#salemstart

“I’m so tired of winter. I don’t like freezing my ass off. I don’t like wearing twenty layers and feeling sweaty and cold at the same time? I mean, what the hell? That should be illegal. I want strawberries. And watermelon. I want to eat ice pops on a cement stoop without feeling like my fingers are going numb,” Maybe coming to town at all had been a mistake - she should’ve stayed in Nevada, where the concept of winter hardly existed. She’d take her seventy-degree days over bundling up to go outside.

“I mean, I guess the hot chocolate is worth it...” They swirl the mug in their hand while standing outside of the Lumpy Pumpkin, which had been a welcome break from the cold, bust still not enough for Annabelle to be satisfied. “I mean, it’s even sunny outside, but I sure as hell don’t feel warm in the slightest,” They even go as far as to glare up the cold sun that had seemed to betray them. 

With a huff, she glances across the street to ensure no cars were passing by, and then begin to cross. Unaware of her own footing, however, as soon as she clears the street, her feet slides on an icy patch where the gutter and the sidewalk meet. She slips directly into the crosswalk sign, then falls to the concrete ground. “Oh god --” She usually sticks her landing, after the few classes of gymnastics her mother had snuck her into. Annabelle manages to pull herself in a sitting position over the ice, but when she gets a look at her twisted ankle, her worry becomes more apparent. “Well...that doesn’t look so good...”

date: march 20th

@salemstart​

While ‘confusion’ was more or less Margot’s default state, it really had been taken a notch today.

They had spent almost a week in the woods, trying to track down the various cryptids and demons that were meant to inhabit the surroundings, but alas, like many times before, they had failed.

Feeling rather glum, they had returned to Salem, only to be met with what their mother would’ve called “baffling hullabaloo”.

Half the people they saw were in a rush, while the others seemed frozen in place, unable to move at all. And between them all, Margot heard the same thing. Amaljin.

The name sounded vaguely familiar, but they had been so focused on the hunt that the gears in their head simply weren’t turning. Or at least, not turning in the right way to figure out what must’ve happened while Margot was gone.

It seemed that the apex of the activity was in the town square, which was to be expected, with more people running around, and some huddling, talking amongst themselves.

And if ‘confusion’ was Margot’s main state of mind, ‘curiosity’ ran a very close second, which lead to them reaching out to a stranger. “Hey, what’s going on?” They asked. “Did I miss something?”

place & time of day: kum n go, sometime after 9pm *capping at 5! ( 5/5 )

already established the eccentricity of salem, and she’s hardly been here a week; sure, each interaction safiya’s had with its presumed locals have been predominantly in the motel parking lot, but have they not also been enlightening? she’d say so. take today, for instance. one of the motel’s handful of residents caught safiya leaving their room ( bearing a gift, too, though she’s still on the fence about whether or not she was the intended recipient ). it was this aforementioned gift that she’s been fidgeting with instead of doing whatever attendant duties she should be doing, like stocking the cooler or ... shit, she’s still gotta sweep and mop the floors before shift change --- after a glance in direction of the store’s clock, however, it’s decided almost instantaneously that there won’t be time, so safiya makes no effort to move from their cozy spot behind the counter. back pressed to the register, leaning against it while struggling to fasten the handmade doll to their cord necklace. once that’s done, safiya sighs emphatically. “ god --- so sorry, i was a bit distracted. ” the doll sways from her necklace as she turns. “ think she looks like me? ” would’ve been creepy had safiya not found it so endearing. “ i think it was a welcome gift. didn’t have the heart to tell ‘em a welcome to salem note would’ve sufficed. ” spins it again between nimble fingers, for good measure. “ is that kinda thing normal? for this area. i mean, i like it and i’m certainly not complaining, but what if it’s like ... hexed or something. ya know? ”

“So, I dunno about you, but I’m definitely voting for Mr. Unicorn.” of course, Todd’s a regular. and he comes to hang out when he has money and time to spare. sometimes he doesn’t have money, let’s be real– and has to rely on his charms to snipe free drinks from others, not only for himself but for his forever date Renato Luna. ( he doesn’t want his boyfriend to know just how broke he is. ) but he has been a regular since he’s moved into town the past two months. he loves the coffin club, the music, the vibes, the chance to dress up. tonight he’s got fishnets under his pants ( which he may or may not have borrowed from Gabs without her permission ), and the pepsi crop top  he’s, no doubt, thrifted. but he’s not looking for free drinks today, he wants opinions. the straw at his lips sways with the lingerings of rum and coke. he’s not set on his vote yet, but he thinks he is, “I could feel the soul in their song. Sure it wasn’t technically good, and I could sense some anxiety in their voice, but it really resonated with me. I think they should try out for the voice. What do you think?”

[ location: the lucky cat fitness centre. ]

“you know, a lotta folks usually avoid this fuckin’ place after christmas. ain’t got no clue why, maybe they’re savin’ up the calorie-burnin’ till after the new year’s feast.” it wasn’t anything uncommon for the boxing instructor to pluck a chatter or two amidst rows of these gym-goers — it could be an irritating diversion, but after her recent lurch with her health and prolonged absence, there was a part of her that wanted to attempt worming back into her other establishment as well as its regulars. secluding herself with the stacks of dossiers and case requests could get a little lonesome and tedious, not to mention she could also use the opportunity to continue getting back in shape. drapped in her casual, loose tee, she stuffed her palms in her pockets as she navigated around — one person in particular catching her interest. “you doin’ alright? couldn’t help but notice you seemed to struggle a bit with this thing,” she poked one of the eliptical trainers; frankly, she wouldn’t be surprised if one of the machines turned out to be slightly rusty after her time away. “need any help?” 

If there was one cemented thing about Evren Fawn, it would be her inability to mesh into the crowd regardless of the situation and being the host of the party changed absolutely nothing. Lounging on one of the more comfortable seats where she could supervise the celebration before her, she had chosen to maintain a significant distance from most of the guests — sure, she was playing nice. Had herself nodding to the pleasantries and well-wishes, but it wasn’t to say that she had deliquesced, her mouth sewn and thin-lipped whenever one ventured over to ask her to partake more. It was more comfortable for the former assassin and soon-to-be triplet mother to remain like this, and she planned on staying that way for the evening — that was, of course, until she was abruptly tugged from her own little sanctuary. A commotion emanated from across the trailer, and much as she desired to disregard it, her worries battered her mind, telling her that it could have been something valuable being obliterated. She made sure to inspect that her husband was in one-piece, before sending daggers to where the sound had echoed. “If there is some kind of tussle happening, I swear I will not hesitate to kick all of you out.” Well, so much for being civil, she supposed. Pressing two digits against the bridge of her nose, she leaned back. “Sorry — could you, could you help me get one of those drinks? I just don’t feel like moving over there, a little bit too bustling for me and the babies.” It was unlike Evren to ask for assistance, but the enlarged belly increasingly decreased her speed and multiplied her lethargy.

[ location: new year’s eve party, upper floor. ]

“i just heard someone say there was a loud crash about thirty seconds ago. you know anything about that? hopefully it wasn’t anything ––  atrocious.” she’d half a mind mulling that she might have had as well, but couple up an ascending tension within the party and falsehoods of her disturbed mind and one could just chalk it up as paranoia –– so verification was something to be desired, even if there was a fortitude of denial in order to cleanse her rose-colored glasses. this wasn’t the first event that she had hosted with her spouse, frankly she could fault herself for ceaselessly thinking all could remain tranquil when this time, more paradoxical characters had swarmed into the perimeter. it worried her, of course, a streak of concern telling her she could find more than a dozen of inebriated bodies in the morning. a soft exhale pushed through her lungs, relieved she was at least able to remain in a secured spot –– away from any further catastrophe. or so she hoped. “and here i thought we were going to end the night peacefully.”