we're one of a kind

@hollowstarters

Alex tapped his fingers against the counter, it wasn't too long until closing time and the store had been pretty quiet for the last couple of hours. He was flicking through a comic when he was sure he'd felt the page move. The top corner flicked as if there had been a gush of wind... and yet no one had opened the door. The window was closed. He looked around him, for a second he was sure he'd seen someone... and he felt a cold feeling wash over him.

Suddenly he heard a crash from the back of the store... the smashing of glass. Without even thinking, he ran towards it. “What is going on?” he breathed. "I thought I'd heard," he blinked, feeling confused. He'd heard the sound of glass breaking and yet, there was nothing to see. “Who... who’s there? Is someone messing with me?” He realised he was talking into the air and that he was now stood out in the middle of the street.

location: Howling cabins

Declan spent a lot of time at the cabins, they tended to be empty this time of year and with a few weeks away from the full moon he thought he had the whole place to himself. That was until he saw a flash before his eyes. Something darting between two of the cabins. He tilted his head, moving towards the area where he'd seen the figure. "Who's there?" He asked, stepping towards the cabin. He could see something... the bottom of a dress. He reached out, almost touching the figure.

Crunch. His attention was drawn back towards the road. "I thought i saw someone." He replied, rubbing his eyes. "No... i definitely saw someone here." He looked back at the cabins that now appeared to be empty.

Truth be told he was engaged in a conversation with a person, but he had long dissociated. The whirlwind of thoughts differed from the veil to his next potion recipe. Darsh blinked and casually dropped his eyes to his drink in front of him. A bubble of silence around them, and that made him panic. The other must have asked him a question, right? Darsh cleared his throat and nodded to the other. "The answer is clearly fourteen." He uttered with a natural confidence that he almost believed himself. His brows knitted together while he stared to see if the answer actually made sense at all, or if he was caught.

@hollowstarters

The sun had slipped down, and the warmth of the sky was ebbing. Music had began to play, and Cecilia found comfort in the community once more. With the absence of the sun, she kept an eye out for anything lurking. Dark things that could threaten the town. She would need to send out her message to the council soon, but first she wanted to place down roots. She wouldn't be leaving until the safety of her family was confirmed, and she was willing to the help the council with that.

Spotting someone from the corner of her eye, Cecilia looked around at the benches that were full. She paused for a moment before turning her eyes on them. "You're welcome to share my bench." She scooted more to one side, allowing them the choice.

The gentle waves of the lake rolled to shore as he watched the water devour every drop of black ink, making it swirl and twist. Yet no message formed, no reply from the Trader. His question remained unanswered, his call for help unheard. Nathaniel closed his eyes, took a deep breath as the spell simply disappeared in thin air. He was about to give up for the day when he heard a noise behind him, footsteps on the gravel shore.

"Who's there?", he called out and slowly turned towards the person, his magic raising its ugly head in anticipation.

As a medium, Kayla was drawn to places where the veil between realms seemed thin, and the Afterglow Inn held such an enchantment. Here, rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation were not just words but a promise whispered through the halls, carried by the echoes of countless visitors seeking solace.

Kayla stepped inside, and the atmosphere shifted, wrapping them in a warm embrace. The scent of freshly baked goods wafted from a nearby dining area.

Kayla made her way to a secluded corner of the inn, where a private section awaited her and whoever was seeking guidance today. The room exuded a sense of sacredness, adorned with antique furniture and delicate tapestries that seemed to hold stories of their own. Soft rays of sunlight streamed through the lace curtains, casting a gentle glow upon the room.

Taking a moment to center themselves, Kayla closed their eyes and allowed their sense to expand. She felt the subtle energy of the inn, a harmonious blend of past and present, a tapestry of emotions waiting to be unraveled.

When she opened their eyes, Kayla noticed a figure standing by the doorway, their presence filled with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.

"Welcome," Kayla greeted warmly, their voice carrying a soothing cadence. "I'm Kayla, a medium here to offer guidance and insight. Please, have a seat."

She gestured towards the plush armchairs arranged in a cozy nook, inviting them to find comfort. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the connection to be established, for the stories of the past and the whispers of the future to intertwine.

"I sense that you seek answers, a deeper understanding," Kayla continued, their eyes meeting the others with compassion. "Within this space, we can delve into the realms beyond, where the threads of destiny are revealed."

To say Deirdre's night had been long would be the understatement of the year. It had been a full moon and Deidre had run wild, apart from the pack in a rare occurrence. She usually stuck close to the pack, wanting to keep a watch over the others, but last night she had yearned for solitude and the chance to stretch her legs and hunt.

It had been a successful night. But transitioning back always left her feeling, well, a bit hungover. She woke up near the tree she had marked and retrieved her clothes from a low-hanging branch. She was just pulling her hoodie over her head when she heard a branch snap behind her.

Shit.

"Who's there?" Deirdre asked, turning on her heel.

Hand on the door, the situation felt oddly similar, although Tammi couldn’t quite pinpoint what was going on. She rubbed her lips together, her senses on alert as she quickly searched the area with her eyes. “Uh... um, who is there?” She turned, stepping slightly towards the sound. “This isn’t funny if this is some kind of practical joke.” 

Cassandra was just finishing off her glass of a vintage, buttery chardonnay when she felt a new person sit down in the chair two seats away from her. Cassandra looked up and offered a small smile, but didn't say anything yet.

But then she surprised herself when the bartender came to replenish her glass, she told the bartender the other's drink was on her.

"What can I say, I believe in good karma," she remarked to the other.

Aria stood at the nurses station, her hands gently clasping a steaming cup of coffee, its aroma mingling with the sterile scent of antiseptic. Fluorescent lights overhead cast a clinical glow on the bustling ward. It was another busy shift, but Aria had grown accustomed to the rhythm of the clinic, finding solace in the routine chaos.

As she took a sip of her coffee, the intercom crackled to life, announcing a patient in room 214. Aria's eyes flickered wit curiosity, wondering who she would be attending to this time. With a sense of purpose, she set her cup aside and made her way down the corridor, her white uniform swishing softly with each step.

Upon reaching the room, Aria paused for a moment outside of the door, gathering her thoughts and preparing herself to meet the person on the other side. She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves, before gently pushing open the door and stepping inside.

The room was dimly lit, the pale sunlight casting a hazy glow through partially drawn curtains. A figure lay on the hospital bed, their form obscured by the shadows. Aria approached, her footsteps whisper-soft against the tiled floor.

"Good morning," she greeted warmly, her voice a soothing melody. "My name is Aria, and I'll be your nurse today. How're you feeling?"

Event: Holloway Event 01 (Leland Manor)

Summer sat behind the little kitchen island where she had been set up to make coffee, the smell of the rich roasts filling the air as the coffee pot bubbled. It was going well enough, people seemed glad for the warm drink as they explored the Manor. Sorting through the few dollars that had been passed to her as the clunk of foot steps passed by over her head.

Status: open to all

@hollowstarters

Elyse's stance as she stood off to the side of the parlor of Leland Manor House could only be described as a statue. The perfect spot according to her to view the front door. Her eyes watched every person that entered said door for all suspicious inhabitants that could cause trouble during the night. From the moment Investigation of the Paranormal Society (HIPS) came to the Holloway Home Society with the idea for this event, Elyse has been questioning the advisability of the whole plan. Not that Elyse got much to say when voting with the Holloway Home Society. She was only seen as a junior member at this time. It would not be until she got voted into the next open seat on the board that she could object to crazy ideas such as this one. Since no one was listening to her yet, Elyse saw it as her duty to make sure nothing bad happened or at least try. "Don't touch that," she stated to the young child about to reach for a vase on the bookshelf. She tried her best to smile at the child while keeping a stern look. Within seconds the child took off towards their parent, and Elyse was once more left to focus on those entering the house.

After a few centuries of tolerating mortals and their strange events and celebrations, Fran could almost disassociate himself from it all. If he were not on the Council, he definitely not would be here.

The vampire leaned casually against a wall, distancing himself away from the crowds as his eyes glanced around the people. His nose wrinkled slightly, so many scents.... so many species locked in one space. Now didn't that sound like a recipe for disaster?

He turned to the closest person. “You know there's been so many times in my life when I've been told that a cup of tea can solve most problems. I mean, I have no idea how it can help horrific things but optimism. Oh, there's also the fact that tea does not taste good to me,” he pulled a face as he took another sip. The liquid didn’t taste like much against his tongue, almost like the way he’d imagine soil to taste. Though it helped with his human facade. "Are you a ghost believer?"

Status: open to all

@hollowstarters

The fact that Tahlia found herself at such an event like HIPS public investigation of Leland Manor was even a surprise to herself. It all came about due to desperation. Coffee; plain and simple. She needed coffee. While she could have made it at home (Not likely with a broken coffee pot) or stopped at one of the shops in town, this seemed like an easier way to go. Grab it and go. No need to wait around inside a cafe making small talk. She could grab it and go or so she thought. It turns out there was one thing Tahlia did not anticipate the long lines. For a small-town Holloway sure did seem to have a lot of people attending today’s event. "Just my luck!" She blurted out as she found her place at the end of the line.

Status: open to all

@hollowstarters

Of course, Lavender Haze had a booth set up in the gardens of Leland Manor. And of course, Maryam was on shift for most of the night. Part of her enjoyed that fact for it could allow her to indulge in the event, be nosy when it came to the fear of these mortals - and yet still uphold her aura of not getting involved in all of this ghost nonsense.

She had brought most of her supplies of magical sprinkles, ready to stir them into any and all drinks should this night become rather boring rather fast. And she was quite happy to know that she had even managed to find a source if Europe for the special stuff, the good stuff. The herbs here were still not close to the potent and powerful magic she found in the fae realm, but having Beifuß collected under a full moon in her bag made her almost feel as if she was at home.

"Looking for something special today?", she smiled at the first person coming closer to the booth, "We have brought our regular coffee for you brave investigators, but this is also the place to come to when you need an extra pick-me-up after tonight." The fae motioned towards the donuts propped up on the booth, but there was a special glint in her eyes, too.

Oh. My. GOSH.

This couldn't have been better than if Drin had planned the whole thing himself. Which he hadn't. But still... This entire even presented him with so much -- opportunity!

The doors had been locked. A cheer from some (the drunker members of the crowd). A few nervous laughs from others. A gaggle of hushed conversation and excitement making the Fae's blood run warm. Because if the 'spirits' weren't going to put on a show... Drin certainly would. And if they did? It would just be double the fun.

He waits... About half an hour after the door locks. For those outside to start moving away, the main entertainment of the pre-event all but wrapping up for now. There were still some people outside, but the crowds had definitely thinned. Inside, people had separated - begin exploring... Ghost hunting.... And Drin is settled in a comfy armchair - listening to the chatter. Feeling the anticipation.

Ready to provide a little... Entertainment.

He starts slow. Gotta ease into the main event, y'know? One hand gestures vaguely, gently. Barely noticeable. Just tapping of his fingers on the arm of the chair.

-- the lights flicker.

Because that's a staple. Need to have a flickering light or two. There are a few gasps from nearby. Drin included. His eyes widening to play along with the game as he reaches out one hand to the person nearest to him.

"Did you see that? That wasn't just me, right?"

-- the room grows cold.

Just a flash freeze for a second or two... Long enough for everyone to catch sight of their next breath, frosting in the air in front of them.

Piper was onto her second wine, sitting on a window seat and swirling the liquid around in the glass. She knew the mix of her emotions and alcohol probably wasn't the best idea but she couldn't help it when the free wine was dangled right in front of her.

She could hear her dad's voice in her head. He always complained about the town events and yet, he attended every single one of them. As a witch he said these sort of things were a mockery. She could never quite decide. She often wondered how much truth there was to a haunted place. Lost in her own thoughts, she spoke out loud. "Do you think the ghosts in here are sick of people disturbing their resting place for fun?"