fangs, speed, skill

(Emmy Rossum, 29, she/her) Have you seen [Natasha McNaughton] around Faerune? They’re a [werewolf] who [Supports] restoring the Unseelie Court. People have heard they’re [resilient, independent, observant] but can also be [chaotic, reactive, under controlled]. We’ll see where they fall when the revolution arrives, but until then they can be found working as a [Assistant Caretaker at the cemetery]. 

[Playlist]

@likewanderingstars

It felt weird not seeing Siri open the door. Nat was still a little depressed over the entire fiasco. She was fine now but Siri wasn’t happy with how she had lunged at Nat. “Sounds like a spectacular evening. Beer? You can’t have pizza without beer.”

Originally posted by dauntless-dragayn

A wide smile broke out across Nash’s face as her twin emerged, honestly she had been stoked about Siri not being around. Partially because Nash knew she’d go feral on the other and that would break Nat. Partially because that meant the twins could have nights like this. “In the fridge!” The alpha yelled as she ducked into her room for a joint and cigarettes. “Will you be partaking tonight?” Her tone playful as she rejoined Nat, holding up the joint

@sanguineous-thorn​

“Sure, a vacation from the crap I had to deal with before,” he replied curtly. Rafe had no desire to elaborate on said crap, but he did not like the insinuation that he had come to Faerune for a pleasure trip. If he was playing into some town stereotype about werewolves being mechanics, he had not realized it. That just happened to be the place he had gone for a job, which had led to him meeting Lucas, which had led to him joining the pack. “Could be because my pack’s Alpha owns the shop,” he commented, glad he had found the repair shop and was not working in the cemetery, “Sounds like a lively job. You get any complaints from customers?”

-

“That’s incredibly relatable.” Nash chuckled and caught the bartender’s attention for another. It did make sense to her that wolves worked on cars in a way. A place to get out built up anger she supposed, she’d seen Nat take her rage out on cars before. It was actually pretty productive most of the time. “Ah yes. I’m familiar. I know the other mechanic turned junkyard rescue.” She laughed at his comment, “I can honestly say I haven’t. I enjoy the stillness of it all. Working with the living seems exhausting.”

“I been trying to give you space.” Nat confessed with a sigh, “you may have forgiven me, but I know I did a lot of hurtful shit.” Nat wasn’t oblivious to her actions. It was like the fog lifted after all the drinking stopped. “Twin date, yeah?” Nat pulled on a clean shirt and smiled. “Where we going?”

-

“I would appreciate less space,” Nash grinned and shoved Natalie playfully, “And less pants stealing. Your stains are your only sins I can’t over look.” It was easy to forgive all of the bullshit, not just because it was her twin but because she could see the genuine effort Nat was putting into herself. That alone was enough for Nash to be happy. “Twin date.” Nash replied grinning. “I’m saying we stick with the classic Birch night. I don’t want to run into the royals.” 

Sofia entered at Nash’s yell, continuing to stand because she wasn’t sure if she should sit or not. It was a dinner, but she also had something serious to talk about, and she wasn’t sure she’d be welcome or not afterwards.

“Nat thinks I should be kicked out of the pack, and I’m pretty sure Walker thinks so too. Maybe it would be best for everyone if you did kick me out.” With her current plans, she would only bring more heat down on the pack, and while the pack had become her family over the past few years, she knew they didn’t deserve what was to come.

-

Nash sighed through her nose, this is what she had been expecting but honestly she had been expecting it later in the evening. It took her a minute to find the right words, “Well I guess it’s a god god damn thing that it’s not their pack isn’t it?”

“Natalie is a hot head.” Nash started without realizing how long of a rant this was going to turn into, “She means well. As for Walker, he can shove out of my pack business. We’ve all been through some shit. We’ve all done stupid shit. Every single one of us has fucked up. The most important thing is what you do next. How else are we supposed to grow as people. If you want to leave. Then leave. I’m not going to make that choice for you. And yeah, you might end up making that choice for me. But as it stands, do the next right thing and you’re always welcome here. I’ll be damned if I do anything anyone tells me to do with my pack. Including you. If you don’t want to be a part of this, that is entirely on you. If you can’t let the past go, you’re just going to do yourself dirty for the rest of your life. But I will never tell you that I don’t want you to be a part of this pack. A part of my family.”

Even if he did not have to worry about his family, Rafe still was a little wary of other werewolves. The Walker pack had welcomed him, but he knew there were other packs in town, and he was not sure all of them would be as welcoming. He was still far from getting used to the others’ scents, so when he caught an unfamiliar scent, he was a little on guard. He had not been purposely trying to avoid the other wolf, but if the bar had not been so crowded, he would not have chosen to sit beside her either. When it seemed he had no other choice, he finally sat, glancing over at her as she spoke.

“There’s probably plenty I haven’t met, since I haven’t been here all that long,” he said, ordering a drink of himself. He was on guard, but he wanted to make it clear he meant no ill will towards her, so he promptly introduced himself. “I’m Rafe, I work at Shrubby Mechanics. And you are…?”

-

Bobbing her head in acknowledgement, Nash took her shot. “Well that makes a lot of sense. You come for vacation and get stuck?” The introduction was appreciated, she hated giving information first. A bark of laughter escaped her mouth at the mechanic comment. “Why is it every werewolf I know is a god damn mechanic? I’m Nash. I’m out at the cemetery beautifying the dead.” She wasn’t an Alpha tonight so she didn’t feel like mentioning it.

“She eats like a ten year old given no dietary restrictions sometimes. Which I can appreciate, because what am I deep down, if not a little boy always kinda hungry for bubblegum ice cream with sprinkles?” One could argue that he was a wolf, before he was a child desperate for soft serve, but he’s not about to acknowledge that argument when the pancakes find their place in front of him, the werewolf immediately setting to dousing them in syrup and taking another long swallow of his coffee before digging in. Even his best manners tended to be a touch savage, something he’d blame on his nature- and growing up in a family of six. But at the very least, he bothers to swallow the forkfuls of fried batter, fruit and whipped cream before he speaks again.

“Listen, in my experience- with most things, no news is terribly good news.” He knows enough about the packs in the city- his paranoia fostered as a political figure shifting in the last year to a general distrust of most everyone. It’s background checks and spies through the Sixth that determine who he can trust- and it’s his loyalist grift that makes those people less willing to trust him. yes, no news is good news in most cases. “A little peace is often short-lived, I’ll give the loss of my job one thing, I’ve got plenty more time to relax without worrying about the business of every pack that’s not mine, or really most anything that’s not the fact I bought two bolts of the same black fabric from the same run and they’re two different shades so now I can’t use them both for the same piece. I’d argue that if that’s my biggest stressor and not ‘might get poisoned’ that maybe this is a net gain.”

-

Natasha couldn’t help but laugh, he did know how to break the tension. Before the takeover she hadn’t talked with him much but now she was starting to see why others would listen to him. “Honestly that’s me too. I may or may not have a mini fridge in my room just for the tiny ass freezer that fits those tiny ice cream containers quite nicely.” Maybe pleasantries weren’t all that bad. 

She let his words settle on her, he was right. Peace never stayed, but she sure was going to revel in it while it lasted. “That does seem like a very good trade off. I like the quiet of not being involved with the other packs. Since Nat changed her shop over it’s been pretty easy to stay out of everyone’s way and keep them out of my business.” Her brows furrowed at the fabric, “That’s absolutely wild and seriously dumb. What if you just did a half and half thing? split it down the middle for effect?”

“You aren’t losing your mind. Im not in charge but I’ll be your shoulder to lean on whenever you need it. The strength of the wolf is the pack.” Nat threw her arm around her sister and guided her toward the living room. “I’ll go out with you, should be fun. Siri won’t mind.”

-

“I know.” Nash kept the smile on her face even though it felt fake. The comment about Siri being okay with it caused a momentary flash of anger in Nash’s chest. If Siri did mind with it did that mean that Nat wouldn’t even try to spent time with her own sister? As much as the comment irked her, Nash still maintained the happy look, “That would be cool. I feel like we haven’t spent any time together in a while.”

“We have been fixing up a bike for her.” Nat held up her hands which were still covered in smudges of black. “You have nothing to worry about Tash.” Nat’s hand gripped her sisters shoulder and squeezed reassurance into her words. “Please don’t shut me out. You don’t need to do this alone anymore.”

-

“See?” Nash smiled, “Busy little bees.” The gritty feel of the oil from Nat’s fingers on her shoulders was weirdly comforting. One of the small things Nash loved about life. Something that never changed. She let out a little chuckle, “Oh there will always be plenty to worry about, I’m not stressed about it though. I’ve just been cooped up long enough. Only so many single person circles before a wolf loses her mind.” 

He deserved a treat. He could trust Emmet and his own mother to look after the shop long enough for him to get lunch, and if he had to scrutinize the weave pattern of a piece of silk for a second longer he was going to have a meltdown. The solution, clearly, was pancakes. A lot of pancakes. That was why he found himself at the diner, sat at the counter and tapping a dress shoe-clad foot against the floor absently while he doctored his coffee, shooting a text to Jill to inform her he likely wasn’t going to be at Floridae late tonight if he needed a pancake break after 4 hours. It’s as he’s downing a good half of his cup of caffeine that he glances up to catch someone sitting down beside him, someone he recognizes quite well, actually. And by the subtle hastening of her pulse, she’s not exactly pleased to see him. “Ah, Nash, been a minute.” He greets, sitting his cup down carefully.

“Food’s good enough that I’m about to eat a stupid amount of pancakes to forget about the day at work I’ve had so far, but mine’s not shown up yet. Which means you get to watch me toe the line of what is a breakfast food and what is a dessert in real time.” He’s pleasant enough, the younger alpha a good bit less… dour, out of his position as a councilman, it seems. “I blame my girlfriend for this, got me stuck on scarfing down sugar masquerading as the most important meal of the day. Probably a little late for breakfast but I didn’t have any this morning. How’re things?” He likely means with her pack, but he’s left it vague enough she has excuses- he always tends to, when it comes to conversation with fellow alphas.

-

He was casual enough that she relaxed a bit, slouching instead of stiff backed. Nash’s hesitation wasn’t even Faerune related, since they had been back with their family Nash had never trusted male alphas. The caution in her head was warranted even if they had history. “You know pancakes do sound pretty good. That’s what I was thinking of getting.” She offered in an attempt to be cordial. Laughing at his comment about his girlfriend a bit, “From what I hear they do be pretty demanding about food.” 

She ran her tongue over her teeth before answering, “They’re quiet for once and it’s really nice you know?” The statement could cover her pack or personal life and she wasn’t about to clarify. 

“Call it twintuition.” Nat chuckled as the pants snapped back in her direction. “You don’t want me to come.” Nat felt a little pang of rejection hit in her gut. “You have been off and I’m not sure why. I just want to make sure you are ok. You know I just worry cause I love your sorry ass.”

-

Natasha shook her head at Nat’s comment about her not wanting the other there. “That’s not true.” A casual shrug, “I just assumed you and Siri would be busy.” To her lips she pushed a smile, “I’m all good. Everything is all fine. I love you too and you’ve got nothing to worry about. That’s my job.” 

Nat  awoke to the sound of her sister using her full name, “Damnit…” She mumbled as she rolled off the side of the bed and immediately sprung into a reactive stance, “Tash?” She scratched her head as she registered the question in her brain, “I was asleep, what the hell!”  Natalie strolled into the laundry area where Nash was rummaging for her favorite pair of pants.

“Going out without me? Now I am both offended and pissed.” She chuckled as she tossed the pants at her sister. “I didn’t wear them. Got put in my basket by mistake.” The lie fell from her smirk. “Hey, you good? I feel like maybe you aren’t and I’m worried about you.”

-

“Well if you weren’t such a little shit.” Natasha rolled her eyes as she snatched the pants out of the air and with one smooth move she flicked the pants back at Natalie. It snapped at her like a wet towel. “I’m just ogin gover to Birch, it’s not that interesting.” She spoke as she pulled her pants on, chosing to reply to the question while buttoning her pants. An easy excuse to not look at her twin. “I’m fine Tal. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Her chest was warm and she was cracking jokes with Julian and the other bartenders, enjoying her freedom from wolf shit and responsibilities for a couple hours. The scent of another wolf had caught her nose a bit but she didn’t recognize it so it was easier to ignore. Especially with how many people were packed in the bar that night. She wasn’t about to put effort into trying to avoid them. Somehow the wolf ended up next to her, she didn’t like she didn’t know him. Not to mention the alcohol had her feeling bold as fuck. She ordered an extra shot and slid it over, “not a lot of wolves I haven’t met around this town.” 

@rafe-montenegro​