On Padded Feet

She thought about it, placing the pen in her mouth before nodded. “I can still try, can I?’ Mercy said with a grin. “Alright, I’ll keep trying and I hope everyone comes, because it’ll be the best party I’ve ever thrown.”

“Good luck with that then, miss librarian,“ he grinned, nodding at Mercy before he got up and waved a hand.

“Eh, it’ll heal eventually.” Fletcher said with a short laugh as he went back to work, he was going a little easier but still the vein in his neck was obvious. Fletcher was bad for making it look like he was friendly, but until he figured out what someone was, that was exactly what he was like.

“Sure,“ Leon answered dismissively as he impatiently stood by the huge machine. “So what’s with the need to bulk up anyway? Joining a mister muscleman contest?”

“Are you making fun of the way that I dress?”

“Relax man, I was just teasing you about your dancing.“

“obviously not,” he returned quickly, clutching the gun tight against his waist as they woke, “but not everything in these woods are particularly fond of me or… wolves,” he spat the word in leon’s direction, “i’d rather have it than not need it.”

“I’m not surprised, must be your stellar personality that’s making you so popular,“ Leon retorted as he briefly eyed the gun. Barsilaj was in the police force so the werewolf hoped that it would at least prevent any nervous shooting of any kind. “So, have you met my sister already?” he asked, unable to stop himself from making small talk or keep quiet in general, ”she works at the police station too.”

“I have a pen but no paper,” Ruby shook her head in fake dismay. “I’d sign your arm or something, but then you’d have to never wash it, and I can’t be responsible for that.” She joked, just happy that someone stopped to talk for once. “Only on sunny days like this where I can’t justify staying inside all day on my couch.” She shrugged. “Do you do this often? Walk the sidewalks and make conversation with the local talent?”

“If you sign my arm I’ll have to get it inked in so it doesn’t wash off,“ the werewolf quipped. “Ah, a couch potato, got all the time to hone your craft huh?” Leon nodded. He didn’t mind staying indoors, but it had to be storming outside to stop him from doing anything, otherwise he’d be out there doing god knows what. “Well I mean, sometimes I ride a motorcycle,” he told her, “or go to the pier or go to the mountains or...” his voice trailed off and the werewolf paused, “you get the idea.”

“What do I have to do to get into your pack?” she asked with a laugh before her smile fell, her widened eyes replacing it. “I, um, Hastings?”

“You gotta be as cute as they are,“ Leon quipped before nodding, oblivious to her change in expression. “Yeah, Hastings, you know, original werewolves and all?“

“Money hungry jackass” he teased, laughing lightly as he pet the cat’s head. “Oh shut up, man,” he chuckled, “she just kinda left. We weren’t even a thing, I took her on one date so I mean nothing serious happened” he shrugged.

Quickly placing her coffee cup down Johanna reached across the table and grabbed the pad, bringing it back towards her. “Sorry about that, seems I put a little more power than expected in the toss. Seat is yours”, she indicated towards the chair across from herself.

“Thanks,“ Leon nodded as he slipped in the chair opposite of her. He had a large, non-caffeinated drink and a book in hand. “So, having trouble drawing the other eye or something?” he asked after a while, unable to mind his own business.

“How often is it that you run into drunk vampires?”Avery raised an eyebrow, but it was becoming quite common for strangers to know of her existence more than she did herself. The rotten scent the man gave off began to fill her nostrils; she had smelt it only a few times before but had yet to connect it with any supernatural being. Perhaps that’s just how people with poor hygiene smelt to vampire senses? “Oh, no. The poor things. I have to admit they are always a little more adorable when they can’t stand up straight.”

“—I can tell her you stopped by…?” 

“Uh no, that’s okay,“ Leon was quick to stop her, “we’re not, you know, buddies or anything.“ The ancient vampire wasn’t known to be friendly so it would be stupid to pretend that he’s friends with her. 

“How’s it going, L,” she said, not altogether minding the extensive shortening of her already too long name but making the point nonetheless. “Looks like it,” minus the one but she knew not to pry, having already learned of his leaving by the time she arrived. “Or you just prefer playing with someone you know you can outdo,” Georgie smirked at him, the playful challenge evident in her voice.

“Okay,” Danielle grinned, tilting her head and admiring him for a moment. She loved the cool night air on her face and didn’t stop smiling even when they fell into silence. “Well, it was.. an accident. I was at this bar. the Sana- Sanatorium. And they’ve got drinks I’m not used to,” she gave as simple an explanation as she could. “Ever been?”

“I know that place,“ Leon nodded, “dingy bar in an old hospital right? Something about a ghost lady.“ He wasn’t much of a drinker, having weaned himself from alcohol for centuries from fear of losing control. Now it’s just made him a lightweight. “Now how did the accident bit happen, drinks kept magically finding your mouth?”

“Well I have to say, you’re the luckiest alpha out there” she chuckled, gently petting one of the dog’s heads. “I’m Demi”

“The luckiest, I got the best pack in Ashbourne,” he echoed as his eyes followed the other werewolf in patting one of the dogs. “I’m Leon Hastings,“ the boy greeted.