing, you should totally come and join me", suddenly Esmée's face lit up. The idea of having at least one person by her side who would not laugh at her terrible attempts of being spooky was quite lovely. "You can call it an extended rescue, because I am pretty sure I will be a really bad tourguide. The entire thing starts after dark, here in front of the museum. Or did you have something else planned? I don't want to bother you or anything, so, are you the Halloween party kind of person?" Internally she cringed at herself right after that sentence had left her mouth.  

It was early, though in recent years ‘early’ seemed to have become Drew’s middle name. Perhaps there was a time in which he would have allowed himself more rest, more sleep, more peace, though that time had long since passed. These days, sleep seemed to evade him by a margin more with each passing year, and this morning had been a particularly early one, with the anniversary of his wife’s passing looming over him like the darkest of storm clouds anyone might ever be able to fathom. After dressing and showering, he’d started his coffee pot as he always did, though after only a few moments of brewing flipped the machine off again, choosing instead to make his way into town and purchase his morning coffee. He had time, and no desire to continue his morning in an otherwise empty house. Once he’d arrived at the shop, something had told him to purchase two, though for what purpose he was unaware. It was on his journey into his own job that brought him to pass the Museum, and a quick sniff and glance towards the front doors drew his attention to his fellow pack member begging entrance to the building. Crossing the street, he made his way over, offering Esmèe the second cup of steaming coffee. 

“Here.” He said plainly, noting the chill she’d obviously taken. “Yeah, well, consider it a pleasant surprise.” Although Andrew Carson was not a mean nor monstrous man by any stretch of the imagination, he was gruff, pointed, blunt to the point of a fault, and even more so since he’d lost Anya. The time for pleasantries seemed to have long passed as well, something he still struggled to come to grips with in private. “Why didn’t you wear a heavier coat?” He questioned, sighing as he bent to place his own coffee momentarily on the ground beside him. Slipping off his own jacket, he passed it to the other, picking up his coffee once more. “Are you always here this early, or is there something special about today?”

"Oh, wow", Esmée took the cup that he was handing her, confusion painted on her face for a few heartbeats. She had neither expected to see Drew here nor that he would bring her coffee. "Thank you very much" She considered asking who he had bought the cup for originally since there was no way he could have been aware of her being here - No one knew of Esmée's early mornings in the archives except for the janitor William. And that guy did not seem like he'd be close friends with anyone from the pack. 

She looked at the other for a moment, searching for the right words or ways to start a conversation. Esmée still struggled to find her footing in this new world she had stumbled in while coming to Holloway and though her new pack had been welcoming and kind, something she had not expected at first, it was not that easy for her to strike up small talk. "Well, I went for a run in the woods before coming here, so I settled for something light and easy. And I honestly thought such a sporting activity would keep me warm, but it seems the weather here is leaning closer to winter with every day", She settled on the weather as a topic when Drew bent down and put his own coffee away, confusing her momentarily. Then Esmée realised what he was about to do and started shaking her head, already growing a little red in her face.  "That's really not necessary, honestly I-", Esmée could not even finish her sentence before Drew handed her the jacket. 

"There is no reason for both of us being cold now", she took it nonetheless, not wanting to be rude and first slipped into one arm, then the other, moving her coffee from one hand to the other along the way. It was too big for her, of course it was, and it smelled of him. Such a strange moment, such a sweet gesture. "Honestly, thank you very much. This is slowly turning from a pleasant surprise into a true rescue" Esmée raised the coffee cup into his direction and then took a sip of the hot beverage, "Oh this is good. No, today is like any other day. I just like to start early, get a grasp on what needs to be done today, before the assitants and the rest of the staff comes in. It's still new to me, this position, and in a place so much bigger than the last one. I try to prep myself" Was it because she was so hellbent on perfection? Or because she was so scared of failure? Esmée could not tell, and she did not wish to discuss it with Drew right here and right now. "What about you, though? Where are you headed so early?"

It was no secret that Kai enjoyed the outdoors. He’d enjoyed keeping busy and active from a young age, maybe that was the wolf in him, maybe that was just him. Though most days he could be found going for a morning run and today was no different. He’d caught the wolf scent on his run that morning and tracked it towards the museum. He’d spent many days of his life here, especially when he was younger. He’d always been a science nerd, even if not that many people knew it about him. He nodded, smiling gently as she approached. “Good morning. I think… it was you I’d followed here. I like to get up early, get out. I hate wasting the day. I assume you do too?”

"Me? You followed me?", Esmée raised an eyebrow before the wind changed and she picked up the strangers scent. Ah yes, wolf. "Oh, I see", she smiled sheepishly, hoping she had not broken some unwritten law in this city. With two packs in town and her still new and unused to any arrangments - after all it had taken her months to finally talk to another wolf here and join the Reid pack - it was only a matter of time until she stepped on someones toes. "I am a night person through and through", she admitted with a shrug of her shoulders, "Well, I enjoy both night and day, but I have found that the silence of night, when half the world is fast asleep, holds a certain kind of magic. And now in winter, when mornings are still dark, I like to go out and run a few miles before starting my day. So my head is all nice and clear and quiet before the busy work day can get hold of my thoughts. Does that make sense?" She reached forward, extending her hand in greeting, "I am Esmée by the way, and eventhough you are a morning person it is quite nice to meet you here today"

Emma blinked again, maybe it was the air… or maybe she was just getting hungry but she wasn’t sure her brain was working anymore. “Uh… up by Ready Rock. I think that’s it’s name. You know the one shaped like a bear claw.” She laughed aware that she sounded insane. She was also aware that she didn’t know if any of these landmarks were actually officially named or if they were just stories she was told as a kid. “You’re out here hiking?” She asked curiously. 

"Ready Rock?", she blinked, trying to remember a rock shaped like a claw, "Is that the one close to the parking space? Cause then I definitely know where you need to go. Come, this way", Esmée turned a little, checking the path behind them for any obstacles or visitors. It was a bright day but she did not want to run into any other wolves, lest she really be in the wrong territory. "Yes, I have made it a habit of mine since I came to Holloway a couple of months ago. It was not so easy finding new friends and people to meet, so I took to the woods instead" She was aware of how strange that sounded, but Esmée had no reason to hide the truth. Long before she came to this city her lone-wolf attitude had been a constant companion and since recently joining a pack she still needed to get used to this new thing, this not being alone out in the world.

Emma blinked, she had to admit that perhaps she had been a little bit dramatic when jumping immediately to death. “No…” She looked over herself. “I mean, does wounded pride count as an injury? Physical wounds last, but first hand embarrassment lives forever. I got separated from my hiking group. Do you know the way back to the path?” 

It took Esmée a moment to become calm again and leave the state of alert she had jumped into, her heightened senses already tracking their entire surroundings. But as she heard the woman's explanation a small smile appeared on her lips. "Oh, wounded pride definitely counts, that's the worst", she relaxed her shoulders and stepped a little closer. Her wolf-side knew exactly how important her pride could be. She had watched countless succumb to it, or even more importantly, feared the lack of it. "Yes, of course, the way back to the hunting trail", Esmée tilted her head, "Let's see, where did you start your journey? Just so I can turn you the right way around"