ghastly dreams

“First it hurt a little bit, you know? Like woah, bro, what was that for? But that was when I still thought it was a raccoon or like BigFoot. But then it hurt a lot, and then I passed out. Which was a big bummer because we were ordering garlic knots, you know? So I missed out on that. And when I woke up, they’re like ‘yo, you’re a werewolf. And everyone in this town has crazy magic powers but shh, you can’t tell anyone.’ Then people are getting snatched on Vday! Which was brutal. Letters on people’s shirts, real anti-love stuff. But everyone’s still all shhhh, if you tell anyone we’re all going to die.” Mateo shook his head solemnly. He had his phone in his hand and was tapping idly on the front. He’d turned it off two days ago as a sort of desperate measure to cold turkey quit TikTok, but the urge to turn it back on and make a video right now was becoming nearly overwhelming. “Anyway, that’s how I’m doing. How you doing, Man?” He grinned and offered his hand in a fist bump to the poor person working the cash register who had made the mistake of asking ‘how are you doing today?’. “Oh, I’ll take the biggest iced Chai you got. And whatever they want.” He gestured to the person behind him as he handed over both his credit card and a hundred dollar bill which he placed in the tip jar. “I got you, dude. Hey, you got magic powers?”

“I wish - unfortunately poisoning by oleander only gives you an upset stomach, not cool earthy magic. I’m still as human as they come.” So-ra glanced up at the menu, although she knew she wasn’t going to change her order. “Can I please have an extra large soy latte, with two extra shots of espresso?” Moving to the other side of him, So-ra waited while he settled with the cashier. “So Wolf-Boy, sounds like it has been rough. Mainly missing out on the garlic knots, if I’m being honest.” She smirked, although her commiseration was genuine. Those garlic knots were to die for. “I’m So-ra.”

So-ra hid her growing smile behind her hand, as if she could pretend that the sudden burst of giggles was from an invisible passerby. From the look on his face, she doubted he would be too impressed at someone laughing in his time of great need. “Here – let me see.” Taking the small egg, she quickly cleaned up the poop, fed it, and started to play a game. “See, it’s just a baby right now. Once it gets older in a couple hours, it won’t be quite as needy.”

Settling into the bench, she pulled her legs up under her and absently tapped away. “I know we don’t really know each other, but do you want to talk about what’s stressing you out? Oh! I think it can be potty trained.” So-ra watched as the small pixels on the screen used a toilet instead of leaving a mess behind. “I knew it! So,” she said, glancing up towards him without missing a beat. “What’s going on?”

.

“In a couple of hours,” Kadir mouthed back at her, shaking his head in disbelief. He was lucky it wasn’t a real kid. What would he have done with something that needed to eat, poop, and play every minute of its life for literal years? Had he always been this out of touch with what it meant to be alive, or had being a vampire for as long as he had–the truly walking undead, no longer needed food or sleep or rest–made him forget what it was like to be desperate and needy for those bare necessities? 

“You’re amazing,” he said in relief. “It’s all the buttons it’s…” He shook his head and whistled. “Back in my day, we didn’t have these little electronic things. We played with sticks and balls of twine.” He smiled slightly, an indication that he was playing up the ‘old man’ thing more than was necessarily ‘true’ but he had grown up incredibly poor. Something that was not true any longer, clearly, as he reached into his pocket, pulled out a worn leather wallet that held absolutely no credit cards whatsoever but an ungodly amount of cash, and pulled out a hundred dollar bill to hand to her. “Oh, uh, an old enemy come back to life. An ex girlfriend I don’t know how to talk to. A business that doesn’t need me. All very boring, very cliche things, not worth talking about.”

She had every intention to refuse the money. Honestly, she thought he was joking and was just stressed out by the small toy. It would be rude to take money for something so small to her. Right? Except he pulled his wallet out and her eyes unconsciously flicked over. 

It probably wouldn’t be that rude… 

Pocketing the bill, she quirked her head up at him. “Y’know, it sounds to me like you’ve got a great book on your hands there. You just need the enemy to try and steal your ex while simultaneously trying to steal your business. We’re in a small town - society says you come out the victor no matter what.” 

"Hey, no worries," Chai gave So-Ra a small smile. He had joined the Coalition after everything had gone down, partially out of anger, but now that he was a member, he wanted to chip in. If the horrors that had been Valentine's Day had taught him anything, it was that the Supernatural Community severely underestimated the human race and if he could help the Coalition defend themselves better than what the hell was stopping him? "I signed up to teach self defense classes for a reason, so I'm always down to spar. But, uh, before we get started, maybe you can tell me what experience you already have with fighting? I sort of box for fun and have done some paid fights myself-" which was one way of saying that he participated in illegal underground fighting rings and was an ex-hunter once upon a time. "But, that's me. So, what about you? It sounds like you've sparred before?"

“We did lots of running. So much running. And a couple times we played dodgeball except the balls were blunted knives and if you were hit, you had to go run more.” A smile bled through her melancholic mood - she’d always been particularly good at dodging. It had seemed like such fun. “Once we got older, class began to focus more on how to break a grapple, where the weak points on a body were and that kind of thing. I liked that thing...” she broke off, searching for the technicial term. "What's it called - Ju-jitsu! I liked when class focused on that style of defense."

"Hey? It's me?" Jas offered up at the sound of So-Ra's voice through the intercom. "Jas?" She added realizing that 'it's me' may not be the most descriptive phrasing she could use. "I just thought I'd swing by to see how you were doing? Make sure there isn't any lasting poison side effects or if you need another dose or anything like that?" She explained, running her hand across the back of her neck as she rocked back and forth on her heels, waiting to be let up. Jas had lucky gone through enough shit in her life to be relatively unfazed when it came to the town's Valentines Day from hell. Unfazed besides for fretting over Nico and Dahlia that is and now So-Ra too, if she was being honest with herself about the growing long list of folks she was beginning to care about around town, which was precisely why she was standing awkwardly out on the side of the street hoping to be buzzed in.

So-ra unlocked her front door and threw her hair up with a clip. It hadn’t been brushed today and she desperately hoped she was projecting as purposefully messy and not, spiraling out of control messy. Going through the motions, she filled the kettle and set it on the stove to boil. Tea could heal most things and it would give her an excuse to stay busy. “It’s open,” she called out once Jas reached her door. “I’ve got the kettle on,” she said, returning to the small living room. “If you want some tea? I think I’ve got earl grey and green. Might even have some peppermint on a shelf somewhere.”

Setting up a DSLR camera he’d barely known how to use, Julian had fumbled through a few shots of the star filled night sky and the black landscape framing it. From his vantage point the lighthouse stood as a dark figure against the midnight blue sky, its light cutting through the darkness in blinding white streaks. It made an interesting subject, though he wasn’t sure he was capturing it well on his camera. He wrinkled his nose in dissatisfaction as he looked back at shots with that small screen on the camera, growing incredibly unimpressed and thoroughly defeated as he browsed the couple he’d taken. In fact, he was so disappointed in his own work he’d debated chucking the damned thing into the ocean. The softie in him that didn’t want to add something potentially harmful to the ecosystem kept him from following through, instead shoving the digital camera into his messenger bag with a huff. That was enough of that fruitless activity.

He heard the hiss of the sparklers, and the laughter of the other on the beach and frowned at their joy. Julian felt bitterly mocked for a moment, digging his toes into the sand as he flipped down onto the ground and moped. With half curious eyes he watched the other in their enjoyment, momentarily wishing he’d had the inspiration to capture similar emotions in his work. Or maybe to just evoke them — if only his artwork as of late were as electrifying and fun as those sparklers could be. He blinked in surprise as her voice cut through his thoughts, caught a little off guard by the invitation. He’d actually looked around to make sure she hadn’t been talking to someone else on the beach. They were notably the two only patrons in that vicinity. “Who me?” He still dumbly asked. Pushing up from his sitting position to his feet, not bothering to brush the sand off his jeans, he approached her cautiously, as if expecting someone else to pop out from the choppy black waves and take the sparklers being offered. Then a beat later he was flashing an impossibly bright grin and prancing over. “Oh hell yes,” he said, thankful for the break from his self pity and wallowing. “I don’t think I’ve ever actually held one of these before, but I’ve always wanted to,” he admitted with a laugh. “Kinda always feared I’d, like, burn off my brows or something. I don’t think I’d look so good without my eyebrows, ya know?” He waggled his brows at her, knowing full well it was a silly and irrational fear.

“Okay okay - you need to hold them here,” she motioned to the thinner metal near the bottom. “And then once I light it, you can draw whatever you like.” 

Once Julian was set up with his sparkler, So-ra drew another from the pack and lit her own, the familiar crackle filling the air. Waving the metal rod through the air, she carefully drew out a small flower and leaves. “These seem to last a bit longer than the ones I played with when I was younger. I’m not sure if they’re like, a special magical variety or what but they work the same.”

“Okay okay - you need to hold them here,” she motioned to the thinner metal near the bottom. “And then once I light it, you can draw whatever you like.” 

Once Julian was set up with his sparkler, So-ra drew another from the pack and lit her own, the familiar crackle filling the air. Waving the metal rod through the air, she carefully drew out a small flower and leaves. “These seem to last a bit longer than the ones I played with when I was younger. I’m not sure if they’re like, a special magical variety or what but they work the same.”

Pockets of warm sand cooled quickly beneath bare feet as Jonah walked across the beach. He’d argue anytime was a great time for a walk on the beach, but lately evenings have taken up to be among his favourites. Right after work with nothing else planned, was a great time to unwind and relax into the night, and that became somewhat of a routine these days. Calming, much needed routine. 

He was further out than intended, lost in the gentle sound of the waves, but heart and mind stilled momentarily when he saw sparks flickering in the distance, shadows dancing as laughter soon reached him, breath held for a moment too before senses returned, no, it wasn’t his nightmares come to life, it wasn’t an morphed version of the horrors he’d seen that night, but the local park ranger illuminated by sparkles. A sigh of relief followed a shake of his head as he approached her, “You scared me half to death,” he confessed, taking a seat beside her, but didn’t do much more to chide her, it was fine, everyone was fine. “Sure, but are you sure it’s safe to be holding it over yourself?”

When darkness fell around them, So-ra nudged the open pack of sparklers towards Jonah before fishing out the lighter from her pocket. “Sorry about that. Actually, I didn’t think I’d see anyone out here tonight since it isn’t the warmest of weather.” Wind ruffled through her hair as the tides crashed against the sand. Breathing in the salty air, So-ra felt peace well up inside her. “Are you doing alright?”

When darkness fell around them, So-ra nudged the open pack of sparklers towards Jonah before fishing out the lighter from her pocket. “Sorry about that. Actually, I didn’t think I’d see anyone out here tonight since it isn’t the warmest of weather.” Wind ruffled through her hair as the tides crashed against the sand. Breathing in the salty air, So-ra felt peace well up inside her. “Are you doing alright?”

He hummed a little, then, still shouting rather than moving closer to be properly heard. “Fate, huh? Say, you ain’t a witch, are ya?” The question came with a friendly sort of air, but really, in Ralph’s experience, magic-users tended to be most concerned with the machinations of the universe. And he was also keeping his own mental log of all the magic-users in-town.

Crossing his arms, then, cigarette in his mouth and glass in-hand, he walked through the sand in his flip-flops to meet her halfway. “Hmm. Personally, I think every day oughta be summer, don’t you? That’s all I’m celebratin’ right now.” He looked out to the surf. “I’m also pretty new ‘round here, ya dig it? Drinkin’ to fresh starts and new beginnings.” This brought a wide, winning grin. “Name’s Ralphie. This is my crash-pad. The Green Hornet: nicest digs in all Lunar Cove.” He cocked his head at the RV.

“That’s amazing,” she said, staring up in wonder at the large RV. “So have you been places in it? Seen the Grand Canyon? Or the Statue of Liberty? Have you been to Canada? Or to Mexico?” Questions spilled from her lips as she thought of more and more places. There were so many places she wanted to visit and experience. Of course she could leave but - what about when she forgot? What if she came back and the magic didn’t work and she lost her whole life? Or found a new life outside of Lunar Cove and forgot about her friends and family here? It wasn’t worth it. “You have any wild trip stories?”

Pursing up his lips, Efe stretched his arms over his head. "There were some forest flare ups 'round here way, way, way back in the day. But...you know, I'm not sure our little department is really built for wildfires. That's a whole other skillset." He shook his head. "And I'm, uh, not sure what would happen if the state or federal government had to get involved around here. Are we even a blip on the radar?"

“Maybe I should update my signs. Pick up your clothes so that you don’t cause a forest fire and burn the town down because no one remembers we’re here.” She shot a wry smile towards Efe. “Doesn’t feel quite as catchy.”

Rohan stood near the section of the beach where the dry sand met the wet sand, the very edge of the tide’s reach. With a rotted stick, one plucked from a tree on his walk over, he drew shapes at his feet, ones that were, theoretically, supposed to be random. But he was overly self-conscious about it and felt himself counting the numbers out as he went. And that, of course, defeated the purpose. He enjoyed divination, but geomancy seemed to once again being escaping him. He sighed, then, giving up and opting to draw a frowning face instead. He tossed the stick to allow the ocean to take it away.

And allowing his backpack to fall from his shoulder to dangle around his elbow, Rohan opened it to dig around inside and retrieve his tarot deck. Shuffling it, he then drew a single card: an inverted four of pentacles. He sighed very deeply, looking up at a voice.

“Oh! Uh, sure,” he replied easily, offering a smile. After a beat, though, he furrowed his brow, holding up the card. “But I think I’m supposed to be avoiding temptation. How safe is it?”

She offered the lighter and opened pack. “Though, I’m not sure about the temptation side of things. What do you classify as temptation? Should you be avoiding cake?” That was always a temptation - cake and spicy jalapeno kettle chips. More than once So-ra would promise herself to put the bag away at half and yet, she very rarely did. “I feel like sparklers have got to be safe.”

She offered the lighter and opened pack. “Though, I’m not sure about the temptation side of things. What do you classify as temptation? Should you be avoiding cake?” That was always a temptation - cake and spicy jalapeno kettle chips. More than once So-ra would promise herself to put the bag away at half and yet, she very rarely did. “I feel like sparklers have got to be safe.”

So-ra was having a blast this week. A sucker for anything romantic, she was fully taking advantage of all the activities and excitement. The fact that almost no one expected a commitment to come out of this week? Even better. Her fingers crossed, she had her hopes up for at least two romantic adventures. Sidling up to Poppy, she sipped from her drink and carefully took in the newest addition to the display.

“I like looking at the heartbreak,” So-ra admitted, glancing up at the wall full of memories. There were no sordid breakups in her past - no jilted lovers or intense screaming matches while the other cried. Of course, she’d had the usual breakups; the middle school fling where they ‘dated’ for three weeks before breaking up by the bike rack after school while waiting for the bus to pick them up. The high school romance that she broke off after he professed his undying love at the end of their second date. And then flings here and there - nothing that truly stuck. “Reminds me that no matter how crazy life here gets, there’s a lot more similarities between folks than differences.”

A grin overtook the unusually pensive look on her face as So-ra glanced around. “Besides, have you seen some of the items that got put up? I saw someone pinning up different polaroids of terrible breakup texts, along with a photo of each person. The shame.”

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Poppy gave a nod at So-ra’s words, before recently she had too. It was something about the misery, pain, and heartache that was strung across the walls right now that was souring any enjoyment she use to find from this. “That’s fair. I mean even though I don’t want to admit it, there’s things I’ve owned hanging up on this wall from past flings, heartbreak is something that so many can relate to and have felt. It’s like it bonds you with these people you don’t even know.” While she did know many of them, right now there were all just faceless people going through the same thing that she had. 

“What? No.” Raising her eyebrows in shock. “Wait can you show me? I have to see this!” While she could relate to people, Poppy was also one to never miss a messy breakup or drama that didn’t involve her. “I’m not on the list right? If I’m on the list I swear we’re ripping the paper down.”

 There were a couple faces she recognized and So-ra quickly snapped a few pictures with her phone. What was she going to use them for? Great question. But she was never one to throw away an opportunity, even if they would more than likely sit in her phone for years. “What do you think? One person with absolutely horrible luck or a serial dater with a love for drama?”

Where: The Country Club (Tennis Courts)

Who: Open to all

Dilan had been at this for what felt like hours, but it didn’t matter how many balls she hit or how many times they whacked against the fence nothing was taking away the emptiness and pain she felt inside. Watching as the ball came straight towards her and she swung at it as hard as she could, feeling her racket connect with it and the ball went straight back in the direction it had came. Looking up towards the screen above to see how many balls were left to come out but the number flashed zero. This was not what she needed, she needed more balls to hit, not the number zero. It didn’t matter how many balls were all around her, not when she needed to continue hitting something. Knocking the headphones off her head onto the ground and she screamed loudly. Finally standing up and opening her eyes once more as she wiped the sweat off her head. “Fuck.” Tossing her pink racket as far from her as she could, it hit the fence before dropping onto the pavement. Looking up to see another person on the other side of the fence staring at her and she just looked back. “What? What are you staring at?” She asked with an attitude, crossing her arms over her chest. “It didn’t hit you. There’s a fence” 

Purposely ignoring her attitude, he moved closer to the chainlink. “What did that racket do to deserve such harsh treatment? From what I can see, it’s holding up pretty well considering the work it's been doing,” he nodded to the balls strewn around the court.

His puzzling was interrupted by Rhett’s call out and Darrien nodded in recognition. “I think I’ve got some time,” he said, checking his watch. “I’ve got to say - this coffee I just had didn’t quite hit the spot. You got any recommendations?”

“Have you tried playing with it?” Craning her head, So-ra tried to get a look at the small pixel blob hopping around. “I used to be obsessed with those and they used to have like, three mini-games you could play.” 

It had been her favourite toy to carry around during middle school, annoying her teachers to no end. Not that it made a difference. The calls to her parents always ended up with her tamogotchii ‘locked’ away - usually in her dad’s study, under a pile of papers. It was never hidden well and So-ra only needed a few seconds to find it and slip it into her pocket. The perks of being invisible. “Or else you need to clean up it’s poop. So much poop,” she said, completely serious. 

.

“I’ve played with it. I’ve helped it sleep. I’ve given it food. I’ve changed its–oh it pooped again. God damn it, how much poop can be in this little thing?” Kadir held up the tiny oval as if he was going to find a diaper on the back side of it. When, of course, it didn’t, he looked up at the woman. “This is a game for children? Children play with this on purpose? Why would someone do this to them? We might as well just make them file their taxes and be done with it.” He threw his hands up in exasperation, the tamagotchi swinging as he did. “Here, this is adulthood. Something always needs your attention and nothing you do is ever going to be good enough!” He cursed in Turkish then seemed to finally realize what he’d said. He cleared his throat awkwardly. He liked to think that after two centuries, little could get to him, and he would not be bested by a chirping mechanical egg. 

Kadir ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I might be a little, uh, stressed,” he admitted. Unfortunately for the tamagotchi, it had become the embodiment of his bad day. “I’ll give you fifty bucks if you can make it happy.” He handed it out to her. “Is that weird? It’s weird, right? Sorry–” Then it beeped again. “A hundred,” he said. “I will give you a hundred bucks to make it happy.” 

Settling into the bench, she pulled her legs up under her and absently tapped away. “I know we don’t really know each other, but do you want to talk about what’s stressing you out? Oh! I think it can be potty trained.” So-ra watched as the small pixels on the screen used a toilet instead of leaving a mess behind. “I knew it! So,” she said, glancing up towards him without missing a beat. “What’s going on?”