it's silent down here; i want to get loud again...

Theo had come out on the streets looking for his siblings as soon as news of what was happening reached him. Not to mention Adama and Joey. He had countless witches and even wolves that he cared about in this town. He could feel the tingle of magic in his hand. When he heard the musician talk, he glanced over. 

He stopped, his hands on his knees to stop the anger inside him building. “We need to fight.” Theo protested, moving towards him. “I have friends out there. I need to find them. We have to stop this.” 

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      his brows furrowed at the advance, something xavier chalked up to misguided anger redirected for the tension of the moment. all the same it made his own defenses raise, even by simply spreading his fingers at his side, and be wary of those who claimed to want to help. help those close to them was the stipulation, and those driven by such passion often neglected others’ well being as canon fodder for the sake of their own.

      “ making a scene and creating attention isn’t going to protect anyone, ” he bit back with quieter tones, glances ensuring any shown anger for either beings didn’t gain the attention of bullets. “ and running into the middle of it isn’t going to help you find them. ” xavier could appreciate his new company’s ambition, understood how his want to take cover could be misconstrued as cowardice or inaction. talents present, the gorgon could do nothing at a distance as his strengths favored close proximity— slipping into the shadows was wiser no matter the perspective.

      “ come on. ”

      the moon had a way of bringing out the best and the worst in people. claim it by the ocean tide or by the light that echoed on every surface creating a second day, it had a sway in the blood that affected each differently. to see some within holloway with dark circles under their eyes with memories of a recent strain weighing their limbs was simply a part of the moon’s natural sway. the gunshots and pack of strangers flooding the area was far from natural. 

      even if he wasn’t certain, there were easy assumptions to make about the chaos breaking loose— and after such a wonderful evening he had hoped to continue in private. instead the conclusions meant if those who were weakened after the moon were in danger, his own health was not too far to follow.

      “ we need to get off the streets, ” he urged. hopefully the looks of potential worry or concern meant the being next to him was as shocked by the sights before them. “ we need to get out of sight, now. ”

Ronnie had come a long way to write about the supernatural, her whole life she had never wavered in her belief that there was more out there. But yet here she was with her first paranormal experience… and she wasn’t certain that she wanted it. Was she ready? What would she do? 

The human took a deep breath, zipping up her hoodie. “No one breaks the rules in a town like this, plus school is still in session.” She hadn’t seen any mischievous youths. She looked around her, the cabin was fairly unguarded and she doubted anyone cared about a local tour guide taking a peak. “Ok. You’re right… i’m not going to sleep tonight if i don’t check this out. Help me up over over the fence.” 

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      “ never believe hyperboles or universal remarks. ” if no one was doing it, then many were and claimed not to uphold the legend or the myth. and he wouldn’t have been surprised if part of the legend was based on the people who snuck in while preaching the mystery only for others to find what they left behind. his own curiosity was piqued to venture inside and find the undisclosed spirits within... or have a nice chat.

      without a second thought at the request, xavier’s hands were crossed to hoist her up, his own feet ready to follow once she was safely over. of course he threw several looks over his shoulder, mindful if anyone saw them but with little care if they had. inside was more appealing than out and he was itching to understand— to connect. 

      “ what are you hoping to find? i’m thinking beer bottles... graffiti... and actual remains the beings inside would prefer if we didn’t touch. ”

-

      it wasn’t a terribly common occurrence to garner walk-in inquiries within the studio, but it wasn’t the first time, either. barring light advertising lucy would guess that it was likely the source of a lot of their new students —curious minds watching people from the outside windows as they passed in various stages of their learning. she enjoyed what she did. there was something that felt somehow more useful in helping people become more active in some fashion: cardio workout classes to legitimate freestyle routines, and everything in-between … it enriched her, cheesy as it was. and it certainly was not the first time that a drop-in visitor felt so out of place. 

      but there was an art to the way he stumbled through his words —like a gentle pirouette around the actual structure into another thought entirely, before he arrived at the greeting. brows bounced along with the journey of it, and when lucy settled onto her heels she offered her own grin back. “ hi. ” it was like a quiet language of twisted lips for a long moment, lucy’s eyes shifting away from him only when the appropriate amount of time ended, “ so … are you here to sign up for a class? is that what you’re here to ask? ”

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      “ i won’t say i’m not intrigued, but that’s a question for a later time. i was here to inquire if you were need of pianist or instrumentalist for classes, ” he clarified, stepping forward with a bit more confidence. “ i wasn’t sure if a position was even available but i’m a bit old school in finding work on foot. ” he suspected what her answer would be —technology was wont to replace many jobs in the most understandable of situations. but with a deep intake of air he was prepared to handle it either way, reminding himself that he would be stretching himself thin if he went through with it. it had been some time since he played for a company, and a brief moment at that given the nature of his slow aging and the preference for elder appearing skill. if he could get a step in again it would satiate the false itch he wasn’t doing enough.

      “ i brought a copy of my qualifications, if you need them. ” if she would take them. he might have been so lucky but luck never seemed to follow him in such fashion... or at least not in his original intentions upon entering the establishment. instead, he was slowly teetering from heel to toe, shifting his weight from foot to foot while he tried to bury the grin that kept wanting to stretch further behind bit tiers. 

      “ are you the owner here? ”

status: open location: post office​

Letting out a sigh, Elise slid the incorrect mail into the outgoing slot. “I’ve had this box for over 2 months now”, she said primarily to herself. “You’d think the previous residents would have changed their address by now.”

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      “ i feel that, ” he agreed, sliding the key into his own with the expectation of the same waiting for him. “ six months and i’m still getting the prior person’s mail. but i think it’s fun. it’s the forgotten mail, the spam letters.” and he was certain the bundle he retrieved from its metal confines was filled with names other than his own— save for a locals newspaper and grocery coupons. 

       “ it tells a story of what they were up to without having met them, ” he continued, holding up one he received. “ what were they doing that they got a free copy of pro magazine: portable restroom operator? where did they go, where are they now? pondering minds want to know. ”

      there were plenty of sayings about idle hands meant to scare people into making themselves busy or create purpose in their life. none of them fully made it to memory as xavier stared at the 211 studios sign with scrunched features of full contemplation of whether he should walk through the doors. six months in and two jobs could have been enough for anyone, but most of his time was claimed by the night with little to do by day except for wander. of course he enjoyed the free time to himself, made use by exploring almost every accessible building ( or otherwise ) but the novelty of newness was beginning to wane and idle hands, and so on.

      did dance studios even require pianists anymore? fingers on keys were easily replaceable by fingers tapping “next” or “repeat” on spotify. the only way to find out was to venture into one of the locations yet to be explored. one step in front of the other and a hand ruffled through his hair, he walked inside... and all expectations or rehearsed lines left him at the door, leaving xavier wide-eyed and mouth gaped. all the more embarrassing when his eyes fell on her, someone who clearly appeared as if they belonged in stark difference to his plain attire.

      “ i... uh, excuse me, i’m here to ask... i’m doing spectacularly awful at this, ” he stammered out, gaining enough composure to huff a laugh at his own absentmindedness and sudden bout of awkwardness. “ well hi. ” it was the most solid sounding word he managed to get out before his lips were held captive by the widest grin at the beautiful woman before him.

Ronnie had read about the cabin since she’d been in Holloway and somehow she’d never had the time to visit it herself. It was hidden deep in the woods, past the lane’s. Stories of ghosts and figures in the night surrounded the old wooden building. She lifted her camera, jumping as she heard the click of the lens. “Shit.” She glanced around her, other tourists and walkers were around her. “I swear.. i saw someone in the window. Up there.” She pointed. “I thought nobody was allowed inside?” ​

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      his gaze bounced between her and the referenced window, lingering for a moment to catch remnants of any ghost, ghouls, beings inside before shrugging and returning back to her. myths had a funny way of being true or far from it, and the lore around the house did nothing to suggest either way— the town surely had a sway yet the mystery remained.