be like no one

Natalie hated themed nights. All of the less than savory ghouls from the neighborhood crowded the place looking for tail. She didn’t like having to wear the stupid little get up but the tips made were worth it. 

Partly. 

Turning on her heels with the black circular tray balanced sloppily, she stumbled at the sight of the young man that entered. “Carson?” Her voice aghast at the thought of how ridiculous she looked but simmered with the joy of seeing an old friend. 

Carson stopped in his tracks on the way to the bar when he heard his name called out. He’d been wondering if anyone would even recognize him after all this time. When he saw that it was Natalie, dressed up for whatever night the pub was having, he grinned. 

“Nat!” he called out, already chuckling as he made his way over to her and let himself be embraced, tucking his head against her shoulder and giving her a squeeze. “Surprise?”

“You look rough.” Natalia spoke up as she came into sight, though seeing Sami naked caused her to inhale deeply. She expected to find anyone she did in that state, that was the whole reason she was out there wandering around with clothes in the backpack. Pulling it around from her back she dug into it as she moved towards him only to toss some clothes in his direction once she grabbed onto a shirts and pants. Whoever had already found Marco were told to go find anyone else they could. She had never actually seen Marco stressed, like he was out of his depth almost. Nothing good was happening and she imagined, nothing good was coming either but she had to shake it off, no time to sit and ponder when the pack was scattered about. She hadn’t bonded with Sami at all and when he joined the pack, she hadn’t be exactly thrilled, but again, she didn’t dwell she just chose to not engage. She had turned to give him some level of privacy, remembering some people weren’t as comfortable as she was coming out of her wolf form. “Do you feel as terrible as you look?” She questioned. It was a half joke, but she genuinely needed to know if he felt alright or not. No matter how it happened, with anyone, once they were in the pack there was a level of degree that she had to care for them. 

Sami let out a breath of relief when he saw that it was Natalia. He may not know her well, she’d kept her distance like some did when he was taken into the pack, but at least she was pack. “I’m fine, I think,” he said, gladly taking the clothes that were offered without question. He didn’t seem to be hurt, just cold and dirty. He pulled on the t-shirt and jeans, not caring that they weren’t a great fit on him, just thankful for anything, really. “What happened last night? Do you remember anything?” He had a million more questions, but he didn’t go on. Like where the hell was the rest of the pack?

Caitlin rolled her eyes at his words. “Apparently, at least that’s how people keep treating me,” she muttered as she let her fingers run along the rim of her glass. “Maybe I should, it sounds like I might as start living the role since it’s already painted for me.” She pointed out as she put her elbow on the surface of the bar, leaning her head against her hand.

Her head turned to look over at him, pressing her lips together. “No. I know he took Cordelia out of the country.” She shrugged her shoulder as she nodded her head. “But Nathan is doing pretty good.” She glided her tongue along her lower lip. “I know I shouldn’t be bitter about not being invited but I feel like…” She sighed, picking up her drink and bringing it to her lips. “-. crap.”

Josiah furrowed his brow at her next words, getting the feeling that maybe she meant more than just a sibling rift after all. “It’s not easy to make the rules, but someone has to,” he said, hoping that him taking the witches off her plate on the Council would make things easier for her. 

He took another sip of his beer and shrugged. “At least someone gets a vacation,” he chuckled. His tone changed though when he saw that Caitlin was still upset about her brother. “I guess that’s the point of eloping, that no one knows...Love makes people do dumb things, Cait.”

Kiara let her eyes rest on him as he spoke, her fingers brushing along the surface of the table as she glanced over towards the bartender, putting her index finger up along with her middle finger in hopes that would get his attention to bring her a drink. “Are you including the people not in the coven? What would she say about all of this?” She questioned as she turned her head back towards him. She leaned in closer towards him as she moved her fingertip right under his chin. “Why do you act like she’s not going to crush you under her thumb once you get elected, Josiah?” She asked, tilting her head as she dropped her hand from him. “It’s sweet that you want to be the voice for us but she will never let it happen.”

Josiah nodded at her question. “The Council represents the whole town,” he pointed out. The coven was just a small piece of the whole. He sighed, knowing that Mercy put him up for the Council for her own reasons, but now that he was there he couldn’t help wanted to do what was best for the hometown he loved. “I’m sure, at some point, the Council will make a decision that she won’t agree with...” he said, trailing off and not quite answering the question of what would happen to him then. Josiah reached out and snagged her hand under his when she went to pull it away. “Then why make me do it in the first place?” he whispered. 

Killian seemed eccentric to some, he had a reputation for it in London even in the witch community, but some people were able to see past that to his brilliant intellect. There was nothing Killian loved more than being right.

He didn’t look up when he heard his twin sister come in, he’d felt her approaching their little townhouse before he even heard her. “I’m close,” he said, his eyes still skipping over the map. “Really close.”

Coming home, and planning to stay home at least for a while, was weird. Carson quickly pushed open the doors to the pub, keeping out the cold late-winter wind that had picked up at his back. He looked around the Crossroads and smirked a little. 

“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” he muttered.”

AD:

Lex: Returned from Paris in January married to Cordelia

Sami: Moved in with Luna to be “out” with their marriage

Josiah: On the Council as the witch representative

Carson (new): Just returned to town, will rejoin the pack

Jackson (new): Chillin on his farm, will not join the pack

ATL:

Damien: In rehab for drug addiction (available for visits)

Bryan: Preparing to strike against the Russians

Tristan: Working as security for Aaron’s campaign, also makes signs/logos

Alaska Crew: still chillin’ in Alaska

Astoria:

Carson Swift ; 27 ; werewolf ; verse: Already Dead

Born and bred a werewolf in Awosting. Brought up in the pack with his family. 

His father was Alpha Bishop’s (Marco’s father’s) number 2. As they grew up, everyone in the pack knew that both Carson and Marco were being groomed for leadership. 

Carson hid the fact that he was gay from his father, who was loving but strict and old fashioned. 

As teenagers, Carson started to bond more with his childhood best friend, Lincoln, a fellow werewolf. Their relationship changed, and the two boys started secretly seeing each other. Many in the pack figured it out, finding it cute but keeping the secret from his father for him. 

It was a huge blow up when he found out, his father and Carson both said things they were later regret. It was near a full moon, and emotions were even higher than usual. The two went into the night of the full moon with a huge rift between them. 

Sadly, that argument would be the last conversation they had. Carson’s father was killed by hunters during that full moon. The hunters were going for the Alpha, and got Swift instead. 

At 17, Carson was completely broken. He never got to make peace with his father, and that would haunt him. He grieved for a long time, often wanting to see no one except Lincoln. Full moons became a time of mourning for him, even his wolf felt the loss. 

After a while, it was too hard for Carson to stay in town, and he decided he needed to get away for a while. After graduation, Carson decided to join the Peace Corps. After his training, he would go on to spend two years in another country at a time before moving on to his next tour. 

Carson loved the traveling, volunteer work, learning new languages and helping those in need. The hardest part was figuring out what to do every full moon, but he was always able to get creative to keep himself and others safe on that night. Sometimes Carson was temporarily brought into local packs, sometimes he went far out into the wilderness to isolate himself for the night. 

Presently, Carson has just returned to Awosting because his sister is expecting and he wants to be around for the baby’s birth. He isn’t sure how long he’ll stay in town, and he doesn’t have a lot of money so he’s staying at his mother’s house for now. He is simultaneously nostalgic and conflicted about being back, but he has to admit it’s good to see his family and old friends. 

Connections: 

Lincoln: childhood best friend, ex

pregnant Sister, & brother in law (open)