Truth Hurts

Darrin looked rather ridiculous. He usually did, he thought. But today, he was particularly overdressed for the weather, clad in an over-sized hoodie and dark pair of jeans, with his hands tucked squarely into his pockets. He offered a half-smile and nod to Atlas as he signaled at him, making a bit of a show of lazily perusing the shelves while he finished on the phone. I don’t know what any of these things are. Don’t look like you’re stealing. He knit his brow, trying to read the faded label on some old-looking bottle. But when the witch beckoned him over, the vampire tugged his hood down and approached, speaking up in an almost conspiratorial way. “Uh, hi there. Thanks. I…uh, well, I know you guys carry certain, you know, artifacts and stuff. I was wondering if you had a daylight ring in stock? Someone stole mine; I must have taken it off to wash my hands or something. But…uh, I really do miss being able to wear t-shirts.” He grimaced apologetically.

He paused for a moment when he caught sight of the customer, taking in his massive amounts of coverage when it came to his clothing. Atlas had been working inside since they had opened that morning, so he wasn’t aware of the current weather; but he knew it wasn’t cold outside. A brow raised as the other started speaking, wondering for a split second if some horribly misguided human was going to try to actually rob him. But then he heard daylight ring and understanding dawned on his face, causing a small smirk to appear on his lips. “Go on through to that room there and I’ll grab what you need,” he said, indicating a door across the room. Not only would that be a room with no windows to cut out sunlight, but it would also ensure the man was in fact a supernatural creature and not just a hunter in disguise. Gesturing for the man to go to the room, Atlas would busy himself with digging up a daylight ring from where they were safely stashed.

Perhaps he was odd for being out so late but summer made it so hard to gain real darkness in the skies. He would usually sit out in the vast lands around his house but Luna needed walking so Marcus had set out his his telescope and blanket and they had ended up at the park. He found the darkest spot he could and set himself up, letting Luna off her leash so she could wander as he sat and watched the world about. “Looks like Marcus, Saturn, and Jupiter are suppose to have perfect visibility tonight. Venus is also suppose to be very good.” He said to Nova as if she could understand him. “We’ll try for the others but if the skies don’t permit it then it isn’t meant to be.” He looked down the check his telescope was positioned correctly before glancing back up to check on Nova and jumping slight when he saw someone approaching out of the dark. “I’m sorry, you gave me a fright. Wasn’t expecting to see anyone out so late.”

Atlas had one of those classic naps that always miraculously turned an innocent one hour power nap into a four hour long actual sleep. Which, granted, did leave him feeling more rested than could have happened with his original plans. But also ate into his travel times in term of his plans for the night. There was normally a specific field he liked to do his star-gazing in, but now that he had woken up later than planned, he would have to settle for the park in town. There was a perfect spot there that usually got dark enough to use his telescope. Except this time, someone had seemingly already beat him to his spot. And they had brought along a dog. Who was cute, though Atlas remained an avid cat lover. “It’s the best time to see Saturn right now. And this spot is the best one in town in order to see it,” he explained, gesturing to the carrying case that was hanging from his shoulder with his own telescope safely inside.

Open Starter

Thing is about small towns everything was mostly within a walking distance if you were willing. Helena had locked up her motel room and walked out onto the street to see if she could find somewhere to eat so late at night. Having lived with the noise of New Orleans most of her life the quiet nature of Hazelgrove set her on edge. She had no allies here. She was a witch without a coven, without protection. Helena knew she was strong but also knew until she had roots of some kind she was going to be vulnerable. 

She walked slowly down the street, her hands in her pockets as she glanced over closed businesses and dimmed lights. It was a pretty town, there was something almost sleepy hallow about it. Or better yet it was almost silent hill like. Helena almost expected a dense fog to wave through the street at any moment. Crossing across the empty street she wasn’t looking as she stepped up the kerb onto the side walk. She collided with someone and stepped back quickly, already on the defensive. Her first instinct was to apologise but she pushed it down, trying to train herself out of old practises no matter what they were. “I might be wearing black but I can’t be that hard to see.”

Locking up at the end of a long day was something of a relief to Atlas. As much as he enjoyed his position at Quirks and Oddities, long days were going to happen. Especially if the day had been full of humans peering through the display windows, hoping to catch sight of some rare bit of antique that they could buy and show off to their friends and family. 

Slipping the keys into his coat pocket, he would turn around to start his walk home but instead collided head on with someone not paying attention to their surroundings. Not paying enough attention had to be the reason for the collision, of course, since Atlas was standing underneath the store’s perimeter security lights. But judging by the woman’s words and tone of voice, it seemed like only Atlas would be acknowledging the other’s clumsiness. “And I’m standing still in full lighting, yet you still managed to crash right into me. Funny how things work out.”

{  Cody Fern, 35, Male } ☾ -Atlas Dowling has been seen walking around town. Hazelgrove is familiar of the Thirty-Five year old Witch as He is IN FAVOR OF restoring the town’s Glamour spell. The people of Hazelgrove can agree that the Quirks and Oddities Staff Member can be Confident yet still be Selfish. Let’s just hope something can be settled before the town is turned upside town. + Burning candles and incense, alter draped in black silk with crystals and tarot cards on top, smokey eyes and black nails.