Announcements: Cutting Costs (2024) » January 2024 Copyfraud Attack » Finding Universes to Join (and making yours more visible!) » Guide To Universes On RPG » Member Shoutout Thread » Starter Locations & Prompts for Newcomers » RPG Chat — the official app » Frequently Asked Questions » Suggestions & Requests: THE MASTER THREAD »

Latest Discussions: Adapa Adapa's for adapa » To the Rich Men North of Richmond » Shake Senora » Good Morning RPG! » Ramblings of a Madman: American History Unkempt » Site Revitalization » Map Making Resources » Lost Poetry » Wishes » Ring of Invisibility » Seeking Roleplayer for Rumple/Mr. Gold from Once Upon a Time » Some political parody for these trying times » What dinosaur are you? » So, I have an Etsy » Train Poetry I » Joker » D&D Alignment Chart: How To Get A Theorem Named After You » Dungeon23 : Creative Challenge » Returning User - Is it dead? » Twelve Days of Christmas »

Players Wanted: Serious Anime Crossover Roleplay (semi-literate) » Looking for a long term partner! » JoJo or Mha roleplay » Seeking long-term rp partners for MxM » [MxF] Ruining Beauty / Beauty x Bastard » Minecraft Rp Help Wanted » CALL FOR WITNESSES: The Public v Zosimos » Social Immortal: A Vampire Only Soiree [The Multiverse] » XENOMORPH EDM TOUR Feat. Synthe Gridd: Get Your Tickets! » Aishna: Tower of Desire » Looking for fellow RPGers/Characters » looking for a RP partner (ABO/BL) » Looking for a long term roleplay partner » Explore the World of Boruto with Our Roleplaying Group on FB » More Jedi, Sith, and Imperials needed! » Role-player's Wanted » OSR Armchair Warrior looking for Kin » Friday the 13th Fun, Anyone? » Writers Wanted! » Long term partner to play an older male wanted »

0
followers
follow

Junsoo Moon

0 · 1,168 views · located in Pennsylvania

a character in “Bellingstone”, originally authored by SleepingInTheGardens, as played by RolePlayGateway

Description

Image




Image




"When nothing is sure, everything is possible"
~ Margaret Drabble




Image




Image
FULL NAME
Junsoo Elijah Moon

NICKNAMES
June - most common and used by everyone that knows him
Moon Boy - a nickname he's picked up as a bartender and usually used by regulars or his higher ups

DATE OF BIRTH
June 6, 1991

AGE
Twenty-Six (26)

OCCUPATION
Part-time Bartender at Bellingstone's Escape Bar & Grill
Dance instructor at a local performing Arts Academy

GENDER
Male

SEXUALITY
Bisexuall/Biromantic

DIALOGUE COLOR
#008080





Image





Image
Image
Image

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Not your typical wolf. June almost fits best into the category of a puppy. He's relatively small compared to the others in his pack, standing at a solid five feet, eight inches. He is small and agile, and his body is definitely fit and decently built for his size.

In complete contrast is his face. Soft and sweet, with a smile brighter than a thousand suns. His almond shaped eyes are a deep brown with golden specks, usually morphed into small crescent moons after someone has made him laugh Try as me he, June does not fit the usual wolf pack looks. He's a handsome young man, there's no denying it, but his looks make him stick out like a sore thumb.

PERSONALITY

Caring - Loyal - Easy to Impress - Submissive - Social - Honest - Joyful

A Beta male must be strong, courageous, a leader to the pack and ready to step in at the Alpha's absence, all of which Junsoo is not. The reasons as to why their leader allows him to remain in his Beta position is a growing mystery to him. June is not a leader in any sense of the word and he knows it. Always most comfortable with simply following other's orders. He's got courage, but not quite enough. Not in the way that it counts. Yes he would lay down his life for any of the members of the pack, but he would never dare to go against an order, regardless of how much danger it may put him in, or have the push needed to tell someone what they are supposed to do. It's this self-neglecting nature that often lands him in trouble and earns him a scolding or two from the Alpha.

Does he believe someone else deserves his position more than he does? Absolutely. June is as submissive as he is honest, and he knows he's not fit to be a Beta. He can put up the strong wolf facade all he wants, but any form of self confidence when it comes to being a leader is conpletely forced and he has more than clear that regardless of how hard he tries, he'll always just be a passive little pup. Being easily persuaded and mildly naive, it's simply not in his nature to be in command, nor does he want to.

So what draws people to him? Perhaps it's the way he talks to you as if he's known you all his life, even if you've just met. Or the way his smile never seems to leave his face, even on the darkest days. Perhaps it's his unbreakable loyalty to those he loves, and that he would damage himself one hundred and many times over before allowing anyone he loves to get hurt. He may not be the best, but he will try his best. His leadership skills may leave a lot to be desired, but his knack for taking care of others is undeniable. His confidence runs best when he's dancing. At the end of the day, his witty humor and amiable persona is enough to keep him in the pack. He's the embodiment of a pup, bright and playful, needing to be loved and accepted by those around him.


LIKES
Dance✔June is a talented young man and he's had a love for music ever since he was young. From the moment he discovered he could really move, he hasn't stopped.
Sweets✔It may be the cause of his sugary personality, but June's got one hell of a sweet tooth. All you need to win him over is a Hersheys chocolate bar.
Being useful✔There's nothing that makes June happier than knowing he's made a positive contribution to the pack.
Sunny days✔Because they more closely reflect his personality
Feeling like he's needed✔Maybe no one truly needs him, but it would surely be nice to know that someone does.

DISLIKES
Violence✖Unfortunately, given the world he lives in, it's not something he can really avoid
Himself✖Only sometimes, when he knows he's failed at something
Distrust✖He may lack many things, but trustworthiness is not one of them and the pack knows that.
Being unable say say No✖It's probably one of his biggest weaknesses, but June has trouble saying no. Espacially when it comes to one of the pack members.
Being alone✖Junsoo enjoys company at any time and place. If he's alone for too long, he tends to start feeling lonely.

FEARS
Losing a loved one
Being kicked out of the pack
Hurting someone he cares about





Image





Image
Image
Image
Image




BIOGRAPHY
Born at 12:01 midnight, Moon Boy Junsoo was the Omega of his pack. The runt of the litter if you will. Often picked on my his older brothers for being too weak, too soft, too emotionally driven, too loving. Junsoo was born with a heart of gold, something that was not very common within his pack due to rivalries and jealousy. Still, his brothers loved him immensely. He was their favorite target, but also their most loved little pup, always looked after and protected by every family member from the moment he was born. The apple of his parents' eyes. They preferred to die before letting anything happen to their Junsoo. Unfortunately, that's exactly how it happened.

A bloody battle broke out between Junsoo's pack and a handful of vampires. As strong and fast as the wolves were, the biters were stronger and faster. June's parents and siblings put his safety and well-being above all, hiding him away from any type of danger, but they were slaughtered in the process, leaving June utterly lost and alone. Solitude forced him to fend for himself for a good while, running around as a lone wolf, never truly fitting in anywhere. He was lost, confused, lonely, lacking any form of direction. Snagging a job as a dance instructor was the one thing that kept him from losing his mind. Junsoo loathed being alone. He was born to have company, to feel bonds, to be loved, none of which one can have when they've got no one to run to.

Until one fine day, a certain pack leader found him. For whatever the reasons, he, as well as the rest of the pack, took a liking to the lonely orphan boy and brought him aboard as a permanent member. It may have taken him a while to open up, but now he views them as nothing less than family. Junsoo is convinced he hasn't done a thing to earn the spot as the Beta, and that his Alpha seems to have a lot more faith in him than he has in himself. But instead of voicing his insecurities, he constantly tries to live up to the top wolf's expectations. The last thing he wants is to become useless to the pack and end up alone yet again.




ImageImage

O O C
Played By: SleepingInTheGardens
Face Claim: Byun Baekhyun
Time Zone: CST - United States


So begins...

Junsoo Moon's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke Character Portrait: Oscar Stein
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

J U N S O O. M O O N

Image
location Escape Bar & Grill
dialogue color #008080

_____________________________________
_____________________________________

For as long as June could remember, Bellingstone’s Escape Bar and Grill had always been a highly trafficked spot within the town, but today it seemed to be bustling with intensity, a steady stream of customers rushing in and out. The majority of them stopped by the bar, managing to keep him on his toes his entire shift in complete contrast to the last day he had worked the drinks. Between Gin n’ Tonics and numerous shots of Whiskey, Junsoo knew the reason for the influx of activity. It was a secret to no one that there would be elections for a new mayor soon, and especially not to one June Moon who knew well that his boss was off somewhere to campaign. On top of that was the rumors traveling through the supernatural grapevines about a certain warewolf making his way back to town, and though June himself had never met the man in person, he knew him by name and name was more than enough.

”June boy...” the familiar voice brought the small bartender out of his thick train of thought, lifting his chin up to meet a pair of hazel eyes staring back at him intently. Replying with a simple smile and cheerful ”Hey”, his hands set to prepare a White Russian, the man’s usual order. ”Missed you yesterday” the deep voice added, tapping a finger to his cheek. ”Dance class” the young wolf said simply, setting the glass of creamy liquid on the counter. Long fingers brushed over his for a fraction of a second before pulling the cup away and up to the man’s lips. A satisfied smile spread across his chizled face after setting it back down. ”Is there anything you can’t do?” Junsoo’s rounded cheeks threatened to tint a soft shade of pink. It may not have been the first time to be complimented by Mr. Perfect jawline, but the reaction had always been the same, as it was any other time he was praised.

”Where do I start?” he joked, earning a baritone laugh from the customer. It wasn’t uncommon for June to be flirted with during work hours, and it seemed that the less mind he paid them, the more they came back. Perhaps that was the secret as to why the owners opted to keep him around. Then again, no one could argue against his alcohol mixing skills. As talented with his hands as he is with his body, Junsoo was born to make art, regardless of what kind of art it was. He may not characteristically be Beta wolf material, but there's no denying he brought something to the small pack that no other pack member did, even if Junsoo himself failed to see that. "Do Clarke and Stein know that you're their best money maker? They better keep you close before someone comes and snatches you." The dark haired boy responded with a small laugh, turning his back to the blonde at the counter to tend to another order, He didn't bother to give a proper answer, reasoning that what the man said was nothing more than a joke to send his cheeks ablaze. He was convinced that the food served there made the money, not hi drinks and much less his innocent features.

His eyes danced around the room as familiar faces made their way inside. In a small town it happened much too often. He could feel the man's eyes still on him as he prepared the machines for the bundles of orders that would undoubtedly be coming very soon.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Poppy Clarke Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

────────────────────────────
Image
────────────────────────────
Image
_____ T H EXA R T I S T _____

Outfit: Link Here
Location: Poppy Clarke Apartment
Dialogue Color ✦ #E8ADAA
Thought Color ✧ #985D5A




────────────────────────────
Image
────────────────────────────
Image
_____ T H EXP R O T E C T O R _____

Outfit: Link Here
Location: Poppy Clarke Apartment
Dialogue Color ✦ #DEB887
Thought Color ✧ #8E6837



"Please tell me that you didn't know that Albrecht Wolff was back in town and campaigning for mayor," Poppy demanded as she rushed through the front door of her apartment. The delicious notes of buttermilk, freshly baked cake, butter, and sweet maple syrup wafted in the air as she closed the door behind her, but Poppy didn't linger. She threw her keys and Samsung on the chair near the front door and marched to the opening of the kitchen; her brother hadn't even turned around from flipping from the last pancake off the griddle. "Dre," she called evenly, knowing that he had heard her when she first came in. He was fully dressed now, probably ready to go to Escape since Oscar was apparently not going to be there. On her run through the town and a small path to the woods, she had stopped through Escape to open it up for Andre and unlock it for one of the cooks who had forgotten their keys. Her brother would have to man the place for the day without the assistance of his business partner. "It's not in good taste."

"It's been two weeks, Pops," he replied sagely, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he took the dirty bowl and placed it in the sink to wash it in the soapy dishwater he had prepared. "We're allowed to still be in mourning. Not an entire town. What's not in good taste is a town going another week without a leader." It wasn't to say that Andre was particularly happy about the upcoming election. He had been warned the day before his father's funeral that candidates would be up and about. They would be the first ones to pay their condolences, which was how he had come to the knowledge that Albrecht Wolff had returned to town. The man hadn't come to him nor had he made his presence known to Poppy, but Andre had spotted him at his family's home after the funeral wishing his aunt condolences before slinking out as if he had never come in the first place. But as soon as the pleasantries had to be over, the wannabe politicians of the town would come out of their corners, hungry gazes fixed on his father's position and the power and influence that came with it. One of those candidates happened to be his own business partner, Oscar, and Andre didn't think little of him. But, much like Poppy, Andre knew he was sensitive to the lingering grief that came after his father's death. It just so happened that he was a lot better at compartmentalizing it. He didn't have to glance at her to note the twisted expression on his sister's sweaty face. "But Albrecht Wolff left years ago? Shouldn't he at least have...another year of being back before trying to campaign for anything?" Andre tossed her a look. "Let it alone, Pops, and come eat your food. I made pancakes and bacon and the water for your tea is almost done." As if summoned by a mere mention, the old-fashioned teakettle her aunt had bought her upon Poppy moving out whistled, the shrill sound startling her enough to hurry into her kitchen to take it off the stove eye and turn said eye off. "I'm not hungry," she grumbled, but definitely reached into one of the cabinets to get a large mug and retrieved a tea bag from her box of Yorkshire Gold tea.

Andre, however, was not having her petulance. He wiped his hands free of soap and water, scooped up the plate that had both three fluffy pancakes and three slices of thick-cut bacon, grabbed the bottle of fresh maple syrup from the market, and set them both beside her elbow as she steeped her tea. "Don't be a brat," he told her and kissed the top of her head. Poppy scrunched her nose up, feigning disgust from the affection. It only made a whisper of a smirk appear on Andre's face before he pulled away and fixed her with a sharp look. Despite being much healthier than her formative years and being quite capable of taking care of herself, Andre was never going to not care for his little (and only) sister and Poppy still ignored her body's desire to eat on occasion. "I mean it, eat. And don't worry about the Wolffs, alright? Neither of them are your concern anymore and neither is this race." His father's death still stung and it was something that still was going to make Andre worthy; the timing was off and there was no way in hell Andre could wrap his head around his father just dying out of nowhere. And it was pretty convenient for it to be the mayor of all people and now suddenly so many different people, not just the two he knew a little bit better, wanting the newly open position. But neither he nor Poppy were allowed to worry about the mayoral campaign or who was going to sit in their father's chair next anymore. That was the simple truth of the matter, regardless of whether or not Poppy wanted that to be the case.

"I'm gonna be at Escape all day since Oscar's not. Check with Auntie Chinny. She's staying at the house for another week. Take her to get her nails done or something, get her out the house," Andre instructed as he headed towards the front door and Poppy followed with her mug, having already added her milk and sugar. She rolled her eyes at him. "Pretty sure we both can find a way to entertain ourselves without your input, Dad," she replied dryly, and then winced. It was still too early for one of their most common and harmless jokes. Andre's face didn't betray the twinge of hurt that crawled up his spine. "And don't forget to eat and don't worry about the - " Poppy didn't want to hear anymore of it. "I get it, I get it. Don't worry about blah, blah, blah. Get out already," she exclaimed, pushing him out impatiently and closing the door, behind her, leaning her forehead against the hard wood for a moment longer than normal. Sighing, she turned around and glanced at the chair she had thrown her things onto, eyeing her phone for a moment. A small part of her longed to pick up the device and call Axel, even if she didn't know if he had ever actually changed his number. But just as she truly considered it, another sigh drifted past her plump lips and Poppy clenched her fist, turning away from it and returning to the kitchen. Even she couldn't resist the allure of pancakes. They were her favorite breakfast food, after all.

It didn't take Andre long to get to Escape considering the fact that it was practically on the other corner opposite, of Poppy's apartment, and he immediately headed towards the bar, offering both waves and a few exchanges of pleasantries and head nods before getting there. He allowed his gaze to rove over the bustling room before fully acknowledging Junsoo, a ghost of a smile pulling at the right corner of his mouth. "Hey, been handling everything alright today?" It was early, but the time of day didn't stop people from acting out. Especially when they were allowed alcohol.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

______________________________________
______________________________________

Image

Image
location Escape Bar & Grill
dialogue color #008080

______________________________________
______________________________________

Much to June's relief, his not-so-secret admirer leaves the bar just as one of his higher ups is walking in. He already struggles much more than he should when attempting to respond to flirting; having someone like Andre, his boss, incredibly handsome and intimidating, probably capable of dating and having anyone his heart so desires, watching while it happens would only make for an extremely red and dysfunctional Junsoo. It's entirely possible that Andre has witnessed his customers talking June up before, but the boy has never noticed and therefore is unaffected. Still, the moment their eyes meet the smaller boy feels a jolt of nerves and promptly returns the smile, albeit a bit more obvious than the one he was given.

"Of course!" his answer is confident, but the poor pup nearly stumbles over his feet as he speaks. He's not exactly the most graceful of them all. Luckily, Andre doesn't appear to catch it if his lack of reaction is any indication. "You can trust me" he reassures the man yet again, not that it's needed. June figures that over the course of the years he has worked as Escape's bartender, he has more than proven he can be trusted fully. "It's been busier than usual" he notes, almost to himself as his tone dies down a notch. He can only imagine Andre knows about as much as he does on the subject, or perhaps a little more considering his social standing. Still, there are some things Andre does not and should not know. The very things that are keeping Junsoo on edge, because in the past hour or so, he's positive he has smelled a witch, a farie or two and the unmistakable scent of the biters as they mascaraed themselves among the humans making and taking up orders. It's out of character for the Beta wolf of the only pack in town to be scared, but he is, and if he were to say he wasn't he'd be a delusional liar. "But still doable." he adds with an affirming nod before turning his attention to the voice beckoning him over.

"Didn't expect to see you here this early." the newcomer states, arms folded and resting on the counter top. Junsoo's chocolate eyes flicker over to Andre for a fraction of a moment before landing back on the familiar face in front of him. "I'm covering for someone" he explains calmly, hands reaching for the rum bottles underneath the counter. "What can I do for you? White Tequila?" he inquires, referring to the customer's most requested drink, but the man's shake of the head stops him mid-act, eyes blinking in curiosity. "I'm actually just here to pick up some food, I'm in a bit of a hurry." the man explains, though his nonchalance suggests he came for something else. Arms at his sides, Junsoo watches him, wondering why he would go out of his way to stop by the bar area if he doesn't plan on partaking in at least one shot of something worthwhile. "But actually, there is something you can do for me." the afterthought doesn't catch June off guard, as he is still holding on to the half empty Tequila bottle, but the man appears to be uninterested in the beverage.

"Sure, what would you like?"

"A date. Tonight"

The cocky smirk and quirked brow in his direction is enough to have June realize that the man is in fact referring to wanting to go on a date with him and not whatever other excuse he could have come up with. Frozen on the spot, June's brain searches high and low for a response that doesn't make him sound like a broken record. "Oh, I-" unknowingly, his eyes flicker to Andre once again, who has no doubt been listening to every word, before returning to the man across the way. "That's...sweet and all, but I can't-". date humans. Of course the last part is omitted from his sentence. The man doesn't appear too satisfied, eyes racing over to Andre just like June's had before.

"Guess the rumors aren't just rumors, then." he mutters with a sigh, hands shoved deep into his jean pockets. "But the offer remains open, in case you ever need some more...excitement" the smirk that once faltered is back as the tall figure makes its way from the bar and towards the front counter to pick up his order. The heat in June's ears is enough to alert him that he's most likely blushing like a madman, which he chooses to ignore along with the confusion of exactly what rumors the man is referring to.

And Excitement...

Junsoo almost laughs out loud at the thought. Excitement is the one thing June's life never lacks. Living with a pack of wolves is excitement enough to last a lifetime.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

────────────────────────────
Image
────────────────────────────
Image
_____ T H EXP R O T E C T O R _____

Outfit: Link Here
Location: Escape Bar & Grille
Dialogue Color ✦ #DEB887
Thought Color ✧ #8E6837



June's chipper response causes Andre's smirk to grow, but he schooled his features a second later as an order for mimosas arrives. It was early enough for the drink and it made him chuckle inwardly, but he set to doing - all the while with his attention focused partly on Junsoo. As much as Dre was loathe to using the word, the best descriptor for Junsoo - even if the guy would probably wind up disliking its use - was adorable. Andre wouldn't verbalize the thought aloud as he was smart enough to recognize how absurd using it would be, but June's antics always resulted in that thought process. "Don't worry, kid," he rumbled in amusement, measuring out the juice to agave nectar ratio with ease for the 'tropical' mimosas that were on the weekend brunch menu. Andre had decided that it could be a part of the menu after letting Poppy sample the drink out and it was a best-seller on Saturdays and Sundays. "I still trust ya." Soon, though, Andre was back to the "silent brooding" his customers lightly accused him of and it was, in part, due to the arrival of another customer. Specifically for June.

Now, Andre believed that June was perfectly capable of handling himself. He really did. The guy made it twenty-six years in this world without help from Andre and Dre was confident that the guy didn't need him for the rest of it. That didn't, however, quell the straightening of his stance as the patron relaxes against the other side of the bar. Andre's eyes flash to June, their gazes meet, but he doesn't say anything. Just tops the agave-mango puree-orange-pineapple juice mixture with the champagne; he liked letting the Malibu settle at the bottom of the glass so that the customers got that extra hit of alcohol when they finished the last of the glass. He did pause, though, when he heard the very familiar guy ask June out for a date. Just because Andre believed June to be capable of taking care of himself, it didn't mean that Andre was particularly at ease at the idea of June taking care of himself with other people involved. To an extent, Andre saw the kid as a male version of Poppy; though they were both adults and not nearly as young as Andre liked to sometimes pretend that they were, they were still young. And they both shared so many possibilities, even with Poppy's new surge of self-confidence and vivacity. Even if they didn't need to be looked after, the protective instincts that had been fostered within Andre's admittedly intimidating frame still arose. Even more so when the guy glanced over at Andre, a hint of unfriendly heat in the gaze just as June looked back at him too. Andre stared back blatantly at the patron, which caused him to look back at June resolutely, despite his seeming emboldened behavior. Andre was perfectly aware of the rumors, ignored them even. Rumors were rumors, after all. And answering them - whether in the negative or positive - was trivial and childish.

And who didn't like watching Junsoo's reactions?

"Ya know," Andre drawled, handing the tray of ready-made mimosas to a waitress - Carla - before turning his attention back to Junsoo. "Gonna start thinking you really are the real selling point around here." A light grin on his face, Andre took a few steps towards the guy - personal space a foreign concept that he didn't seem aware that he was forgetting about as he peered down at June. "Might even be convinced to let Pops have her way with ya and dress ya up for advertisement. See if it don't bring customers from Crestmont." It probably fueled the rumors, what with Andre standing so close to Junsoo and so comfortably at that - peering down at his flushed face with somewhat hooded yet bright eyes, a small smirk on his mouth - but Andre couldn't bother to care nor think about it. Instead, he turned on his heel, stating, "Gonna check on the kitchen staff. Hold down the fort for me."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Albrecht Wolff Character Portrait: Poppy Clarke Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Ellis Bleddyn
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Image
~*~*~*~
Image


”…all she can see is a sea of stars in front of her. Just an eerie sort of blackness, you know? And there’s a faint music swirling up from somewhere in the depths of it all, along with some amorphous blobs she can’t quite make out. And that’s how chapter eight will end. Is that alright?”

This morning in Bellingstone found Ellis pacing the floors of his kitchen, bare feet plodding a repetitious path over the linoleum. He had a tendency to walk when he spoke on the phone, too anxious as a person and too enthusiastic about what he was saying to even consider standing still.

He was speaking into his old cellphone, one so ancient in the fast terms of modern technology that it probably predated even the dated flip phone, his tone soft and tired but lined with sparks of excitement. In his other hand he held a cup of iced tea, sickeningly sweet in a way that only a true Southerner could stand to enjoy, which he gestured with enthusiastically and sporadically.

“I don’t know, Ellis. Is it alright?” the voice on the other end of the line hummed almost instantly, more teasing than critical. “Isn’t that a bit too weird? Will people really like that?”

“Weird?” Ellis sounded wounded, despite the tone. The tea in his glass sloshed around as he slumped against his refrigerator. It was a bit dramatic as far as gestures go, but it's not like anyone was there to judge him for it. “Really? I… Well, I thought it was a bit weird, sure, but maybe… God, Mary, if I cut that part, I’m going to have to change the book’s ending, and-”

Thick, warm laughter erupted from his phone, and his pitiful frown turned into a scowl. Oh, right. He'd forgotten who he was speaking to. When having a conversation with Mary Carter, you had to understand that there was always a target on your back for her teasing, sharp words.

“Oh, ha, ha, Mary. Laugh it up. Gonna give me a heart attack one of these days.”

“Oh, don’t be like that. You know better than to say things like ‘is that alright’ to me, like you’re not a published author. Stop pretending you're not brilliant, idiot,” Mary replied fondly. Ellis wasn't quite sure how she came under the impression that he wasn't a hapless idiot because, in all reality, he was. He was a self-conscious weirdo about everything he did. Honestly, sometimes he was anxious about his own breathing, wondering if it was too loud in public or over the phone. Take that general anxiety and multiply it by about hundred, and you were left with how he felt about his own writing. He was still waiting for the other shoe to drop and for the world to figure out that he was a hack. There was no other way to explain his good luck and success other than as a cruel practical joke by some deity (with his luck it was probably one of the asshole gods too, like Loki or Hera).

"You've made some good progress though, Ellis. Especially after everything." Her tone dropped down, suddenly worried and sympathetic. "How are you really feeling Ellis? Is there anything I can do for you?"

How was Ellis feeling? Confused, conflicted, angry, sad, desperate, tired... A whole menagerie of unpleasant emotions on top of the dull ache and occasional sharp sting that knitted itself through his shoulder and back at the most inopportune moments. But he couldn't say that, couldn't get into anything even nearing the truth. He'd fed Mary and anyone else who asked a story about a wildcat attack, and they believed it well enough. Why wouldn't they? Bizarre things tended to follow Ellis like a plague. It was no more difficult to believe than the time he'd gotten trapped in a wall trying to get a squirrel out of his house or when a lamb had tried to pick a fight with him.

That a mountain lion had been near a small town and eager to harass Ellis was easier to believe than the reality, anyways, although it had been all he could do to keep Mary and his parents from taking Bellingstone by storm to drag off their wayward writer. He couldn't see any of them right now, no matter how desperate he was for some familiar company. Everything was still too new, and it was all he could do to adjust on his own without the pressure of over-doting friends and family. It honestly made him uncomfortable when people worried about him too much. It wasn't that he didn't understand the desire because he worried about himself all of the time. It was just a bit unsettling that people actually cared enough.

"You could let me take a break to work on my chapter on kelpies," Ellis said, trying to force his tired voice into something light-hearted. No need to make Mary even more worried than she was. "In fact, the book that I've been trying to find- you know, The Water People? The one that's been out of print since 1850? Bellingstone's library actually has a copy. God knows how, but they do. I'll be stopping by later today to take a look at it." Or maybe it wasn't too terribly amazing. That they had a copy of an old book was hardly the most surprising thing about a library run by a vampire and what Ellis had been reliably told was a witch-thing (not that he'd ever call her that. He was far from hip to the lingo of the magical world).

"You're going out? On your own? Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Mary laughed.

"Honestly, Mary. I can be social if I want. In fact, if you must know, I may be seeing some acquaintances of mine later," Ellis said loftily. He knew he was laying it on a bit thick, but Mary seemed far too amused by the idea of him willingly socializing to go back to her concerned questions.

"Is it the dishy diner guy? Please tell me it's the dishy diner guy."

Ellis rolled his eyes. "I said Axel was handsome once, Mary. Once. When I was drugged out on painkillers and God knows what else. Besides, the man's got half the town running after his tail-" he snorted a little at his own secret pun, "and he's not exactly my type."

"And what is your type, then?" asked Mary.

"Well, someone I'm certain isn't completely straight, for one." The two burst into laughter, finally back to a more companionable conversation. Smooth, Ellis. He deserved an award for that crafty misdirection. He couldn't tell her his other objections, anyways. It's a bit difficult to explain dynamics like Alpha Wolves and Pack Leaders when one can't even bring up the whole werewolf thing.

"But, no. I was... Actually considering popping in to see Junsoo- the one who stuck around to help me when I first got hurt- at work. He, uh, said I had an open invitation, and I don't want to disappoint him. And then, ah, maybe texting the girl I met in the classics section. Poppy? I know we've only known each other for a few weeks, but after everything that's happening around here, I guess... Well, I mean to say-"

"That's sweet that you're worried about her. I'm sure she'd appreciate you checking in, even if it's just a text." Ellis could practically feel her approval over the phone.

"You don't think it would be too weird? Like I'm sticking my nose into someone else's business?" asked Ellis, biting his bottom lip. He wasn't exactly the best at socializing, but Poppy had been one of the few people outside of the Pack who'd bothered speaking with him so far, even with everything that had happened to her recently.

"Sweetie, if anyone thought that, you'd be better off not being friends with them anyways."

There was a moment of contented silence before Ellis heard a knocking on Mary's side of the phone followed by a muffled conversation.

"Oh, sorry, Ellis," Mary said after a moment. "Pete's summoning me for brunch. He sends his love, by the way."

"Sure he does." Despite the sarcasm dripping from his words, Ellis was sure Pete- practical, sweet Pete who kept both with wife Mary and adopted problem-friend Ellis in check when their combined idiosyncrasies threatened to burn the world around them- had actually said that verbatim. He was just that kind of guy. "And tell him I send mine."

"Will do. Enjoy your day of nerdlyness and socializing, you dork."

"Enjoy your brunch, you basic white girl."

Ellis hung up first, fighting back a yawn. He hadn't slept much last night, too busy trying to play catch-up on his books to even consider taking a break to sleep. It was a bit ironic, honestly, that he'd come to Bellingstone for a bit of peace and quiet while he wrote and had wound up spending most of his time licking his own wounds (metaphorically, of course. Well, at least in his human form) and trying to even vaguely comprehend the reality that many of the people around him, including himself, weren't quite human. Or human at all, in some cases.

His eyes darted over to the clock above his kitchen table, and a dull sort of anxiety settled in his stomach. Should he leave the house today? He didn't have to, technically. He had enough food to survive another day holed away in his home, and it wasn't like his library book was going to go anywhere. Plus, he'd never actually told Junsoo (always Junsoo to Ellis who still felt like he didn't know him well enough to start throwing around nicknames) that he'd visit, and Poppy surely had other things to worry about. Not to mention the fact that there was no Pack meeting that he knew of...

No. He wouldn't fall into that trap again. Whether he liked it or not, Bellingstone was his home for the time being, at least until his rental period was up and he got used to the whole werewolf thing, and goodness knows how long that would take. He should at least attempt to be polite, even if that meant stepping out of his comfort zone.

With all of the determination he could muster, he finished his tea and wandered into his bedroom to get ready. Today was a comfort day, he realized, bypassing the interestingly patterned scarves and shirts in favor of broken-in jeans and a soft gray t-shirt. He hesitated for a moment, eying his bedroom mirror before pulling on an olive green jacket. While it wasn't a cold day, he could still see the raw, red scarring poking out from his sleeve, an aching, menacing reminder. He couldn't, he just couldn't-

Ellis took a wobbly breath, slipping on his shoes and running a hand through his hair. Good enough. It wasn't like he had anyone to impress (besides, his mind unhelpfully supplied, everybody he saw). If he thought about it anymore, he might not leave the house after all.

The nice thing about Bellingstone was that it was possible to walk just about anywhere you wanted to go if you had a bit of time, and the Escape Bar and Grill was no exception, even if Ellis had only been there once or twice before. The town itself was lovely too, scenic in a way that had Ellis a bit homesick for his mountainous hometown. Well, the nature bit, not the people bit. At least in Bellingstone he had a fifty-fifty chance of not being recognized as that one guy who got attacked by a wild animal on his first night in town.

That being said, fifty-fifty still wasn't the best odds. He pulled out his phone, more to pretend to be busy and avoid conversation with others wandering about the town today. Ellis hesitated for a moment before pulling up his text menu. Poppy had insisted on exchanging phone numbers with him the second time they'd met, and they'd had a smattering of conversations over the past month, fluctuating with certain events that had rocked their respective lives. He'd never been quite sure if it was a misguided attempt at kindness or an actual desire to speak with him that had prompted her to actually pursue a conversation with him.

Well, he had already come this far. He might as well...

Hello, Poppy. It's Ellis. I just wanted to see how you were.


He typed every word out in a slow, painstaking way, more to do with his technological ineptitude than his mounting hesitation. He paused for a moment before adding-

Sorry if I'm bothering you


-just for good measure. He hit send and immediately tucked his phone away. It was easier not to dwell on the reply that may or may not come if he wasn't keeping an eye on his phone. It was at that moment that Ellis noticed that he wasn't the only person on the sidewalk.

His first thought was that he felt like a huge tit because here was Poppy right now, out and about and apparently about ten feet from him since he'd sent the text. Talk about poor timing on his part. Was it too late to run and hope she hadn't spotted him? To pretend he hadn't seen her? Likely, honestly. Very, very likely.

However, she wasn't the only person who caught his eye.

Why was everyone in Bellingstone so damn attractive? That was Ellis's second thought when he spotted the giant of a man speaking with Poppy. Honestly, the man was somehow making jogging attire look good, a feat that Ellis had thought nigh impossible. It was like watching models converse, or at least models who had interesting things to say.

His third thought, however, was something more akin to, "What on Earth is that smell?"

His nostrils flared, and his steps faltered for a brief moment, eyes darting over to the jogger. That wasn’t a scent that he’d been expecting.

It was rather embarrassing, in Ellis’s opinion, that of all of the senses that could have started to sharpen first, it had to have been his sense of smell. Maybe he’d been dreaming too big when he’d hoped for night vision or superior hearing, and the punishment for his hubris was having to wear a medical mask for at least a week, too overwhelmed by even the softest of scents to breathe without any sort of barrier. It had been a sad day indeed when he had had to put all of his scented candles out in his shed, their once comforting scents sickening for a time as he adjusted to his new sense of self.

He’d adjusted, in the end, and differentiating smells was easier for him now. For example, in Eliss’s mind vampires generally tended to smell a little clinical, very clean with a sharp tang of iron. Werewolves, on the other hand, smelled more like the Earth, all dirt and fallen leaves as undertones to whatever other perfumes or colognes they had on. That’s what he was smelling right now, from this stranger, and that was odd indeed.

Ellis hadn’t heard about any werewolves outside of the Pack (and it was always Pack with a capital P in his mind) in Bellingstone, and, alright, he was new, but Axel had been pretty clear that he was the local Alpha Male and had failed to mention any lone wolves roaming nearby, and…

Oh, God, he was staring at the man. Ellis’s face flushed red in embarrassment. He tried to alleviate his own inherent awkwardness with a polite smile towards the unidentified werewolf, failed when it turned into a slightly pleasant grimace, and promptly picked up his pace, attempting to pass by. Haha, pay no attention to the weird man who didn't know how to function. Oh, God, why had he left home today again?

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

______________________________________
______________________________________

Image

Image
location Escape Bar & Grill
dialogue color #008080

______________________________________
______________________________________
Thank goodness for the semi-dimmed lighting in the diner, or Junsoo's flushed cheeks could have been spotted from a mile away. His dark eyes peered up at Andre, who not for the first time was a bit too close for comfort, wildly flustered with a sprinkle of clueless innocence. The image of Poppy having a go at dressing him up as she pleased ran through his mind causing the smallest of shivers. Both he and Andre know the ending of that would consist in a lot of unnecessary gushing on Poppy's end while June makes numerous attempts at locking himself in the bathroom to avoid further embarrassment. Still, the smaller boy quirked a semi-nervous smile, gently rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Anything for you, boss." he states, only half-joking, because as uncomfortable as he would be in such a scenario, he would agree to it if only for Andre's sake. He does make sure to leave out his conviction that a stunt like that would hardly do the grill any good.

"Gonna check on the kitchen staff. Hold down the fort for me." Being so caught up in his thought train, it takes June a minute to register what Andre is saying. His mouth opens to respond but it soon closes again once he realizes the man is already out of earshot. Ignoring the odd and not entirely new feeling in the pit of his stomach, which he attributes to the array of compliments and flirting he has been receiving this morning, June turns sharply on his heels to create the new order of martinis placed by a waitress. His hands move fluidly, mixing the sweet and sour juice in perfection with the rum, tossing in his signature smile as he hands them off to the girl. It's gestures such as those that brings some customers to accuse him of mild flirting, which usually means they don't know Junsoo Moon at all. The young wolf wouldn't know flirting even if it quite literally bit him in the ass. A more accurate accusation would be oblivious and disoriented.

Even still, there are certain things and people that Junsoo is subconsciously more attentive towards. One of them being Axel, his alpha, the man he has so desperately been trying to not have feelings for, and somewhat succeeding. But regardless of the status of his crush on the alpha-wolf, they are still like family, which is why the first thought to cross June's mind after hearing the town's gossip on the eldest Wolf brother was to check in and see how he was doing. Deciding it was probably unneeded, unwanted or uncalled for, opted him not to, but now the thought is back and gnawing at his insides. Taking advantage of a slow in restaurant traffic, June's right hand swiftly tugs a cell out of his back pocket, thumb hovering over two names for a few seconds before going for the safer option..

To: Syd
MSG: Gossip travels fast...are you okay?

Axel is a grown man, he can surely take care of his own emotions, and while June is well aware of his history with his older brother, he's also painfully aware of Sydney's history with said wolf. The blonde has always been there for Junsoo when needed, and now it was his turn to do the same. And once again guilty of spacing off, the small boy entirely misses Andre's tall figure walking back towards the bar. Were it not for the strength that comes from being a supernatural creature, the collusion between June's face and Dre's chest would have knocked the former off his feet. He takes a step back, immediately blurting out a "Gah- sorry!" -but almost as quickly adding a soft- "Ouch..." -and a- "What are you made of, titanium?" while the back of his hand gently rubs at his soon-to-be-sore nose.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Albrecht Wolff Character Portrait: Axel Wolff Character Portrait: Ember Payne Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

____________________________________

S Y D N E Y . G R E E N
___________________________________

Image
___________________________________

Hex; #D58223
Location; Wolff's Diner

___________________________________
A few customers had walked into the diner now and Sydney could not just wait for Axel's responses. She really needed to know something and needed to know it now. She had let out a sigh with an eye roll then went over to take the customers orders and pinned them into the appropriate place for the cook to see but gathered up the drinks herself and delivered them. She told the customers that their food will be out momentarily then she walked back around the counter and eyed Axel, arching another brow towards him. Once his lips had parted to speak, she was on edge. She was really eager to hear what he was about to say and couldn't wait for him to spill something that would make her feel better, at least a little bit.

"First, don't ever call me hon. It's weird coming from you." She spoke in a honest tone then sighed. "I do not take you for a gossip, Axel. I was just hoping that you heard something about Al, that's all." Sydney said as her eyes flashed over towards Axel, who had just called Albrecht, her lover and his own brother, a jackass. She slapped his arm and scoffed slightly as the bell dinged that the orders she had taken were ready. She turned heel and went to grab the plates, delivering them to the table then went back by Axel's side. "I'm sorry. It's just that I miss him so much and these rumors about his return are really getting to me."

After she spoke those words, the door opened again and it was their usual chipper customer, Ember. She felt Axel's hand upon her shoulder then couldn't help but eye him with a soft smile. Of course, she liked Axel as Alpha but truly, she was in love with Albrecht. Her gaze then went to Ember, who had all of these terms and conditions about her order. With her brow raised, she was about to comment and respond but Axel had beat her to the punch already. Snickering at Axel and shaking her head, some more customers had walked in and she went over to serve them.

Upon her returning back around the counter, her phone had chimed in her back pocket as she couldn't really see who was sending her a text right now. Sydney grabbed the coffee pot then went over to fill up some mugs after giving another customer their coffee first. She delivered her customer food and thanked them then hoped that they enjoyed their meal. Sydney went over towards the counter again, looking at Ember with a smile. "So, is our finest tap water pleasurable enough for you? Or do you need another look at the other menu options?" Sydney joked as her gaze when down towards her phone, eyes locked with the device as she seen June's name stroll across the screen and read his message.

This was a sign of relief right here but then again, she honestly wondered what he had heard and what he knew. Before she had a moment to type out a response, Ember's words were targeted directly at her. "You know, if I didn't have these customers and you didn't look like a teenager, I would totally kick your ass. Plus, I have too much to think about right now so you're at the bottom of my list. When I get to you, you'll know it." Sydney said as the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up. She spoke so that only Ember could hear her and knew that her comeback was not as good as she wanted it to be. She was really losing her touch because she had a lot of other emotions filling her up inside right about now.

Once she had regained her composure, she turned away from Ember and finally responded to June's text.

To: June Bug
Not really okay but what have you heard, Junie?


Sydney sent the message then turned back around, her elbows upon the counter as she leaned down now and sat her phone down not too far away from her, waiting for June to text her back.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Axel Wolff Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Johanna Collins
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Image
Location: Aunt Mae's Bakery || Hex: #336600






Image Johanna wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand as she finished frosting another batch of cupcakes. It was still early enough in the day that the ovens were still running which tended to make the kitchen a bit warm in the bakery. She took a peak at her watch and nearly jumped out of her skin. It was almost time for the deliveries and she had yet to box anything or wrap anything. She whirled around the bakery collecting all the baked goods and loading them into the wagon she towed behind her bike. She normally walked or drove her small Ford Fiesta, but for deliveries, she biked. It was exercise, she saved on gas, and it allowed her to enjoy the small town she called home the past few years. She hung the sign on the back of the door that read "Off making deliveries. Be back soon" Complete with a smiley face emoji at the bottom.

The first place she wanted to stop was The Escape. She had made something special for June. It was a new recipe she had wanted to try out and June was well known for his sweet tooth. However, they were the farthest from her shop so she might have to chose the option to give it to him later on in the day when the pack got together. She stopped at the various restaurants and homes that ordered from Aunt Mae's before getting to the dinner. It was already busy with customers--most were members of her pack--and she could see Syd and Axel at the counter. "Hey, Syd," she called out to the alpha female as she walked by, two large boxes of treats in her arms. She was always happy to Sydney of all the people in the pack. She was like a big sister to her and she was the one who helped through the initial... shock of everything.

Image She made her way up to the alphas of their pack and placed the two boxes in front of them. "A dozen cupcakes, two layers of brownies, and a batch of cinnamon rolls all ready to be eaten." She said cheerfully, as she opened the boxes to present them. When there was no reply, she looked up and saw the tension in their shoulders. Her smile faded and was replaced with concern. "Syd? Axel? What's going on?" Her gaze traveled around the diner in search of a threat. She didn't see any vampires...Her mind went into overdrive and did something it does best. Jump to conclusions. "Who is it? Whose hurt? What's going on?"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

────────────────────────────
Image
────────────────────────────
Image
_____T H EXP R O T E C T O R_____

Outfit: Link Here
Location: Escape Bar & Grille
Dialogue Color ✦ #DEB887
Thought Color ✧ #8E6837



A lot of their deliveries came in between Saturday and Sunday, which for some might seem weird, but it worked best for them. It was how Andre preferred it anyway. He liked having a stock of their inventory by Sunday evening so when Wednesday came around, he could do another check and see what they were running low on due to demand. It helped with filtering out the recipes that weren't getting that much traction or the drinks that honestly didn't garner the same attention as others. Rus had already gotten most of everything that they needed in line and Dre was pretty confident that he could get his final look-through finished before they closed early Sunday morning, even if he happened to leave Escape later during the day. After stealing a few sweet potato fries that had literally just gotten from the fryer and doused with a cinnamon sugar mix (and a small scolding from Rus that Andre grinned away), he was heading back to the bar where he really flourished. He wasn't exactly a public kind of chef, after all.

The benefit of June not being an incredibly strong werewolf - even though Andre was still ignorant to the existence of the supernatural world to begin with - was that the only sound that Andre emitted upon their collision was a small grunt. The issue with June not being an incredibly strong werewolf was the fact that he was a werewolf while Andre was in fact in human. And so, while June was obviously the one who should have felt the impact on a much larger scale because he was physically smaller than Dre, it didn't stop Dre from feeling a bit more than a pinprick of pain in his chest from where June's nose had dug into him. "Huh," was the only truly discernible sound that filtered past Andre's lips and he didn't falter or have to take a step back, but the collision briefly gave him pause...until what June asked registered to him.

Chuckling, Andre rubbed the back of his neck, a much more genuine apology in his eyes for startling June than the teasing tone his voice took on. "Wouldn't be the first time that I've been accused of it, but I can't say I am, kid. Sorry 'bou that." Frowning at the wince June inadvertently did when he rubbed the back of his head against his nose, concerned, Andre was in the guy's space again, a hand clasped on June's shoulder as he tried to inspect his nose. After all, in Andre's eyes, the guy was kind of small. He didn't need anyone going around thinking he got roughed up on Andre's watch because he may or may not have gotten a bruise. "You alright?"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

______________________________________
______________________________________

Image

Image
location Escape Bar & Grill
dialogue color #008080

______________________________________
______________________________________

It had become a habit, it seemed, for Junsoo to embarrass himself in front of his boss in some way shape or form. As much as customers claimed he was the bar's "selling point", Junsoo was beginning to think that sooner or later Andre would grow tired of his mishaps and toss him. Hasn't happened yet, but it very well could, after all the man had no obligation to keep him there. Realizing the impact might have raised a certain amount of suspicion from the unsuspecting human, June made sure to exaggerate how much pain his nose was in, which in reality had already disappeared all together. He vigorously rubbed at his nose, hoping that the action would create the red-nosed effect a collision with someone so much bigger than him should have caused.

His facial features wiggled slightly, as if to make sure nothing was broken though he was certain everything was in it's place. If there was one big pro to being a supernatural creature, it was certainly the tolerance for pain and quick recoveries. Maybe the gesture was over dramatic in itself, but June had always been known to be a dramatic boy. His theater act faltered, however, the moment he realized Andre's face and too-bright eyes were merely inches from his own. His pink lips formed into the shape of a lowercase "o" as he attempted to blink away the mild surprise.

"Ye- Uh- I'm fine!" he blurted, hands flying up defensively. Maybe not the subtlest of reactions, but it would do. "Are you?" a dumb question is probably what that sounded like, because in a normal world, someone the size of June wouldn't be able to so much as land a single scuff on someone like Andre. This, however, was not a normal world or anything even close to it and there's no doubt Andre must have felt pain to some extent. His eyes fluttered from curiosity as he mentally scolded himself for being quite so careless. Had he been walking with stronger force and knocked the man off of his feet, he would of had some serious explaining to do.

He intentionally ignored the buzzing device in his pocket until Dre distanced himself enough, making sure to respond to Sydney's message in record time so as to not be rude.

To: Syd
MSG: Probably the same thing everyone else has heard...did he really come back?


It was pointless to explain who exactly he meant by "he". Sydney knew, perhaps better than anyone else. Once the send key was pressed and the message on its way, June returned his undivided attention to Andre. Truly undivided as the small wolf's eyes followed the man's every movement. Had a new customer not taken his attention, Junsoo could have been accused of staring.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Axel Wolff Character Portrait: Ophelia M. Hawthorne Character Portrait: Ember Payne Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Johanna Collins
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

____________________________________

S Y D N E Y . G R E E N
___________________________________

Image
____________________________________

Location; Felix's Diner
Hex Code; #D58223

____________________________________

Sydney continued to lean upon the counter, her phone still in her hand as she started to twiddle the device between her hands now. She anxiously awaited for June to text her back as every time her phone, or someone else's would chime, her eyes would become locked with her own phone. Upon hearing Ember's response towards her, she did not bother to respond but made a scowling face towards her then looked up and saw Ophelia walking in. 'Oh, great, another vampire.' She thought to herself as two vampires inside of the diner was enough for her. She managed to get herself upright and walk over towards Ophelia, her gaze meeting hers. "Would you like tap water, as well? Or would you prefer a bottle?" Sydney asked towards Ophelia, mocking her rather sophisticated aura as she smiled towards her then handed her a menu anyway - Just in case.

As a few people left the diner now, Sydney wished them a good day and cleaned up the area that they were sitting. She piled the dishes up in the back, knocking over a few as she cursed to herself and picked up the broken dishes off of the floor. Sydney stood upright now and walked back through the doors, checking her phone and leaned back upon the counter. Axel's voice startled her slightly as she turned towards him and looked around before grabbing him by the arm and pulling him aside so no one could hear them speak.

"Well, June sent me a text about certain rumors going on around town. About what? I am not sure yet." She said just as Johanna, someone she looked at as a little sister and she offered a wave, came in with her usual goodies and then went to asking questions. Sydney sighed as she went to answer her but her phone chimed and it was finally June, who answered her previous message. Her eyes widened at his response and her mouth parted slightly as she gasped softly to herself.

Instead of typing a reply back towards June, her eyes gazed back and forth between Axel and Johanna as she muttered. "He's heard the same thing as everyone else, Albrecht's back in town." Sydney responded as she looked at Johanna now, who knew the look on her face all too well that they must chat later about this matter. "So, if he is back, what exactly does that mean for you, Axel? Why hasn't he contacted any one of us or me?" She questioned towards him now and bit her bottom lip out of nerves. As she awaited a response from Axel, she completely forgot to text June back but started to type a reply.

To: June Bug
I've heard the same thing! Not sure but there is a possibility.


Once she had hit the send button, her attention went back towards Axel as she sat her phone down now beside the register. She even grabbed the two large boxes that Johanna had brought them and walked into the kitchen with them before returning and standing before them once again.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Axel Wolff Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Johanna Collins
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Image
Location: Felix's Diner || Hex: #336600






ImageJohanna's smile faded into a frown at Sydney's words. "Whose heard what?" Then the name "Albrecht" passed through Syd's lips and Johanna felt a growl rumble low in her chest. She quickly covered her mouth and shrugged. "Oops. Still don't have much control over that." She said, quietly. The cause of the growl, of course, was the fact that scum that... Omega was back in town. The alpha that left his pack. She could feel the hair on her arms bristling at the thought. When Sydney brought the boxes of Johanna's baked treats into the back, she turned to Axel. "Why now? It's been... what? Six years? And now he decides to come back? What's his end goal here?" Her eyes watched the door for her wolf sister, her alpha female. "If he tries anything with Sydney, I can promise nothing good will come of it. You know this pack." However...Axel was her alpha. "Of course, if you ask me to behave.. I will." She continued reluctantly.

When Sydney returned, she attempted to change the subject. "Have you heard from June? I have a special cupcake for him from a new batch I've been experimenting with. It's double chocolate Oreo. Chocolate batter, chocolate chips in the batter, an oreo on the bottom, and a handmade whipped frosting with crushed Oreos sprinkled on top." Her eyes widened as she finished explaining. "Wow that's a lot of sugar. I'm glad he's not diabetic." She smiled, "He's one of my best customers." And.. something in her seemed to float whenever he was around, but that was something for when her and Syd could spend some "girl time" together. She pulled out her phone and shot him a quick text:

To: Junie-
June! You going to be at Felix's Diner soon? I have a special new treat for you to try if you're up for it. :) Also, Have you heard? The Traitor is back in town.. I'm worried about Syd.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Axel Wolff Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Ellis Bleddyn Character Portrait: Johanna Collins Character Portrait: Payton Wright
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

____________________________________

AXEL WOLFF
___________________________________

Image
____________________________________

Felix's Diner
#235744

____________________________________

This shit was the kind of shit that made Axel wish he had skipped this shit hole years ago, before Al even thought to hit the road and leave him behind. He had never been one for pep talks and words of reassurance, but more often than not, his job as Alpha forced him into scenarios in which the only thing to do was talk it out like a high school counselor or something.

Sydney grabbed his forearm and pulled him away from the counter, holding him close enough that he knew something was horribly wrong. Axel's throat bobbed slightly in response, and for a moment, Sydney might have caught concern in his gaze. He hated this game of not knowing, for he couldn't help but worry if something had happened to one of his own wolves. Axel couldn't help but worry about Ellis, poor Ellis, and if he had managed to get himself into something. Perhaps he ought to call the pack in, have them check in with him lest shit hit the fan without him knowing.

But Johanna managed to clear the air in her perfectly timed arrival, catching Axel's attention as Sydney looked back to her phone.

"Hey, Jo," he started, walking towards the younger wolf. "No one's hurt, Sydney just got a text from June, and she's checking i-" Axel was speaking quickly, too quickly, probably, and so he almost missed it as Sydney spoke up again. Until, of course, he caught his brother's name.

The idea of Albrecht returning to Bellingstone was comical. Or, rather, it had been comical that morning when he first heard the rumors. But now? Axel was familiar with the way rumors spread through Bellingstone, but they had always been rumors of little importance. Albrecht's disappearance had rocked Bellingstone - and while rumors of his return had certainly sprouted during his early departure, it would have been like telling an old joke to spread a rumor like that now. Unless it had some sort of basis in truth.

As he processed the possibility of Al actually returning, Axel clenched his jaw slightly, wringing the dish rag in his hands slightly, and then more violently. Axel blinked quickly all of a sudden, forcing himself into the present. The pack needed him, now more than ever. And jeez, didn't that thought just nauseate him ever so slightly?

"If...if Albrecht is back," he started softly, leaning on the counter so that he could keep Johanna and Sydney close. "Nothing changes. He's still the asshole he was - there isn't a place for him in this pack." But, looking over at Sydney for a moment, he knew exactly what she meant. She wasn't worried about the structure of the pack, about keeping Al away - after all of these years, she still missed the bastard. Axel couldn't help but exhale sharply as she left to carry the boxes into the back. It was a relief Johanna broke the pressing silence.

"I couldn't even begin to think of why he'd show up now." He leaned on his elbows, still clenching the rag between his hands. "He's up to something - I don't care what it is, but I don't want him anywhere near this town - let alone the pack...or Sydney."

He straightened up once more as Sydney returned to the space behind the counter. The diner seemed packed now, and a sense of claustrophobia was weighing on him. By the door, Ivan gave him a slight wave, and Axel returned it half-heartedly.

"I need to call a meeting. Now." Axel was pulling out his phone as he spoke, punching a hurried message out to the group.

To: The Pack
i've heard the rumors. we need to talk. diner ASAP.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

────────────────────────────
Image
────────────────────────────
Image
_____ T H EXP R O T E C T O R _____

Outfit: Link Here
Location: Escape Bar & Grille
Dialogue Color ✦ #DEB887
Thought Color ✧ #8E6837



A short laugh didn't even get the chance to be fully realized as it got stuck in Andre's throat the second that a customer coughed for their attention. He didn't even bother casting them a briefly annoyed look; he was definitely getting ready to tease June about asking Andre if he was okay. Even if the impact provided a moment of confusion for Dre because he was clearly getting too soft or something if June thought that was actually supposed to really hurt him. It did, not seriously - not in the hurt that could have happened to the younger guy had the situation been something momentous. But it hadn't been and he was two seconds from seeing how red he could get the guy when the interruption came. A beat later and a small smirk formed on Andre's face, recognition in his eyes as he stepped away from June as the boy busied himself with his phone. "Aye, Luke," Andre greeted, bumping fists with his former classmate who was now working in the city as an accountant. Luke tiredly sat himself on one of the stools at the bar. "Still a bit early to be comin' in for ya usual, dontcha think?" Luke chuckled before it turned into a legitimate sigh. "Man, it's been that kind of a week." Andre raised an eyebrow, not particularly as interested as he appeared to the man. They had never been close friends, not on Andre's part anyway. It definitely had helped, back in the day, to be good with the math teacher's son. Dre swore up and down that Mrs. Gilbert genuinely hated him and that the only reason he had been able to make it out of high school was because he had been friends with Luke, and kept Luke out of serious trouble.

Despite the distraction that Luke served as, Andre didn't exactly just forget June's presence altogether. He definitely noticed it. It was the prickling of his skin when June reached for a bottle near Dre, the slight breeze that came when someone or thing came past you. Especially when the next customer asking for June's attention started the daily flirting. It made Andre tense, even as he focused on answering Luke. "Damn, really? Thought you liked it in the big city?" Luke shrugged, but Andre felt the man watching as he got out the bottle of Hennessy he knew the guy was craving. He poured the shot and Luke downed it just as fast, snatching the shot as soon as it touched the surface"Yeah, until you gotta deal with the city people. You'd think all of us out here weren't nothing but country trash or something." Andre hummed conversationally, almost in agreement, as he poured another shot.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke Character Portrait: Johanna Collins
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Image
Image
J U N S O OxxM O O N
____T H E xxB E T A____

Image
Location: Escape Bar N' Grill
Dialogue Color: #008080

Image
Image
Something, probably the universe or whatever other greater force, told Junsoo to feel some sort of relief that Andre's attention was taken by someone else and the topic was averted all together. Knowing Dre, he would have gotten a kick out of watching him transform into the reddest fruit in existence, which would not have been that difficult considering he was already halfway there. He felt himself relax significantly as Andre's gaze was taken off of him and placed on the incoming customer. Luke...or something. Technically, according to Oscar, June should not use his cell phone while on the job and focus the entirety of his attention on the customers. Luckily, Oscar was not present at the moment and Andre never seemed to be a stickler about.

Taking advantage of the momentary pause in the flow of orders, Junsoo pulled the device out from his pocket. Both Jo's and Sydney's messages confirmed exactly what he'd feared. He bit his lower lip while pandering on what to respond to Sydney. As casually as she appeared to be taking this over text message, June was certain that the rumors alone were taking a toll on hear. He didn't dare to imagine if she were to come face to face with the root of the problem.

To: Syd
MSG: I'm sorry Syd but...for everyone's sake, I hope it's not true.


One didn't need to be a genius, only know Sydney well enough to know that she was the only one that was somewhat excited by the news. If he didn't already know the rest of the pack felt the same amount of excitement about Albrecht coming back, which is to say none at all, Jo's message would have confirmed it.

To: Jo <3
MSG 1: Yeah I heard...I don't like where this is headed.
MSG 2: I'll be getting off work soon, don't you dare give my treat to anyone else!


Instead of pocketing his phone, he placed it on the counter between him and Andre, making it easier to see the messages without needing to stop whatever it is he was doing. Maybe he was finished responding, but he thought it best to keep it close in case something came up. Which, considering the circumstances and the heavy tension flowing through the supernatural streets at the moment, something was bound to happen eventually. Heaven forbid that did not include someone from the pack getting seriously hurt. But it wasn't the time to think about that now. June had been hired by Oscar and Andre for being a diligent worker and that's what he should be focusing on now. Another regular customer came in as June reached for the Gin bottle near Andre, already knowing what the man would be ordering. The usual flirting came with it, except this time it was a welcomed distraction from everything going on around him. He even let out a hearty laugh at the man's teasing, the sound of it filling the bar area. It wasn't until the customer left and Axel's name came scrolling across his phone screen with a message directed to the entire pack, that Junsoo realized there was no possible way of avoiding this any more. It seemed he would have to owe Andre for leaving work earlier than expected.

"How upset would you be if I left early today?" Junsoo asked as sweetly as possible, making sure to wait until Luke was gone instead of interrupting the conversation. "Something really important came up." his dark almond eyes locked with Dre's and for a moment he forgot he was a supernatural creature because the man's presence made him feel so...tiny in comparison. Before the man could answer he added. "I'll make up for it however you want."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Valerie Alastair Character Portrait: Albrecht Wolff Character Portrait: Axel Wolff Character Portrait: Ophelia M. Hawthorne Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Ivan Moreau
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

____________________________________

S Y D N E Y . G R E E N
____________________________________

Image
____________________________________

Location; Felix's Diner
Hex Code; #D58223

____________________________________
Her head was beginning to hurt because she felt really overwhelmed right about now. She sighed softly to herself and raised her fingers up to rub her temples, her eyes fluttered back over towards her phone as it chimed. Sydney waltzed over to grab her phone and saw Poppy's name stroll across the screen. 'Oh, great. What now?' She thought to herself with an eye roll after reading Poppy's message, which she began to type a reply to.

To: Poppy
Is today pick on Sydney day or something?


She hit send and placed her phone back on the counter top, trying her best to form a smile among her lips as a few more customers rolled inside. Luckily, some of the other employees were now handling the floor so that she could be beside Axel and Johanna for a little while longer. Sydney's eyes averted over towards Ophelia whenever she finally responded towards her about the water. She made a face, of course and went ahead to gather Ophelia's order, walking away momentarily.

Sydney placed the coffee cake in front of Ophelia, along with a fork and spoon then placed a mug beside it, pouring some coffee inside of the mug. "I hope you enjoy." She said then sat the coffee pot down back in place. Her eyes then went towards Valerie as she came into the diner and offered her a wave. She then saw Ivan, yet another vampire, walked in and went over to sit beside Valerie. She could not help but make a slight face towards him that signified her disgust for him.

Whenever Axel answered her questions, she looked at him. Sydney wondered to herself if Albrecht was actually back to regain some type of control over the pack once again. Her eyes cut towards Johanna as she could feel that she is worried about her. Sydney could not help but go over towards her, resting her hand on top of hers. "No need to worry about me. Both of you. I can handle myself." She had no choice but to remain strong in front of the alpha male and a member of the pack. Once Axel said that he needed to call a meeting and now, she did not know how to feel.

Every single time the door opened, she kept on looking over to see if the so called trouble that Poppy referred to had entered the premises. Her phone chimed once more and she walked over towards it, reading the message sent from June and did not bother to response since he was probably on his way towards the diner anyway. Sydney really had hoped that Albrecht had not returned to town because if he did, she certainly had some explicit words for him.

"Well, I guess all we do now is wait." Sydney muttered towards Johanna and Axel as she decided that she needed to take her mind off of things and needed some fresh air. "I need to step outside for a moment. Johanna, would you care to join me? I really need some girl talk right about now." She practically pleaded towards Johanna, walking towards the back and waving for Johanna to follow her out of the backdoor.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Axel Wolff Character Portrait: Sydney Green Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Johanna Collins
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Image
Location: Felix's Diner || Hex: #336600






ImageJohanna held on to the small box that contained June's treat as she watched her alphas stroll about their business. She could see Syd getting more and more agitated with the situation as the texts came rolling in. It didn't help that their diner was filling with bloodsuckers...er...vampires. The idea to swipe Syd's phone and do...something with it crossed her mind. Hide it so she wouldn't be disturbed anymore or even just turning the sound or phone off. But in the end, Johanna's sense of privacy and the possibility that she wouldn't want anyone touching her stuff, even if she was trying to help, won out and Johanna just stood and waited.

Her own phone buzzed twice in her back pocket. She slipped it out and looked at the short preview before unlocking her phone and reading the full text.

From: Junie-
MSG 1: Yeah I heard...I don't like where this is headed.
MSG 2: I'll be getting off work soon, don't you dare give my treat to anyone else!


She found herself smiling softly at the response. June was always happy to try her treats and she liked to bake for him. She typed back a quick response:

To: Junie-
I wouldn't dream of robbing my best customer of the chance to try an exclusive treat from Johanna's personal recipes.


She had thought about adding a joke, but a good one didn't come so instead she added a winking emoji to the end and hit send. Once her attention was back in the diner, she noticed Syd making her way to the back, her eyes boring into Johanna as if trying to send a message telepathically. She knew full well what that look meant. Of course, it was then followed with an invitation to join her in the back and Johanna nodded her agreement to follow. She thought about leaving the treat on the counter for June, but she wanted to see the look on his face when he tried it so she took it with her. Axel would let them know when he had arrived. She slipped behind the counter and into the back. "What's up, Syd? I mean besides the obvious."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Junsoo Moon Character Portrait: Andre Clarke
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

────────────────────────────
Image
────────────────────────────
Image
_____T H EXP R O T E C T O R_____

Outfit: Link Here
Location: Escape Bar & Grille
Dialogue Color ✦ #DEB887
Thought Color ✧ #8E6837


Andre continued to entertain Luke's venting, not particularly minding but knowing that on another day, he wouldn't even bother. Luckily, there were about two other customers that had sat on either side of the blonde, so Andre was able to semi-focus on getting them satisfied, making sure the food menus were available, but also listening to Luke. It was the same thing Poppy had once noted about the city, though she seemed far more pleased with it than the man before him. Bellingstone was a cute, almost trendy little place to come visit. You could take really attractive selfies down by any of the shops, but especially by any historical locations that held stock to the visitors. There were quaint coffee shops and the library was a beloved stop, though he was pretty sure the selfies there were probably frowned upon simply because it just wasn't the location for that. Hell, even nightlife was pretty damn good if he did say so himself. But in terms of living? You must be stuck here or really are something else to actually live in Bellingstone, and that mindset showed in how the people who lived in the city interacted with a person who came from Bellingstone. Poppy was well-adjusted. Her world had always been meant to include a much larger landscape; the type of people she was meant to interact with were always them, not people here. Luke wasn't Poppy. He was definitely a decent mathematician, that much was for certain. But even Andre had known that the guy's social skills weren't good enough to actually take dealing with that sort of unnecessary judgement in stride.

Luckily, June came up as the perfect distraction to stop Andre from saying something pessimistic or equally unhelpful, and Andre poured Luke another drink before turning his full attention to June. His brow furrowed just slightly as he observed the guy. June didn't seem to have anything necessarily wrong with his person, so at least Andre was assured on that front. "Yeah, sure thing. Nothing too stressful 'round here that I can't handle on my own," he replied casually, before inquiring, "You gonna be straight though? Anything I can help with?"